coondogger
Member
- Joined
- Aug 18, 2009
- Messages
- 552
Outside of Starrett, what’s the best dial caliper under $100?
Have not seen that.I have to ask, why not Starrett?
They can be had for 100 bucks.
Close to $100 and worth every penny. Best digital caliper I've used. This company is a trusted dealer as some have reported fake Chinese knock-offs buying from Amazon suppliers and others. Highly recommend this caliper.
https://www.msi-viking.com/Mitutoyo_500-196-30_6-Inch_Absolute_Digital_Caliper
I agree with Harbor Freight. I'm also a hobby machinist so have a small assortment of measuring tools and standards to calibrate them.
The frequently on sale for $9.99 HF digital calipers are perfectly fine, IF:
You have a store close by
And can be bothered to do it.
Mine is just a few miles away and I pass it often anyway so not at all inconvenient to stop in. I'll buy a handful of them for $9.99 ea, take home & check them out, keep the couple best, return remainder. Alternatively you could check out in the store, but they might frown on you unboxing and repacking their product in an aisle sorting thru them.
But there are plenty that are silky smooth, dead nuts accurate over entire range (don't just use a 1" test), and will repeat same measurement infinite times. Make sure all that, then make sure it always restarts in inch or mm - wherever you had it last, and make sure if you leave it on & untouched for 5 min or so it auto shuts down. So you sort thru half dozen to get that one - you literally just got a Mitutoyo-level quality measuring tool for $10! I have both and use Mitutoyo at work frequently so I have plenty of opportunity continually compare the two very similar tools. The Mitu is better looking cosmetically and the plastic thumb rest in front of the thumb roller feels better. That's it. They both measure to same .0005 level.
Ultimately - they're more precise than you are with a caliper - an outside mic will be better to measure most of what you typically use a caliper for out of convenience. Just rarely need that level of precision. Not making space shuttle parts where 1 thou may as well be a quarter mile....
I forget the battery size - LR44 maybe - but whatever it is, get a multi blister pack of name brand like Energizer from Amazon cheap. When the initial battery fails, don't use the included spare, use the name brand & if sorted properly and made sure yours auto-off's properly, it will be years and years until the battery fails again!
i worked there part time during the days when i was working at ups at night. they don't mind you checking them out. the caliber boxes open with out destroying its package. bring a bullet with you to check the calibers. remember they are life time warranty, when the batteries die get a new par.I agree with Harbor Freight. I'm also a hobby machinist so have a small assortment of measuring tools and standards to calibrate them.
The frequently on sale for $9.99 HF digital calipers are perfectly fine, IF:
You have a store close by
And can be bothered to do it.
Mine is just a few miles away and I pass it often anyway so not at all inconvenient to stop in. I'll buy a handful of them for $9.99 ea, take home & check them out, keep the couple best, return remainder. Alternatively you could check out in the store, but they might frown on you unboxing and repacking their product in an aisle sorting thru them.
But there are plenty that are silky smooth, dead nuts accurate over entire range (don't just use a 1" test), and will repeat same measurement infinite times. Make sure all that, then make sure it always restarts in inch or mm - wherever you had it last, and make sure if you leave it on & untouched for 5 min or so it auto shuts down. So you sort thru half dozen to get that one - you literally just got a Mitutoyo-level quality measuring tool for $10! I have both and use Mitutoyo at work frequently so I have plenty of opportunity continually compare the two very similar tools. The Mitu is better looking cosmetically and the plastic thumb rest in front of the thumb roller feels better. That's it. They both measure to same .0005 level.
Ultimately - they're more precise than you are with a caliper - an outside mic will be better to measure most of what you typically use a caliper for out of convenience. Just rarely need that level of precision. Not making space shuttle parts where 1 thou may as well be a quarter mile....
I forget the battery size - LR44 maybe - but whatever it is, get a multi blister pack of name brand like Energizer from Amazon cheap. When the initial battery fails, don't use the included spare, use the name brand & if sorted properly and made sure yours auto-off's properly, it will be years and years until the battery fails again!
I have a Midway branded caliper.
Close to $100 and worth every penny. Best digital caliper I've used. This company is a trusted dealer as some have reported fake Chinese knock-offs buying from Amazon suppliers and others. Highly recommend this caliper.
https://www.msi-viking.com/Mitutoyo_500-196-30_6-Inch_Absolute_Digital_Caliper
Mitutoyo, Brown & Sharp are also good ones.
That said you you have a set of standards you might find a $10 set is just as accurate.
If you are looking for precision a caliper isn’t the right device anyway a micrometer is what you are looking for. For most reloading tasks a caliper is just fine, expensive or cheap.
I agree, I have an older set bought at a flea market; older as in no digital stuff, purely mechanical. Well made and exact
Have not seen that.
+1 on the Fowler Stainless. Love mine.
Outside of Starrett, what’s the best dial caliper under $100?