MICROMETERS & CALIPERS DISCUSSED (FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN QUALITY)
- Thread starter chief38
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I spent 45 years in Quality Assurance. the last 30 - 35 in aerospace products, starting as an inspector and ending my career as a Quality Assurance Engineer. I found early on that you should by the best tools you can afford. I have my preferences:
Micrometers, I like Starrett, the old Lufkin were good, and I also used a Set of Pratt & Whitney (Successor to Lufkin) 0-1 mics for many years
Dial Calipers, my preference was Brown & Sharp. Starrets have an open rack and were prone to getting debris in the gear teeth while B&S and others have a cover over the rack to help avoid this.
Dial indicators, again B&S preferred, Higher grade Starrett ok,
Mitutoys tools are good, less expensive tools but I found their mic's over built and heavy compared to Starrett B&S, etc. I once had a Mitutoyo 0-.500 mic that was almost as big as a Starrett 0-1. Mitutoyo Dial calipers I have found to have softer jaws and more prone to wear than Starrett or B&S
That's my two cents other than to say I wouldn't own a set of plastic calipers; then again, I also still prefer analog over digital tools
Micrometers, I like Starrett, the old Lufkin were good, and I also used a Set of Pratt & Whitney (Successor to Lufkin) 0-1 mics for many years
Dial Calipers, my preference was Brown & Sharp. Starrets have an open rack and were prone to getting debris in the gear teeth while B&S and others have a cover over the rack to help avoid this.
Dial indicators, again B&S preferred, Higher grade Starrett ok,
Mitutoys tools are good, less expensive tools but I found their mic's over built and heavy compared to Starrett B&S, etc. I once had a Mitutoyo 0-.500 mic that was almost as big as a Starrett 0-1. Mitutoyo Dial calipers I have found to have softer jaws and more prone to wear than Starrett or B&S
That's my two cents other than to say I wouldn't own a set of plastic calipers; then again, I also still prefer analog over digital tools
jag312
Member
I have three calipers. A Mitutoyo dial caliper, an Etalon dial caliper, and my favorite, a Mauser pre-WW2 Vernier caliper. I use the Mauser most of all. I have used vernier calipers since I was 12. I find them easier to use than a dial.
I have a pair of Scherr-Tumico micrometers. A 0 to 1" and a 1 to 2" I have no idea where I got them. I have had them a long time, and they work.
I have a pair of Scherr-Tumico micrometers. A 0 to 1" and a 1 to 2" I have no idea where I got them. I have had them a long time, and they work.
Part of my resume includes an apprenticeship at GM and working in both a tool room and die room. Some of the work included tolerances of .0001 of an inch. Many users of precision measuring devices forget that these tools should be calibrated periodically, especially if working with tight tolerances. Acceptable practice for us was checking on a yearly basis, but if two people were working on the same job, they would check their mics against each other to make sure they were both on the same page.
Maddog 521
Member
I have B&S and Starrett but the 0" to 1" I usually grab is an old Craftsman my dad had many years ago. It sure looks like a Lufkin to me.
I have a Starrett caliper and mic and a set of off brand mics that go to 6"
I have an inexpensive 6" calipers in my desk drawer, in my regular tool box and reloading room.
But my favorite caliper is a digital Mitutoyo
I have some standards to check mine with
I have an inexpensive 6" calipers in my desk drawer, in my regular tool box and reloading room.
But my favorite caliper is a digital Mitutoyo
I have some standards to check mine with
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Protocall_Design
Member
I went through the Boeing and Cessna in house tool & die schools, worked for both about 5 years total. During a round of layoffs, moved to KC and did t & d various places around town. Moved to my own shop full time in 2006, still at it full time.
I have a lot of metrology equipment, too much to list all of it. Lots of mikes, calipers, indicators, gage blocks and pins, surface plate, 4 height gages, rockwell testers, optical comparator, etc.
I prefer B&S and Mitutoyo tools over Starrett. The older Starrett tools are very good, and what they built the brand on. In the last 30 or 40 years, Starrett has gone downhill in quality, while B&S and Mitutoyo (I call them Mr. Yoyo) have both maintained high standards. It's sad about Starrett, they were once the premium brand.
You can often find all of these and more for a song on eBay. Super value.
I have a lot of metrology equipment, too much to list all of it. Lots of mikes, calipers, indicators, gage blocks and pins, surface plate, 4 height gages, rockwell testers, optical comparator, etc.
I prefer B&S and Mitutoyo tools over Starrett. The older Starrett tools are very good, and what they built the brand on. In the last 30 or 40 years, Starrett has gone downhill in quality, while B&S and Mitutoyo (I call them Mr. Yoyo) have both maintained high standards. It's sad about Starrett, they were once the premium brand.
You can often find all of these and more for a song on eBay. Super value.
OP
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BTW - forgot to mention..... my NEWEST measuring tool is the Mitutoyo which has to be 41 years old because I purchased it new just before I got married. All the others are at least 60, 70 or 80 years old! ALL work perfectly. 
My buddy gave me his dad's machinist tools and chests many years ago after his Dad passed away. He told me he had no use for them and didn't know how to use most of them. I offered to help him learn but he said if he needed something done where the tools would be used, I could do it for him. I didn't argue.
I also have several measuring tools I've purchased over the years. Have Starrett's, Brown & Sharpe, Mitutoyu. I even have a nice Craftsman 1" mic. that has been accurate from day one.
I have heard that the new Starrett tools are not as well made as they used to be, but I can't vouch for that since the ones I have are old and in good working condition.
I also have several measuring tools I've purchased over the years. Have Starrett's, Brown & Sharpe, Mitutoyu. I even have a nice Craftsman 1" mic. that has been accurate from day one.
