SlowFuse
Member
Cfullgraf, what brand is the solar version you have. That sounds like a great trade off for someone wanting digital but not having the hassle of battery replacement.
caliper preference?
- Thread starter marksg
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My Starrett digitals retain zero, turn on at the slightest movement and auto-off, can be rezeroed in any position, and convert from British to metric units with the push of a button.
I was having a problem with the Frankfort dial caliper maintaining zero, so I replaced it. Didn't get rid of it mind you, it may be handy if the battery in the Starretts dies.
I also have a Starrett 1" Vernier micrometer caliper, but the digital caliper has mostly retired it.
I was having a problem with the Frankfort dial caliper maintaining zero, so I replaced it. Didn't get rid of it mind you, it may be handy if the battery in the Starretts dies.
I also have a Starrett 1" Vernier micrometer caliper, but the digital caliper has mostly retired it.
jcwit
member
I use both digital and dial, have both in Starrett & Mitutoyo and Harbor Freight. Batteries are no problem as we keep plenty of extras, they are the same size as is used in a lazer pointer aka kitty toy. Very, very inexpensive thru E-Bay. Ten for $ .99 with free shipping seems to be quite affordable.
Jdillon
Member
Marksg:
Check Amazon for gauge blocks. They have a good selection at various prices. I have a set of Mitutoyo that I purchased from that site.
Check Amazon for gauge blocks. They have a good selection at various prices. I have a set of Mitutoyo that I purchased from that site.
Striker Fired
Member
- Joined
- Oct 30, 2011
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Being a machinist by trade I've had them all and will take the digitals anyday. Batteries going dead ? huh? I use my Brown and Sharp EVERY day ALL day and I have to replace the batteries about every two years, and that is just because I figured it's time,not because it's dead. I had a Starret for 7 years(it had issues with heat when placed on a machine), then a Mitituyo for another seven or eight(dropped it,
), got the B &S. I had a dial at first and others here at work have them, some have issues with grit getting into the rack and jumping teeth(mine did badly,not all) so I don't bother with them,they are good though. The old standbye manual scale type,always accurate but hard to read when lighting isn't right, but you can always count on them.
), got the B &S. I had a dial at first and others here at work have them, some have issues with grit getting into the rack and jumping teeth(mine did badly,not all) so I don't bother with them,they are good though. The old standbye manual scale type,always accurate but hard to read when lighting isn't right, but you can always count on them.Wil Terry
Member
BINGO !!!!!I actually prefer old-school vernier calipers. No batteries to worry about changing and just seems less fragile than a dial. Plus that's what I learned to use in my physics lab in college and so that being my first exposure to a caliper, the preference just stuck.
AND they never wear out.
For MY reloading needs my Harbor Freight digital is plenty accurate enough. About $10 or so. I get the coin batteries off flea-bay for about $2 for a ten pack. - battmanaz.
For those who require or simply enjoy more precision there are many pricier options, both manual and digital.
For those who require or simply enjoy more precision there are many pricier options, both manual and digital.
Pretty much everone on here is correct. I still even have the plastic pair that I got with my first reloading set up. but after a lot of years being a diemaker I would have to say you get what you pay for. As far as digital I don't like them. I have a pair and still have the orignal batterie laying in the box 20 years later. The reason I don't like them is I don't trust them. Don't know why, just dont. Now as far as reloading goes I know my luck and that is the time that I would need them is the time the batterie would be dead. Or all coroded. So that is why I like dial. SPI is a good brand also, besides Mytitoyo, Starrett, B&S and so on. Go to the tool sites. MSC direct, travers, and so on and see what they have on sale. Also if you know the price of a good pair hit the pawn shops and don't be afraid to offer them 1/2 or less that they have a pair for sale for. Because they gave even less then that.
Mine are good to half of a thousandth & is never more then that with a measurement. If so I wipe them off & check again. You be surprised how think dust is. I replaced a pear about 2 years ago that I had over 10 years. A buck a year is pretty good. I drag them around all over the place. They bounce in my truck, get handed to the kids to go measure bolts or whatever, & probably even to the wife. The only thing better about dial calipers is quick referance points drawen on the face to measure between max & min. Since there is no need to know the measurement you just make sure it is between the lines.
