Recommend a decent micrometer?

[Ruger_556]

What's a good 0-1" micrometer? I have need of one now... I have a Starrett dial caliper and dial indicator that I've been very happy with so I was looking at this one http://www.starrett.com/metrology/p...crometers/110101-Outside-Micrometers/216XRL-1 I can read a mic fine but the readout actually looks rather nice if it works

 

[Murphy4570]

Starrett or Mitutoyo are both good choices. Though I'm not a machinist.

 

[Scsmith42]

I own an NSK verson of that micrometer and have been very pleased with the mechanical digital readout. It's still dead accurate after 30 years.

 

[RedRabbit]

I would look for a used Starrett or some other high-end brand used on craigslist.

 

[BirdMobile]

Starrett, Mitutoyo, Browne and Sharp, Fowler. All excellent.

 

[PT Doc]

For a digital 0-1", look at the HF unit. I have checked it against a tenths browne and sharpe and it is accurate. It reads to 5 tenths.

 

[Ruger_556]

I would look for a used Starrett or some other high-end brand used on craigslist.

Craigslist around here is a wasteland for anything decent... I'm just going to buy new, should last my career so cost isn't a huge worry.

 

[Ruger_556]

For a digital 0-1", look at the HF unit. I have checked it against a tenths browne and sharpe and it is accurate. It reads to 5 tenths.

Yeah, this is one of those tools I'll not be buying from HF... Should have said that in the 1st post I guess

 

[Givl Reggin]

I wanted a micrometer to use everyday in the shop and keep the Starretts for when precision counted - this was 35-years ago - I bought a General Tools micrometer and I don't think I have removed the Starretts from their cases even once since then. I don't know what General Tools quality is like today, but I've been very happy with what I have from them.

 

[zkling]

For an only mic I'd get a standard basic vernier graduated to 1/10th thou (0.
0001"). I keep a japan made "digital" like that hady for quick measurments of sheet metal and the like but for measuring parts that are remotely critical stick with the traditional style.

Starrett, B&S, Mitutoyo all good. I'd try to pick one up off ebay in a case. It's pretty darn hard to "wear out" a mic. B&S is probably my favorite overall, especically for indicators.

 

[BirdMobile]

For an only mic I'd get a standard basic vernier graduated to 1/10th thou (0.
0001"). I keep a japan made "digital" like that hady for quick measurments of sheet metal and the like but for measuring parts that are remotely critical stick with the traditional style.

Starrett, B&S, Mitutoyo all good. I'd try to pick one up off ebay in a case. It's pretty darn hard to "wear out" a mic. B&S is probably my favorite overall, especically for indicators.

B&S and Starrett both have a retro 18th century "classiness" about their design and typography that modern instruments just don't even come close to.

 

[beatcad]

look at CL in your area under tools and specialize the search for machinist.
you might get lucky.
in my area most people dont know the difference between machinist and mechanic. bunch of dummies & rednecks i guess
but a little north in more industrial towns real machinist stuff comes up for sale often.
like others have said- starrett, B&S, mitutoyo. also i have a lufkin that is right on.

ya gotta be diligent. by searching CL for machinist you just might find a gerstner or kennedy box full of mics.
it's happened to me and friends and a bunch of guys here

 

[Leadberry]

Learned to use mics on Starretts and digital Mitutoyo's in high school years ago...the digital Mitutoyo's are what I keep in my box today.

 

[Ruger_556]

Thanks guys, just ordered this one http://www.starrett.com/metrology/p...rs/110101-Outside-Micrometers/T216XRL-1 W~SLC

Found it for actually a really decent price, under $100 for an almost $300 micrometer

 

[Adam.C]

I have Starrett, brown and sharp, and mitutoyo mics. The old Starrett 436 is the easiest to read. I paid less than $20 for it. I prefer the satin chrome finish. Favorite mc of all if the mitutoyo digital. For $125 or so, I wouldnt buy anything else new.

Fowler buy tools from other firms and put their name or packaging on them. Some fowler is chinese and can't be recommended. Some fowler is Swiss and among the best. You need to know what you are buying from Fowler.

As to accuracy, mics require careful technique. Smooth operation and well thought out controls, clutches etc help. I think even the Chinese mics will do the job. I recommend you pick up a couple used gage blocks and practice measuring them.

 

[Ruger_556]

It just showed up, I went back and checked the price and it's gone up almost $200 since I bought it. I think I got a good deal

 

[bwringer]

Nice!

Personally, I'd want an electronic mic that can be switched to mm or inches. It really saves a lot of time and potential units screwups.

But then you have to futz with batteries and such...

 

[Beemer533]

It just showed up, I went back and checked the price and it's gone up almost $200 since I bought it. I think I got a good deal

Nice! Where in the heck did you find this for less than $100?

 

[Ruger_556]

Nice! Where in the heck did you find this for less than $100?

It was on sale for $97 on Amazon, price went back up to $283.00 when I checked it this morning...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003YL3AKO/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[sonvolt]

I have brown and sharpe, starett, and mitutoyo and my fave is my mitutoyo micrometers. I like the feel and can't beat them for the $$.

 

[motoretro]

My 0-1" is a Starrett, my 2-5" range are all old school Lufkin, built in Saginaw, Michigan. Excellent quality, reliable and feels good in the hand.
Mototretro

 

[merbie]

I have a metric mitutoyo and a inch Moore n right both great mics


Sent from the sticks

 

[CobraRed]

I have a Mitutoyo that I've dropped more than once and still reads true on a 1/2/3 block.

 

[franzdom]

Wow you got a screaming good deal!

 

[bobadame]

I still use the Mititoyo that I bought in '69, almost every work day.

 

[Dave455]

It just showed up, I went back and checked the price and it's gone up almost $200 since I bought it. I think I got a good deal

Now THAT I like!

Moore and Wright used to make a similar model in the U.K but they discontinued them years back!

Didn't even know Starrett offered a similar one! Quality still looks decent too!

Think I might be tempted , but doubt I'll be able to match that deal!

 

[abk241]

Starrett has always been my first choice...though there are quite a few brand names out there that are just as good.

 

[Ruger_556]

Wow you got a screaming good deal!

Now THAT I like!

Didn't even know Starrett offered a similar one! Quality still looks decent too!

Think I might be tempted , but doubt I'll be able to match that deal!

I know Even used on ebay they go for more than I paid...

 

[dnschmidt]

In the computer biz we used to have an expression. Nobody ever got fired for buying IBM. In the machinist world Nobody ever got fired for buying Starrett.