Quality Micrometer Brands?

[bb29510]

there only one brand, starrett

 

[dnschmidt]

Starrett has not kept up with the latest technology. Digital micrometers and calipers were pioneered by Mitutoyo and they remain in the lead. For conventional micrometers Starrett is hard to argue against but I'm a truly lazy ******* and I'm a digital guy. Reading a digital display is a lot easier and less error prone than counting by 25 as you must for a conventional micrometer.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Interested in knowing who makes high-quality tools, whether digital or conventional.

Also--if you had to choose from ONLY THESE BRANDS--who makes the best micrometers: Chicago, Baileigh, Proform, Powerhouse?

Thanks!

It seems that in 2 pages no one has answered the op's question. Not that I can either...

 

[bb29510]

that because they are all harbor freight brands and all four ****

 

[darkzero]

Those ain't HF brands, equal in quality probably. Maybe Amazon or ebay specials?

HF micrometers are branded Pittsburgh, before that was Cen-Tech.

 

[PCustoms]

Also--if you had to choose from ONLY THESE BRANDS--who makes the best micrometers: Chicago, Baileigh, Proform, Powerhouse?

Flip a coin and/or buy the cheapest.

I've been using mics for 20 years and never heard of these brands until this thread, they are obviously not known for their measurement tools.

Sorry, no one here will have the answer you want. Or maybe that is the answer itself.

 

[CGarage]

Starrett has not kept up with the latest technology. Digital micrometers and calipers were pioneered by Mitutoyo and they remain in the lead. For conventional micrometers Starrett is hard to argue against but I'm a truly lazy ******* and I'm a digital guy. Reading a digital display is a lot easier and less error prone than counting by 25 as you must for a conventional micrometer.

100%

 

[CGarage]

Flip a coin and/or buy the cheapest.



Sorry, no one here will have the answer you want. Or maybe that is the answer itself.

1. Bad advice. Buy once, cry once. Buy the industry reference like Mitutoyo.

2. Having physically visited factories outside the U.S., I am amazed by the precision and tolerances that are held in Europe (Switzerland mainly) and Asia (Japan). One and two micron tolerances are the norm in precision machining facilities.

3. I spoke to a well known German arms manufacturer about setting up their U.S. manufacturing facility. The Germans all laughed at what the US considers to be “precision manufacturing”. I have to agree. Comparing German and US production, the German made is superior when evaluating identical products. Far less tool marks and tighter tolerances.

 

[PCustoms]

1. Bad advice. Buy once, cry once. Buy the industry reference like Mitutoyo.

2. Having physically visited factories outside the U.S., I am amazed by the precision and tolerances that are held in Europe (Switzerland mainly) and Asia (Japan). One and two micron tolerances are the norm in precision machining facilities.

3. I spoke to a well known German arms manufacturer about setting up their U.S. manufacturing facility. The Germans all laughed at what the US considers to be “precision manufacturing”. I have to agree. Comparing German and US production, the German made is superior when evaluating identical products. Far less tool marks and tighter tolerances.

Go read what I quoted, OP is not buying mitutoyo!

Also--if you had to choose from ONLY THESE BRANDS--who makes the best micrometers: Chicago, Baileigh, Proform, Powerhouse?

These ****, but they insist that's what they are buying. So before you criticize what I wrote, try reading the thread.

 

[CHI_Tool&Die]

Sorry, I was not intending to rub you the wrong way. Just want to set the record straight, but a few sentences in a post can easily be read with emotion that wasn't meant to be there.

I wouldn't say that friction thimbles are all that common (though I own at least 4 off the top of my head), but they can also easily hide in plain sight. Now you've got something new to look for. When you see and feel one, well you'll know what I mean (just like a ratchet thimble, they're a very tactile experience), but it's not really an "upgrade" from a ratchet thimble. Both are excellent, and both can give good readings in a skilled operator's hands.

For the record, for my purposes my $10 digital imported calipers are good enough for most measurements and I'll pull out my Etalon dial calipers if I need to be sure of something. If I need better precision than that, I'm not messing around with a crappy Asian micrometer, and I have a handful of truly good micrometers that come out of the drawer maybe once or twice a year.

It’s cool man. I’m sorry too. I totally learned something new from you.

 

[CGarage]

Go read what I quoted, OP is not buying mitutoyo!



These ****, but they insist that's what they are buying. So before you criticize what I wrote, try reading the thread.

I did read it.

Rather than to waste money buying an inferior product, he should go and buy a quality measuring device.

I agree with you- these brands listed **** because they are totally unknown and not proven to my knowledge.

