Please share your knowledge of micrometers (calipers)

[two-bit cowboy]

I'm looking for a micrometer (caliper), primarily to take measurements on the Chiefs, but as with most tools I'm sure I'll find other uses, too.

I'm not operating a precision lab here so I don't need the Cadillac, maybe the Chevy.

Thanks for your recommendations.

 

[ralph7]

I think you are talking calipers.
I have had good luck with the Mitutoyo brand of dial calipers, but there are many more great ones out there.

 

[bigwheelzip]

Assuming calipers, the digital Mitutoyo are easier on old eyes.


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[Onomea]

I know very little about them, but am happy with this $10 model from Amazon:

[ame]https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DFFYCXS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1[/ame]

 

[two-bit cowboy]

I think you are talking calipers.
I have had good luck with the Mitutoyo brand of dial calipers, but there are many more great ones out there.

Yes, what you said.

Thanks for the recommendation.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Assuming calipers, the digital Mitutoyo are easier on old eyes.

Ah, you're singing my song, gal. Thank you.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Too good of Digital calipers or micrometers are a pain to use, As you hold onto a metal object you warm it up and that make them bigger/thicker!

I prefer Dial Calipers and traditional Micrometers by Sterrett in the .001 scale I have a zero to 1" and a 1" to 2"

My son uses .0001" Mics from zero up to 6" to measure fatigued metal on Helicopters! and has a .00001" zero to 1" also! (even Traditionals are hard to get steady readings when this fine and they require a temperature notation also!

The most important things I use Mics for are bullet and bore dimentions and shim material thickness! (Aluminum pop can wall thickness is right at .004", perfect for mounting scopes!)

Ivan

 

[s&wchad]

Micrometers:

Dial Calipers:

A love story...
Last year, Mrs. Chad asked me if I had a micrometer. I said yes and asked what she wanted to measure. It was a thin sheet of brass that I said was about a millimeter thick.

She didn't want me to measure it for her and insisted on doing it herself. I asked if she wouldn't rather use a dial caliper and she insisted on a micrometer. When I asked if she knew how to use one, she replied "I'M NOT STUPID" and got a bit huffy.

Game on!
I handed her my Starrett's with graduations on the the handle. She looked at it and said, "That's a micrometer?"
Yup...
"That's not what I want".
I then handed her a dial caliper.
"That's what I want!"

She looked at it for minute or two and finally asked me how to use it. I showed her how to hold it, how to zero it, how to measure I.D., O.D. and depth and then stood back and watched.

She finally got the jaws squarely on the sheet, looked at the dial for about a minute and finally fessed up...
"How do read it?"
I explained the inch and tenth of an inch graduations on the bar and the thousandths of an inch graduations on the dial.
She stared at it for a while longer and finally gave in.
"What does it say?"
I told her it read .040", which is about 1 millimeter!

I'll add that she's a wizard at computer programming, business systems and can run sewing/embroidery/quilting machines that I wouldn't touch with a 10' pole. A man needs to know his limitations!

 

[mtgianni]

I prefer dial micrometers over calipers for precision measurements. 0-1" will cover most shooting needs. Calipers do just fine for most reloading situations.

 

[Imissedagain]

Pic of digital caliper but it is not a micrometer.
This one reads to .0005"

 

[rockquarry]

I've used a cheap micrometer and cheap dial calipers. They work, but if you're going to use either tool frequently, get good stuff. I prefer Starrett or Brown & Sharpe dial calipers and Brown & Sharpe mechanical micrometers.

You can go digital with either, but a dial caliper and mechanical micrometer are simple, accurate, and require no batteries. They are not difficult to read. A five minute learning session and a little practice are all that's necessary.

 

[ggibson511960]

I have all three kinds for home hobby use, traditional micrometer, mechanical dial caliper and digital caliper. I find the dial caliper the easiest to use, so it gets used. The others gather dust. A simple micrometer will not directly measure I.D. or depth. The digital caliper needs batteries and can flicker and wander between indications. Don't be fooled into measuring small I.D.'s. For that you'll need plug gauges (expensive) or machinist's calipers (indirect and clumsy), but for overall utility it's hard to beat a dial caliper. They're a lot cheaper nowadays (Thank you China).

