Calipers

H

hsc

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Need a decent caliper, what do you recomend. Dial or digital.
 
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There are those who advocate buying plastic or metal cheapies from Harbor Freight because "close enough".

I prefer the Starrett 1202 or Mitutoyo 505, because "accuracy".

As with any precision instrument, you must be careful with them.
 
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Dial. Although all my micrometers are top quality and mostly pre-WWII, I buy cheap Frankford Arsenal calipers. I've found that if they are dropped on a hard floor, the dial jumps so the zero is somewhere other than straight up. It hurts less to replace them when they cost $22. I'd hate to spend $200 on Starrett and find the same thing.
 
Over the years as a Mercedes-Benz mechanic and rebuilder I've accumulated a Helios, a Mitutoyo and a Starrett caliper along with a digital something or another.
One day I started measuring drill shanks with all four calipers and a very accurate ten thou Helios micrometer. The el cheapo digital was consistently the most accurate in the ranges I measure, go figure, and that's what I go for first.
Stu
 
Well, I have a set of the HF dial calipers. Bought it for about $15 several years ago. They will hit the floor eventually.

I have measured a bunch of stuff with them, and compared them with other calipers.

They have always been accurate to the nearest .001.

I have seen the exact same calipers on sale at other far more respected vendors. Usually the price is 2 to 3 times what the HF set runs.

As to dial vs digital, I recommend dial. No batteries to die, or electronics to fail.
 
I have had Starrett dial, Mititoyo digital, and the cheap Harbor Freight digital. The Starrett's are a real classic and easy to misread at a quick glance, so they stay in that lovely red box in my closet as a reminder of my youth. The Mititoyo are kept at work with a second on my reloading bench. The Harbor Freight I keep next to my computer and get used when I need a quick measurement. People like to trash Harbor Freight but IMO you get a good value for the money and tho their calibers may have a feel that is rough they are actually accurate.

Basically, if you need something cheap get the Harbor Freight digitals. While the slide is distinctly on the rough side they are accurate and cheap. About the only negative is you do have to remember to zero them but that's a common requirement for digital calipers.
 
I only have one, a digital Mitutoyo 500 (#500-196-20). Very pleased with it.
 
Seeing as I'm using it for reloading, not building trigger assemblies for nuclear weapons or rockets for going to Mars, I've found that the $9.99 digital Harbor Freight model works fine. I'd say give it a try--make sure you get the .001 version, not the .01--and if it doesn't work out, you've only spent $9.99.
 
SMSgt said:
Seeing as I'm using it for reloading, not building trigger assemblies for nuclear weapons or rockets for going to Mars, I've found that the $9.99 digital Harbor Freight model works fine. I'd say give it a try--make sure you get the .001 version, not the .01--and if it doesn't work out, you've only spent $9.99.
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+1.

For reloading the harbor freight calipers work great. Digital or dial is a preference thing. I don't mind buying batteries for the digitals.

If you have a need for .0001 accuracy look into a micrometer set.
 
As a toolmaker , I always bought Brown & Sharpe dial calipers. Got a new pair every few years as they do get dropped and the jaw points get smashed. My old ones got used for reloading , garage/motor work or given away.

My company now issues calibrated/certified digital calipers.The cheap Chinese cals that Harbor Freight sells for $9.99 w/coupon seem to be the same ones Midway , Frankford , and others are selling for $29.99. As some said , they're not as smooth as more expensive ones , but they are accurate within .0005". They even come with 2 batteries!
 
Have had a few different types and brand.

I prefer the metal over the plastic examples and at this point my eyes appreciate the digital more than the dial interface.
 
At Lowes, digital for $22.00 dead on measured against my check block. Plus you get an extra battery and a pretty sturdy case.
 
I've been loading match .308 rounds the last 2 weeks and use a Harbor Freight digital that cost me less than $15 more than 2 years ago. I have 2 "control" cartridges with an OAL of 2.80" that I use to check about every 5th one I load. Every single time, it registers exactly 2.80".
What I did discover is that the most recent new, unopened box of Hornady 168 gr. BTHP National Match projectiles are not consistent in their length, mostly due to differences in their point profiles.
Ed
 
I used dial for 25 years, then when Midway had a special on S&W brand digital for $15 a couple years ago I bought them (for the name). I checked them against my dial several times at several measurements, and they are identical. The digital are easier to use and as accurate as the dial.
 
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