Walking Dead
Member
Tesa digitals just because I'm a high roller like that.
James2
Member
Prefer dial calipers.
jcwit
member
I never understand the "I don't trust the digital's", but then you trust the digital readouts on the mill's and other machines.
They all work the same.
They all work the same.
It is a Mitutoyo Digimatic Solar, Model number CD-S6"P.
It works great as long as the solar panel is directed towards the light source. Not really an issue in a well lit reloading room but you do learn to work around its limitations.
On packaging machinery, I found I could take a measurement in the bowels of the machine, not move the jaws and bring the caliper out to a light source. After turning the caliper on, i would close the jaws and get my measurement. The numbers were usually adequate for what I needed.
But, yes, I get the benefits of a digital caliper without constantly changing batteries.
On the subject of batteries, at work, we had a Starret digital micrometer. We used it infrequently, once every several months or so. It would kill the batteries between uses so I would remove the batteries when not actively using the micrometer. So, the bargain priced calipers are not unique to the short battery life issue.
On the other hand, I have a digital read out for one of my drill presses. It is the same kind of technology as the digital calipers. I have left it on for months at a time and the battery lasted several years. Go figure.
Damon555
Member
I have a dillon dial caliper that I will never part with.
4895
Member
I jus use a stick fer me measurin'
bergmen
Member.
I learned a long time ago, as a youngin', from my journeyman machinist father to not go cheap on precision tools. He insisted on Starret for everything and sometimes had to save for awhile to get what he needed or wanted. I have mostly Starret as well but I chose Mitutoyo for my digital calipers.
Had them for years (3 sets, 0-6", 0-8" 0-12") and have never had a battery go dead as of yet. But I wear battery operated watches, use a battery operated cell phone and battery operated cameras. Never thought to consider manual windup versions of those.
One of the great advantages of the digitals is instant metric-inch conversions at the push of a button.
Dan
Had them for years (3 sets, 0-6", 0-8" 0-12") and have never had a battery go dead as of yet. But I wear battery operated watches, use a battery operated cell phone and battery operated cameras. Never thought to consider manual windup versions of those.
One of the great advantages of the digitals is instant metric-inch conversions at the push of a button.
Dan
Fishslayer
Member
Place I used to work had a drop dead sexay Mitutoyo digital. Apparently it didn't have an auto off feature cause the other techs were always coming over to borrow my $10 Centech.
Don't know where everyone's getting the short battery life thing. IIRC the set on my bench lasted around 2 years or so...
steelerdude99
Member
Like mgmorden, I too prefer vernier calipers. I have an old Helios vernier caliper that's good to 1/1000". You subdivide each 1/10" into four separate ranges and then subdivide that 25/1000" range by picking which of 25 segments lines up best on the ruler. Pretty accurate from 0-6" for inside and outside measurements. The only better measure I have a micrometer. A micrometer is way "overkill" for overall length (OAL) and a micrometer does not work outside its range (e.g. 0-1", 1-2", ... etc.). I found the PIC on the net of the same model that I have (sans case).
chuck
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Nanook
Member
I have a set from Midway USA, a dial caliper. I purchased a digital Mitutoyo at a gun show a couple of years ago. Man, I'm spoiled now!
My eyes appreciated the digital, but I learned how to use a dial years ago before reloading.
My eyes appreciated the digital, but I learned how to use a dial years ago before reloading.
Hondo 60
Member
Bought one of those $20 digital models from MidwayUSA years ago.
I've had to change the battery twice, but they come in packs of 3.
So I still have one more battery.
I wish I would've gotten into reloading when my dad was still alive.
He was a machinist & all sorts of cool tools.
But I didn't know I'd need any of them.
I've had to change the battery twice, but they come in packs of 3.
So I still have one more battery.
I wish I would've gotten into reloading when my dad was still alive.
He was a machinist & all sorts of cool tools.
But I didn't know I'd need any of them.
rikman
Member
Digital--Mitutoyo
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