This is why I posted that he should buy an industry reference if he needs precision measuring capability.

Sort of like cheap multimeters, don’t leave measurements to chance with inferior micrometers.

 

[jaymar_]

It seems that in 2 pages no one has answered the op's question. Not that I can either...

I'm used to it--but it's still educational! Someone did say it doesn't much matter for calipers and woodwork. Really, hundredths of an inch would be extremely precise for what I mean to do.

 

[darkzero]

I'm not a woodworker so I probably don't know what I'm talking about. I've never seen or heard of woodworkers using micrometers. But I believe the OP mentioned calipers for woodwork.

I've seen on YT (I know not a good representation) some woodworkers using those digital calipers that have the fractional mode. I personally can't stand those calipers (thousandths digit smaller than the rest) but then again I'm just a "hobby machinist".

 

[dnschmidt]

I'm used to it--but it's still educational! Someone did say it doesn't much matter for calipers and woodwork. Really, hundredths of an inch would be extremely precise for what I mean to do.

Which is exactly what you should have told us in your original post. Say, I'm a woodworker and I'm looking for a measuring tool that beats a tape measure. Problem solved. We would then recommend some Chinese **** that's more than adequate for your needs.

 

[darkzero]

digital calipers that have the fractional mode. I personally can't stand those calipers (thousandths digit smaller than the rest)

Like these. Every single one of them display modes would drive me bonkers! Do people actually even use uncommon fractions like these? I would have to convert to decimal to get an idea of those measurments.
79/128, 23/128, 25/64... WTF!

 

[Kuma601]

For myself using a caliper is a carry over with wood. Not necessary to use a mike since wood stability isn't guaranteed due to environmental conditions and the material itself. IF one knows the material and has the machinery capable of such tolerances, great. That makes life easier at times yet with wood, one day to the next can be frustrating.

As just mentioned those odd ball fractions would be irritating for certain measuring instances. My mind doesn't convert that so decimal or mm is easier among those I discuss measurements with.

 

[seber]

I have starrett, Mitutoyo, Brown and Sharpe and some cheaper ones. For calipers, I reach for Brown and Sharpe every time. If I need digital, I have a single Mitutoyo. I don't normally use it for general purpose due to the battery always seems to be dead. Mics, I don't care, they all work fine.

 

[PBCampbell]

I may as well chime in here as too few posts addressing your real needs. I've worked with wood a great deal more than metal and though I have a good selection of micrometers I cannot recall a time I've used them for the woodworking machinery and that's the only place to really use them (the machinery). You really shouldn't need anything high end, I think even the cheap stuff is good enough these days. A pair of 6 inch calipers (get digital for the convenience) and a "DIAL INDICATOR". I cannot emphasize the "DIAL INDICATOR" enough. It still doesn't need to be anything high end and no need for digital. This will get more use when setting planer/jointer knives, squaring a table saw, and even tensioning bandsaw blades. You can do a web search for how to make jigs/holders for your "DIAL INDICATOR" for use in setting up your woodworking machinery out of....wait for it....wood, lol. Do get a pair of calipers (again I recommend digital) because they are just too useful in general, heck every homeowner who owns a tape measure should have a pair in my opinion, but you'll find much more use from a "DIAL INDICATOR" for your woodworking machinery.

 

[CHI_Tool&Die]

Sorry, I was not intending to rub you the wrong way. Just want to set the record straight, but a few sentences in a post can easily be read with emotion that wasn't meant to be there.

I wouldn't say that friction thimbles are all that common (though I own at least 4 off the top of my head), but they can also easily hide in plain sight. Now you've got something new to look for. When you see and feel one, well you'll know what I mean (just like a ratchet thimble, they're a very tactile experience), but it's not really an "upgrade" from a ratchet thimble. Both are excellent, and both can give good readings in a skilled operator's hands.

For the record, for my purposes my $10 digital imported calipers are good enough for most measurements and I'll pull out my Etalon dial calipers if I need to be sure of something. If I need better precision than that, I'm not messing around with a crappy Asian micrometer, and I have a handful of truly good micrometers that come out of the drawer maybe once or twice a year.

Dude, so it’s been bugging me for awhile now about friction thimbles. Like how could I not know these existed, right? Turns out that almost everyone at the shop has them, especially in regards to the Starretts. I was just retarded and thought those were regular mics. It’s the regular thimble mics that I’ve never seen! So good on you cause you helped me realize my mix-up. I’ll still stick with my ratcheting thimbles though.

 

[darkzero]

I actually prefer friction thimbles but I didn't before. Some tools only come in ratchet thimble so I have no choice with those.