Good digital caliper brand?

[Mayhem]

My Mitutoyo digimatic 500.196.20 calipers have both an auto off, as well as a power button. Still on the same battery that was in them when I bought them new in 2012.

My Mitutoyo digimatic 293-348 micrometer is also auto off but doesn't have a power button. Moving the thimble wakes them up. I must admit that I kept checking that they did turn off the first few times. I trust that they do now.

[PixMan]

When did you pick up that 293-348? I have one and it's the best feel and overall usefulness I've ever had in a micrometer of any kind. I swear it's one of the best measuring tools ever made.

I though you had a Starrett No.734? I still have one of those, and hope to get it repaired (again) sometime this year so I can sell it off.

[Mayhem]

That was my Christmas gift to myself. My Mum was in the US for Christmas/New Year, so I had it shipped to where she was staying and it came home in her luggage.

Stop bad mouthing the Starrett No. 734, as once I get a battery for it I am selling it!!! It chewed the battery in it and the spare one supplied with it in too short a time frame for my liking. Combined with the 'issues' you have experienced, I decided it is time to go.

[PixMan]

Hey now, I have one of the No.734's to sell and they are a WONDERFUL tool! I do like the spring-loaded thimble action and the standard micrometer scale so you can still use it when the battery goes dead.

[stevec]

Wait! are we talking digital CALIPERS or MICROMETERS?

[EdK]

(02-10-2014, 02:22 PM)stevec Wrote: Wait! are we talking digital CALIPERS or MICROMETERS?

Both, we're just trying to confuse you Steve and it appears we have succeeded.

Ed

[stevec]

Not hard to do Ed! Try more challenging feats.
I'm thinking part of the inaccuracy of digital calipers is related to their mechanical inaccuracy as well as the electronic metrology. I believe a quality micrometer would eliminate (or reduce) the mechanical inaccuracy and therefore only suffer the possible inaccuracy of the electronic metrology.

[EdK]

Yup, I don't think anyone is claiming a digital caliper is a replacement for a micrometer but it's good enough for quite a few home projects.

Ed

[PixMan]

My Mitutoyo Absolute digital electronic calipers can't be trusted down to 0.001mm or 0.00005", but my Mitutoyo 293-348 0-1" micrometer certainly can!

[TomG]

Not sure what model my Mitutoyo calipers are since the numbers have long since worn off, but it's very good on batteries. It stays on 24/7 and I can't remember the last time I changed the battery. Some must be easier on them than others.

Tom