1. What are the tools you reach for first?
6"/150mm Mitutoyo digital electronic caliper is my No.1 go-to tool. I reach for it for any quick measurement. You just bought one, you'll soon see why I converted from dial to this. Easy to read, gear rack that isn't there never gets chips in it or goes out of calibration, but best of all is fast inch/metric convert and direct incremental measurements without doing math.
2. If starting from scratch, with a limited budget what would you buy first?
0-1" micrometer. I like my Mitutoyo #293-344 best, but have other Starrett & Mitutoyo "analog" micrometers for when I need them.
6"/150mm scale. Sometimes you just need a ballpark/football pitch tolerance measurement.
Combination square & protractor set. Great for quick layouts of low-precision stuff, some measurements you can do with a 6" scale alone.
3. When should you consider purchasing a more specialized tool, when you already have a general purpose one?
The minute you have extra money lying around and nothing better to spend it on!
Ok, seriously I've done that too many times and as a result have some measuring tools I've used once or less. You buy them when the opportunity is there and you KNOW you can use it. You buy them when you've had it with frustration of "making do". You buy anything and everything because you either want it or because you need it. Knowing the difference and placing value in a position comfortable to you is the key to sanity and avoiding becoming the "toolaholic" that I am.
6"/150mm Mitutoyo digital electronic caliper is my No.1 go-to tool. I reach for it for any quick measurement. You just bought one, you'll soon see why I converted from dial to this. Easy to read, gear rack that isn't there never gets chips in it or goes out of calibration, but best of all is fast inch/metric convert and direct incremental measurements without doing math.
2. If starting from scratch, with a limited budget what would you buy first?
0-1" micrometer. I like my Mitutoyo #293-344 best, but have other Starrett & Mitutoyo "analog" micrometers for when I need them.
6"/150mm scale. Sometimes you just need a ballpark/football pitch tolerance measurement.
Combination square & protractor set. Great for quick layouts of low-precision stuff, some measurements you can do with a 6" scale alone.
3. When should you consider purchasing a more specialized tool, when you already have a general purpose one?
The minute you have extra money lying around and nothing better to spend it on!
Ok, seriously I've done that too many times and as a result have some measuring tools I've used once or less. You buy them when the opportunity is there and you KNOW you can use it. You buy them when you've had it with frustration of "making do". You buy anything and everything because you either want it or because you need it. Knowing the difference and placing value in a position comfortable to you is the key to sanity and avoiding becoming the "toolaholic" that I am.