Precise measuring instruments and England

[l_bilyk]

So a co-worker of mine was telling me how the BEST torque wrenches, calipers, etc. are made in England. Any truth to this?

 

[filthy_shovel]

Can'really say for TW, but for calipers, mics and such, Starrett is the best and are located in Massachusetts...

Maybe he was referring to Moore & Wright which are located in England.

 

[Barnaby]

We use a lot of Mitutoyo at my work, there are a few Starretts runing around as well.

 

[kartracer55]

Mitutoya has come along way. Starrett simply cant be beat, but damn, you pay for it. Brown&sharp is also nice stuff, but some of it is made overseas. A brnad alot of people over look is central tool. I have some pieces from them that are pretty old, and they hold up, and Ive used some of thier newer stuff... its pretty nice. Priced pretty reasonably, a good alternative to starrett.

Jim

 

[MXtras]

Mitutoyo makes absolutely the best travel indicators for the money and Browne and Sharpe makes the best test indicators with their "Best Test". Best Test indicators are made by Tesa, which makes absolutley the best Tri-mics available.

Starret makes......uhhm......well - maybe they USED to be the best but I can't think of one Starret tool I have used in the last 15 years that I would spend my money on. It's over-priced and not really all that great. Maybe their mics are worthy...

But - as far as torque wrenches? I have never used a torque wrench that was made in England. I have used (and helped develop) a custom made, torque limiting torque wrench that was designed and built in Austria. Anyway - nothing but Proto used here.

For many years, there was only two companies in the States that made torque tools and they sold their stuff to everyone as an OEM - believe me - I was tasked with creating a very unique, break-away style torque-limiting wrench about 10 years ago that was used to tighten cutters into rediculously expensive ultrasonic horns and I researched the manufacturers worldwide to see if anyone could/would work with me to come up with this unique torque-limiting tool. If you bought a Snap on torque wrench up until ??? years ago, it was manufactured FOR Snap On by the same folks that made the Proto or Crapsman stuff. Now? - I don't know, but I have never met a Proto torque wrench I did not like.

What are these "English" torque wrenches? What are the brand names?

Scott

 

[kartracer55]

The english torque wrench is made by a company (i forgot the name) that makes them for griots as well. Theres a guy on here that swears by them. As for USA made torque wrenches, Precision instruments is a big player in that game. I heard they make them for snap on, but I can confirm this. AS for starrett, I have quite a few peices from them, and its all really good stuff. Thier dial calipers are ultra smooth... I like them the best out of all the ones ive used. Smooth with resistence, so they hold the measurementeven after you put the tool down.

Jim

 

[79rallysport]

Are you talking about Norbar torque wrenches?

 

[avsfan733]

slightly ot but does anone know a good place online besides ebay that sells vintage machinists tools i am such a big fan and its so frustrating trying to win things on ebay nowadays

 

[Bender]

Mitutoyo makes absolutely the best travel indicators for the money and Browne and Sharpe makes the best test indicators with their "Best Test". Best Test indicators are made by Tesa, which makes absolutley the best Tri-mics available.

Starret makes......uhhm......well - maybe they USED to be the best but I can't think of one Starret tool I have used in the last 15 years that I would spend my money on. It's over-priced and not really all that great. Maybe their mics are worthy...

But - as far as torque wrenches? I have never used a torque wrench that was made in England. I have used (and helped develop) a custom made, torque limiting torque wrench that was designed and built in Austria. Anyway - nothing but Proto used here.

For many years, there was only two companies in the States that made torque tools and they sold their stuff to everyone as an OEM - believe me - I was tasked with creating a very unique, break-away style torque-limiting wrench about 10 years ago that was used to tighten cutters into rediculously expensive ultrasonic horns and I researched the manufacturers worldwide to see if anyone could/would work with me to come up with this unique torque-limiting tool. If you bought a Snap on torque wrench up until ??? years ago, it was manufactured FOR Snap On by the same folks that made the Proto or Crapsman stuff. Now? - I don't know, but I have never met a Proto torque wrench I did not like.

What are these "English" torque wrenches? What are the brand names?

Scott

I buy Starrett exclusively and have been extremely disappointed in the quality for the last at least ten years…

I’m also very disappointed in the Brown&Sharp stuff lately. I don’t know what kind of steel they’re using, but they need to find another source.

I am actually an American manufacturer, and as much as I hate to say it, I am seriously considering looking more into Mituyoyo precision equipment

 

[79rallysport]

Does anybody know who makes the BEST 0-6" digital calipers? (.0005 resolution)

 

[filthy_shovel]

Does anybody know who makes the BEST 0-6" digital calipers? (.0005 resolution)

Mitutoyo

 

[Big_John]

As was said, Starrett used to make good stuff. Their stuff in the past ten years has really taken a nose dive in quality. Their mics are still the best and some of their other stuff is still good, but even their gage block division (Webber) has started using "offshore" steel.

Brown & Sharpe doesn't make anything themselves any more, They've become like Fowler, they import everything. Tesa, who makes a lot of B&S tools is top notch when it comes to dial indicators. B&S closed their Standard Indicator division a few years back.

Mitutoyo has been one of the better companys in the past ten years. Their calipers are the best, IMHO.

So...Starrett mics, B&S indicators and Mitutoyo calipers. There you go.

 

[kartracer55]

Id have to say Starret Calipers... at least the analog ones that is. They just have a really nice feel to them...theres resistence to them, which I really like for taking quick measurements... it keeps the reading locked in without me having to fumble around with the locking screw. Also, You guys should check out Central Tools if you havent used thier stuff before. Its not the absolute best, but its really good stuff, especially for the the money. Def much better than what youll get from home desperate or whatever.

 

[Elroy]

I have seen some very nice precision tools that were made in Poland. NO JOKE. A few years ago I was on the road and needed to take some measurements on a machine we were installing. One of the company machinest let me use his made in Poland mics. They were damn nice. I layed them on a 1/2 dowel pin I had in my road box and guess what .5003". I was impressed! I don't think they had a Brand name just "Made in Poland".

As far as calipers are concerned for general in shop use I like an analog dial over a digital. However when I am in the office and a customer walks in and says I need you to make one of "these" I reach for the my digitals first. Why: Because you can flip back and forth between inch and metric by pushing a button. Easier than punching 25.4 in the the calculator all the time.

There are a lot of good brands many of them imported. Can you say Swiss Made.

I have a set of 12" fowlers with Carbide jaws that have stood the test of time!

 

[kartracer55]

If you want those poland made micrometers, You can get them from Enco. Encos brand micrometers are made in poland, and dont say anything but poland on them. Dont get the cheapest ones, as those are made in the far east (aka china) but thier more expensive "generic" micrometers are made in poland.

Jim

 

[Roadster]

Are you talking about Norbar torque wrenches?

Norbar (based in Banbury, Oxfordshire, U.K.) makes excellent torque wrenches!

http://www.norbar.com

 

[Elroy]

Aw that thing has got to be a piece of ****. Just look where it's made.

Calm down. Elroy is just kidding

 

[Satatic]

I still havent really been able to understand how to use a micrometer.

 

[Elroy]

Elroy says: Try this:

http://feh.eng.ohio-state.edu/Tutorials/micrometer/reading.html

 

[kartracer55]

Yeah thats a good one.. i found one a while back onr eading vernier micrometers too... I own 1 (yes 1) and I dont really need that kidn of precision, but its nice to knwo hwo to read one.


Ill see if i can find it

Jim