I have heard that the new Starrett tools are not as well made as they used to be, but I can't vouch for that since the ones I have are old and in good working condition.
duane_wade
Member
Great discussion. I've been measuring parts for about 45 years working in the quality field, mostly machined stuff. Over the years I have used and/or calibrated most every make if micrometer, caliper, height gage and indicator made. Early Mitutoyo are good and I've seen some really good Starrett mics (depends on the model). I still have Mitutoyo mics I bought new in 1990 and they still read accurately to 50 millionths.
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OP
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My buddy gave me his dad's machinist tools and chests many years ago after his Dad passed away. He told me he had no use for them and didn't know how to use most of them. I offered to help him learn but he said if he needed something done where the tools would be used, I could do it for him. I didn't argue.
I also have several measuring tools I've purchased over the years. Have Starrett's, Brown & Sharpe, Mitutoyu. I even have a nice Craftsman 1" mic. that has been accurate from day one.
I have heard that the new Starrett tools are not as well made as they used to be, but I can't vouch for that since the ones I have are old and in good working condition.
__________________
Bill Graf
Member #2272
I only have one relatively new Starrett tool and that is a 6" Protractor. I bought it new in box about 4 years ago and it has been perfectly fine - it's still made in USA. Don't have experience with current production Mic's, Calipers, etc though.
Nice of your buddy to gift you his Dad's stuff!!
I also have several measuring tools I've purchased over the years. Have Starrett's, Brown & Sharpe, Mitutoyu. I even have a nice Craftsman 1" mic. that has been accurate from day one.
I have heard that the new Starrett tools are not as well made as they used to be, but I can't vouch for that since the ones I have are old and in good working condition.
__________________
Bill Graf
Member #2272
I only have one relatively new Starrett tool and that is a 6" Protractor. I bought it new in box about 4 years ago and it has been perfectly fine - it's still made in USA. Don't have experience with current production Mic's, Calipers, etc though.
Nice of your buddy to gift you his Dad's stuff!!
Ole Joe Clark
Absent Comrade
When I worked in the shop I ran gear hobbing machines, Hardinge second operation machine, an old South Bend lathe, and my favorite, a Levin hand operated screw machine (aka jeweler's lathe) with a miniature drilling attachment. It was a great piece of equipment.
They would take a job that they didn't have a clue how to make, and bring them to me. I've machined molybdenum, titanium, monel, hastelloy, aluminel, and who knows what else.
The most difficult job that I can remember was machined from FMYB, (free machining yellow brass), my favorite material. It was machined on the Leven. I have a few odds and ends from that job in my memory box.
The part was 5/32" diameter x 5/8" long, with various diameters turned, and a .020 dia holed drill about 9/16" deep from one end, and either a .007, .010, or a .013 diameter hole drilled from the other end into the .020 dia hole.
I well remember the learning curve that I went through with that little part. No one had ever used the drilling attachment on the Levin, but I figured it out. The first .020 dia holes took about 20 minutes per hole, the last cycle time that I heard for the same hole was about 20 seconds.
Have a blessed day,
Leon
They would take a job that they didn't have a clue how to make, and bring them to me. I've machined molybdenum, titanium, monel, hastelloy, aluminel, and who knows what else.
The most difficult job that I can remember was machined from FMYB, (free machining yellow brass), my favorite material. It was machined on the Leven. I have a few odds and ends from that job in my memory box.
The part was 5/32" diameter x 5/8" long, with various diameters turned, and a .020 dia holed drill about 9/16" deep from one end, and either a .007, .010, or a .013 diameter hole drilled from the other end into the .020 dia hole.
I well remember the learning curve that I went through with that little part. No one had ever used the drilling attachment on the Levin, but I figured it out. The first .020 dia holes took about 20 minutes per hole, the last cycle time that I heard for the same hole was about 20 seconds.
Have a blessed day,
Leon
I use a 6 inch Mitutoyo electronic caliper. Mostly for reloading, but also for the lathe and mini mill. Along with Starrett micrometers I get by.
I just decided last week to list my machinist tools on ebay..selling 5 starrett micrometers that probably cost 750 new 20 years ago for 150....bore gauges, adjustable parallels, dial indicators...i haven't used them.in years and if I sell enough stuff, I'll sell the Gerstner tool box too....i kept 2 micrometers, both 0 to 1", a starrett and a lufkin that has a holster, and both dial calipers, one starrett, the other a no name, and my starrett combination square set with the 24" rule. At some point i have to give stuff up.
Robert
Robert
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twodog max
Member
If anyone is interested and has a need for I have a boxed set of micrometers, I think that is the correct term, that I was given over 40 years ago and have never used. Made by Central Tool Co of Cranston Rhode Island. If anyone is interested in having and using them for the price of a flat rate USPS mailing they are yours. I have pictures I can email you. Just PM and express a desire First come first served.
Could be, but a lot of the Craftsman Mic's were made by Slocomb
I saw those referred to as "Yellow Dog Bombs" because supposedly only a yellow dog would use them.
twodog max
Member
My offer has been accepted.
OP
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Well fellas..... this thread brought a smile to my face in that there are still some who actually know about and use precision measuring instruments. 
Probably mostly because of our age and maturity. Most young adults under the age of 40 don't even know what they are! 
The only only measuring tools most of them have are the apps on their cell phones.
Probably mostly because of our age and maturity. Most young adults under the age of 40 don't even know what they are! The only only measuring tools most of them have are the apps on their cell phones. 
I bought a Frankford Arsenal electronic micrometer about 5 years ago after my mechanical dial mic went bad. I am totally impressed with the quality and accuracy, but especially the price. I also have to say that my go to mic is a little Ames 1" dial micrometer that was my father's and been using it for 40 years without a single issue. No idea how old it is or what they cost today, but would not be without one.
