New Calipers (Have to Brag)

CoalTrain49 said:
I've been using that exact same caliper for many years. They seem to go out of adjustment after I use them a few times. Just re-zero often if you want accurate measurements. Zero ain't always zero. I think most things digital are like that. I know my powder scale needs the zero reset often.
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This is one reason I don't do digital.
I had a digital scale once. I put a powder charge it the pan, took it off, put it back on and had a different reading. Did it again and different reading.
Same with a digital caliper years ago, different readings.

To each their own. What ever works for you is the way to go.
 
Highland Lofts said:
This is one reason I don't do digital.
I had a digital scale once. I put a powder charge it the pan, took it off, put it back on and had a different reading. Did it again and different reading.
Same with a digital caliper years ago, different readings.

To each their own. What ever works for you is the way to go.
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Yeah I think price/quality is an important consideration particularly on digital scales. The cheap one I got was effectively worthless and I never use it.
 
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Also important to clean the faces of your calipers (and mikes, for that matter). You can close them on a piece of paper and drag it out to clean them.
 
I purchased my first caliphers back in the early '70's. They were vernier and I was smart enough to buy the little magnifier gadget to read them. I found it annoying and slow and it wasn't long until i bought a dial caliper, a big improvement IMO. I bought a pair of harbor Freight digital calipers for quick and dirty measuring years ago. I also bought some mikes about the same time as my first calipher and have added to the supply over the years. Funny thing is the $11 on sale HF digitals are always correct when checked on a standard. I always store all of them closed but not tight, only touching, in their cases and to this day have had no rust or any other problem. All still work just as well as they did when new. I have always taken good care of my equipment no matter what it is.

The battery in the cheapie HR lasts a long time. I have a different brand that was quite a bit more expensive and I have to pull the battery as it will die in a short time. I became tired of doing that and switched to a dial calipher and they just reside without a battery in their case. I should probably chunk them in the dumpster and get them out of the drawer they take up space in.

I have a Frankford Arsenal digital scale that I use to check bullet weigh. It always checks correct with it's check weight but I still do powder with my old RCBS beam scale. I trust gravity more than electronics.
 
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I have an old Pact BBK-???-something-like-that eScale and it is flawless and accurate! Can't believe it was discontinued when I went to have my friend buy one. Included 20 & 30 grain check weights and even has a limited range cal check limit, so values under 200-grains would be dead nuts on. Just turn on 20-30-mins before use to allow it to settle and don't put it where HVAC can blow directly towards it.
 
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Highland Lofts said:
An electronic scale would probably be nice to have when checking weights on bullets that were not in a marked container.
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Electronic they are good for fast measure but I only have a food scale! my 2 scales are balance and I love them

also… every one should have EMP proof equipment
 
dredd said:
Talk about a nice surprise! These were gifted to me today.

My old Mitutoyo Digital Calipers have to be at least 15 years old and going strong, but I sure as heck was thrilled to receive these.


View attachment 1189886
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Give it a thorough verification of readings over along the entire range, . Years ago, there was a big recall on them because the scales were laid incorrectly and measurements were way off on the fractionals between whole numbers. The even whole numbers (1, 2, 3 etc.) would read/display ok, but what was supposed to be 1.3750" would display as a random number like 1.7589", 3.8750" would display as 4.2379"... that was on the 6" and 8" versions from what I recall. Don't remember if the 12" were affected by that too.


.
 
NapalmMan67 said:
Give it a thorough verification of readings over along the entire range, . Years ago, there was a big recall on them because the scales were laid incorrectly and measurements were way off on the fractionals between whole numbers. The even whole numbers (1, 2, 3 etc.) would read/display ok, but what was supposed to be 1.3750" would display as a random number like 1.7589", 3.8750" would display as 4.2379"... that was on the 6" and 8" versions from what I recall. Don't remember if the 12" were affected by that too.


.
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I appreciate the info. This set is probably a week old.
Came from a distributor that moves a LOT of metrology equipment.
I doubt they would be old stock.

I also have access to plenty of certified standards to run them up against.

Thanks for taking the time to post!
 
Nice! I never heard that you're not supposed to store calipers with the jaws closed. I've heard it for mics, but not calipers. Thanks for the tips. I use a pair of cheapo RCBS calipers, and I've been happy thus far. I paid more so that if they ever go awry, I can send them back to RCBS for repair/replacement. Had them about 7 years now.
 
Highland Lofts said:
This is one reason I don't do digital.
I had a digital scale once. I put a powder charge it the pan, took it off, put it back on and had a different reading. Did it again and different reading.
Same with a digital caliper years ago, different readings.

To each their own. What ever works for you is the way to go.
Click to expand...
One thing that helps is to have pins and weights to check digital, which I have and use. I check everything before I use it. It isn't hard to check and only takes a second. I worked as a surveyor for 40 years so I know digital instruments can and do go out of adjustment, but the speed and accuracy far outweighs using older methods of measuring things . That's why we checked them regularly against known values. I don't have a digital watch however. :cool:
 
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dredd said:
Talk about a nice surprise! These were gifted to me today.

My old Mitutoyo Digital Calipers have to be at least 15 years old and going strong, but I sure as heck was thrilled to receive these.


View attachment 1189886
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Thats a nice gift! I bought a set of those a few years ago.
dredd said:
I NEVER (I avoid that word as much as possible) store Mic's or Calipers closed. That really yanks my chain when I see it.

I try to educate those around me, but it mostly falls on deaf ears.

It's interesting that you noticed.
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I was going to ask about this but I see that its been ask and answered.
 
dredd said:
I appreciate the info. This set is probably a week old.
Came from a distributor that moves a LOT of metrology equipment.
I doubt they would be old stock.

I also have access to plenty of certified standards to run them up against.

Thanks for taking the time to post!
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Has nothing to do with old stock. We found years later, even after they introuduced the Absolute version, this issue would pop it's ugly head up on occasion. You'd hope they'd have improved the manufacturing process over the years, but you know, the more things change, the more they don't. I'm sure yours are fine though, good luck with them.
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And yes, don't store calipers or 0-1" Mics with the jaws or anvil/spindle closed. Clean and dry them, then close them to have only a slight gap and engage the locking mechanisim to keep from accidently shifting closed. That's direct from the Mitutoyo Factory Service group in Japan (at least that's what I remember from them telling me while I was there) for Mitutoyo anyway.


.
 
Lefty38-55 said:
Note the practice was done so more to prevent corrosion between the mating surfaces than for tension ...
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Precision measuring devices have been made from corrosion resistant metals for over 50 years. If your tools are that old maybe you need to leave the jaws open. Modern measuring tools are made of metals that don't easily corrode so leaving the jaws open is not needed, but I agree that you should not clamp the jaws closed ether. Leaving the jaws together not locked or clamped won't hurt anything. Besides the mic or caliper is not the final sizing machine if you are working in a factory of any size.
 
I put a piece of cleaning patch between the jaws of my calipers. I have dial, digital and vernier, I prefer the dial calipers over the digital.
 
mcb said:
"Digital is just a fad." a research scientist I worked with at my last job use to make that joke fairly frequently and he was old enough you where never sure how serious he was. He was 85 and still working, hopefully I can be that spry and cynical when I get to that age.

In my own use have had more dial calipers fail to hard use in the shop than digitals calipers, and to be safe I have a few Vernier to keep my slide rules company.
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Pretty amusing, really.

Precision measurement instruments, if not periodically calibrated, should be periodically cal checked. Not that difficult to do.

And if found digital calipers to be every bit as accurate and reliable as non- digital.
 
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