Need a cheap Dial Caliper

[kartracer55]

Does anybody know if the craftsman dial calipers are USA made? I have been meaning to get a cheap one because it killer me the other day when I had to take a starrett (at least it wasnt mine) under a car to do some measuring.


Of course, anything but chinese made, but Id prefer a US made one.

Jim

 

[89vert]

Starrett or maybe Fowler are the only U.S. made units that I'm aware of .
It's not uncommon to see a Starrett dial caliper or micrometer that's well over 25 years old and still working perfectly . Quality lasts and if you do buy a cheap caliper, which really goes against the very idea of making an accurate measurement, you'll probably regret it down the road .

Just my $ .02 worth ...

 

[kartracer55]

Well I fully agree on the Quality, I already have a starrett, and all of my Micrometers are Starrett, brown&sharp, and a central. Its just painful when I have to take such an expensive precision tool and get it all dirty when I need a measurement thats more accurate than a steel ruler, but not to .001.


Thanks

Jim

 

[chevy302dz]

As much as I hate to say it, this would be a case where a cheap import would be better. In fact for under the car I would say a Harbor Freight digital caliper would be your best bet.

 

[eschoendorff]

As much as I hate to say it, this would be a case where a cheap import would be better. In fact for under the car I would say a Harbor Freight digital caliper would be your best bet.

Chevy's right. And I know that you've seen this thread:

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=455230

For under the car (esp where you don't need to be .*** accurate), this is probably your best and most cost-effective bet. Just check them against known tolerances and exchange them if they are duds.

 

[mdsmith11]

Here ya go! Brand new Fowler dial caliper, never even left the sealed plastic! Gimme an honest offer plus an additional $6.00 for shipping and it's yours. (US Postal Service 2-3 day priority) My paypal address is: [email protected]. Also, if you're still interested, check my feedback on ebay under the screen-name of: magnoliastate0911.

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[vince-uk]

For what it is worth I agree with chevy302dz on this one. I bought a cheap digital caliper from Ebay (see link). I didn’t want to use my decent kit on the floor so when I saw this I thought I would give it a try. The price was actually a penny buy-it-now when I purchased, and it was delivered from Hong Kong in less than a week (to the UK). The case isn’t up to much, but I have to say the calipers are OK, so far (time will tell). I double checked when I used it the first few times just to make sure. Sadly I even went through a set of feeler blades checking.

I know what you are going to say (or what you’re thinking) Cheap Chinese junk, but hey, the price was right and it does the job.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/150mm-DIGITAL...602417556QQcategoryZ64814QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[Uncle Buck]

For rough dusty work the cheap stuff is good enough! I would never chance damaging expensive precision instuments where the cheapies would do just fine. It is just a matter of matching the correct tool to the job!

 

[gj_jamb]

Try this website:

http://www.longislandindicator.com/

I suggest you look up dial calipers and read what they have to say.

Then go to Ebay and find you can get a good one for around $40.

 

[Uncle Buck]

gj jamb: remarkable web site, thanks for the info post.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Well, you have an offer on a decent Fowler in the posts above, for anyone else looking I have found these dial calipers, from Midway (reloading supplies) to be very good quality and accurate, and priced right, especailly when you catch them on sale.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=128288

And

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=119623

and metric if you need it.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=238369

Charles

 

[YJTypeR]

The cheapo digital HF style calipers are AWESOME for rough undercar/dirty work. I use mine ALL the time. I got mine for around $16. This is definitely one time you're going to want to have some cheapy's around.

 

[mdsmith11]

I'll offer it here for $30.00 via paypal or US Postal Service money order *only*, and that INCLUDES shipping to anywhere within the 48 states. Again, my ebay screen-name is: magnoliastate0911 if anyone cares to check feedback.

And if no offers here, then it's ebay bound as it's just sitting in my garage and I'm sure that somewhere someone could use this tool.

 

[oldgoat]

Bought a HF 4in digital caliper for work and it stopped working after it got coolant on it. Cleaned it and put the spare battery in it and it worked again. For me it is too sensitive to contamination so I wouldn't recommend it. The old .100 dial calipers work forever as long as you don't use them like a clamp. I still have my original Helios .200 dia from 35 years ago. The jaws are a little off now so I just use them for bolts and the like.

 

[trovato]

I don't know if I should admit this, but I have one that's plastic! It says "General" and it is made in Switzerland. I've used it for many years when I don't want to risk my "good one" and it has performed much better than I ever expected.

 

[mdsmith11]

On ebay...linky linky

 

[mike944]

For under-the-car, i'd reccomend a digital caliper. Yes, sometimes they can be sensitive to liquid contamination, but a good cleaning should get them working again.

Dial calipers on the other hand, are sensitive to dirt contamination, and the racks very hard to get clean.

Actually, the vernier ones are really best, but they're too hard to read, so i'm not really reccomending them. They're the least sensitive to contamination, as there are no electrical parts, or gears of any kind. Other than bending them, there's really no way to damage them.

I have both dial, and vernier myself. I often use the vernier, but i always double-check my readings.
________
vaporizers

 

[indyracer]

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=47257

I have this HF digital caliper myself and I am very happy with the accuracy. I brought it to work and got our certified measuring blocks that we use to check and calibrate our measuring instruments to check it. It was as accurate as our instruments. I was really shocked. Made me happy though. I agree that it may not last as long as others, but as little as I use it, it would take me a lot of $16 ones to equal the cost of a top dollar tool.