Good digital caliper brand?

[TomG]

If you want a good digital caliper that is accurate, reliable and durable there's only one choice, Mitutoyo.

Tom

[EdK]

Mitutoyo fan here also. I don't own a Mitutoyo digital caliper yet but plan on getting an 8" one sometime in the future.

Ed

[Arbalest]

The big difference between my Mitutoyo and cheap calipers is that the display reads any change instantly. The display lags or jumps on the cheap ones I have. Maybe it doesn't affect accuracy but it sure gives confidence and makes the Mitutoyo nicer to use. The fit and finish is also much better.

[TomG]

(01-23-2014, 06:18 PM)Arbalest Wrote: The big difference between my Mitutoyo and cheap calipers is that the display reads any change instantly. The display lags or jumps on the cheap ones I have. Maybe it doesn't affect accuracy but it sure gives confidence and makes the Mitutoyo nicer to use. The fit and finish is also much better.

I've seen that as well. On a couple of cheap ones I've had over the years, you had to be careful of how fast you moved the slide. If it skipped a lot it was noticeable, but only a little and it might not be obvious.

Ed: That's a good point. The 8" size (which I have) doesn't cost much more than the 6" size (about $20), but is a lot more useful.

Tom

[stevec]

I'm with f350ca, I have Mitutoyos and "el cheapos" and I use neither for any high precision work. I find mine all tell lies when comparing IDs & ODs of the same size.

[Sunset Machine]

I've an old Craftsman VERNIER caliper where I've scratched "+.004" near the internal tips. There were graduations, making them a step up from spring calipers.

For more fun, try snap gauges and mics for those internal bores. There are some poorly made snap gauges being sold. Squeeze 'em. Bad sets will conjure up mental images of drilled holes and sharp edged construction.

[the artfull-codger]

I have ''el-cheapo'' workzone ones & use them for general use but mitutoyo & moore & wright for good jobs they're nicer to use,but as said above they're not for really accurate work like a micrometer,I also have an old moore & wright vernier,the divisions are 001" but the sliding jaw has 50 divisions & it's really easy to read unlike my old one which I had to flog as the old mince pies aren't as good as they were & the divisions just blurred, the cheapo's don't seem to like the cold & pack in sometimes.

[stevec]

I believe "the old mince pies" is Cockney rhyming slang for the old eyes.

[krv3000]

well my bit is by Wat you can a ford i have me good one witch is mitutoyo witch live in doers i have two from spi witch are a pane they are good but they don't switch off after bin left for a wile so flatten their battery's i have two workzon ones that are at work one is still in its box when the one I'm using packs up i will get the new on out but its staying the distance and it gets well hammed bin in wight water twice o and i have a good one still in its box got it off a member of the forume in xtange for sum tooling will have to dig it out as i can not remember the name

[stevec]

Bob, the first Mitutoyo digi-cal. I had was the "auto- turn off" type which I appreciated, But, others since don't turn themselves off

I'm convinced Mitutoyo conspired with the battery manufacturers to get us to consume more batteries.

I've taken to removing the batteries after each session in the shop (if I remember to).