[ame]https://www.amazon.com/Utility-Dial-Caliper-Science-Purchase/dp/B00O985RRU/ref=sr_1_5?crid=ACRI0WAMKKUL&keywords=dial+calipers+6+inch&qid=1669744971&sprefix=dial+calipers%2Caps%2C115&sr=8-5[/ame]

I find this cheap vernier caliper very handy. I never go shopping for small parts without one in my pocket.

[ame]https://www.amazon.com/Sliding-Vernier-Caliper-Measuring-Optional/dp/B07B49JHLX/ref=sr_1_16?crid=1VEII56ERSCDK&keywords=vernier+calipers+manual&qid=1669745235&sprefix=vernier+caliper%2Caps%2C115&sr=8-16[/ame]

 

[DWalt]

For your purpose, I would suggest getting an inexpensive dial caliper. I do not particularly like digital calipers. There are probably many calipers listed on eBay.

The caliper I have used for the last 40 years is a no-name 6” dial caliper I bought for about $10 at a flea market. It has always been plenty adequate for any of my needs.

 

[rockquarry]

If you're a serious cast bullet enthusiast, you must have a micrometer to measure the diameter of a bullet. Calipers are next to worthless for this chore; "approximate" figures aren't worth much.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I have only seen a tube wall thickness micrometer one time. It is a Lyman, made in China! It was used at a gunshop that specialized in Precision shooting and reloading.

The use is typical of most micrometers and has come in handy several times. I was amazed how much variance there is from case-to-case neck wall thickness! That is where case neck turning really comes in!

RCBS makes a handy tool that helps you measure about 5 things with one dial probe. Very handy! Case length, neck diameter, neck wall thickness and concentricity and a few more.

Ivan

 

[old bear]

Bob, I think what you want is a decent set of Venier Caliper’s. Get a set of 0”-6” digital read out style. The 0”-8” inch can be bulky to use. If you are not working in close tolerances any quality brand should be accurate enough for your needs. If you are working in close tolerances, such as plus or minus .005” micrometers should be used.
I never made journeyman, but I spent many a summer vacation as a mill-hand and had some experience with a “chucker’ lathe.

 

[WR Moore]

I'll second the vernier calipers. It can get really frustrating re-zeroing the dial if the dial wheel on a dial caliper skips a tooth or two on the track.

After re-reading the post above, I have to amend my comment. The post above makes reference to a "digital read out " on a vernier caliper. There ain't no digital read out on a vernier caliper. The vernier is the mechanical markings on the caliper like there are on standard micrometers.

 

[mtgianni]

I have only seen a tube wall thickness micrometer one time. It is a Lyman, made in China! It was used at a gunshop that specialized in Precision shooting and reloading.

The use is typical of most micrometers and has come in handy several times. I was amazed how much variance there is from case-to-case neck wall thickness! That is where case neck turning really comes in!

RCBS makes a handy tool that helps you measure about 5 things with one dial probe. Very handy! Case length, neck diameter, neck wall thickness and concentricity and a few more.

Ivan

Franklin Arsenal marketed one [tube micrometer] that I am sure was made overseas but it does a decent job. Graf and Sons handled it and it was around $50 5 years ago.

 

[Protocall_Design]

I have a lot of different calipers, mikes, and indicators. For really accurate measurements you need a 0-1 inch micrometer with tenths markings. For less exacting measurements, a good quality 6" digital readout caliper is the way to go. I have and know how to use verniers and dials. The vernier calipers get hard to read for old eyes, and the dials can skip a tooth if dropped.

The digitals can do inch and metric, and can be zeroed at any point along the travel. Newer calipers can measure inside, outside, depth and step. The older style can't do the step measurements.

The best quality ones are Brown&Sharpe and Mitutoyo. They can often be found used on eBay for bargain prices. The B&S dial calipers are the smoothest ones I have ever felt. Either brand in mics and calipers is a super good investment. My best digital ones are the Mitutoyo. They are accurate to .001, where most calipers are good to .002 or .003. Starrett used to be the best, but they've been going downhill for the last 40 or so years.

 

[MRB1]

I use a Starrett 0-1 Mich and a B$S dial caliper for all my reloading needs. Brings back a memory of seeing a so-called machinist using two 0-1 mics as C clamps - always questioned his work.