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I was sanding out the marks from the drum sander in a nice pair of granadillo sides. When I stopped to check, I was already at 0.065" and although they were plenty stiff, the heavy grit was still plenty obvious. I sanded a while more, fuming to myself. Now they're at 0.075" and starting to feel floppy like I'd expect.

This was a under $10 digital caliper that (I think) has done me well for many years, but has caused me grief a few times recently. Any recommendations? What's the price point for not too crappy? What's the advantage of actually good?

And while I'm asking, can anyone point me to a plunge dial indicator in mm?

Thanks,

Mike

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Mike Lindstrom

Mine cost around $40. They are Kobalt brand from Lowes, and were well worth the money. They are digital, so if you prefer a dial, you'd have to look elsewhere.

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Mike

The only thing nescessary for evil to thrive is for good men to do nothing.

If you have the patience for it, eBay can be decent. Lots of old machine shops being cleaned out and put onto auction, and you can get gently used Starrett and Brown & Sharpe gear for fairly cheap. The problem is that the seller doesn't always know what they have as they were just the one cleaning out the shop, so you have to inspect carefully and ask good questions.

Years ago Costco was selling caliper/micrometer sets for dirt cheap with little wooden cases. I still kick myself for not buying up a bunch - I'm not sure I was aware how good the price was at the time.

I get the Harbor Freight ones - I have a feeling that a lot of theses are made in the same factory and if not the same factory - they are made with the same components. Just take a good look at all of them - they look the same. I buy them whenever the coupon comes - right now I have 1 spare and I plan to pick up another soon as I have the 9.99 coupon.

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It's this new idea from recent decades that everyone gets a participation award. - MUX

Vernier improves math skills; not so good for poor eyesight or quick readings.

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Always have plenty of sandpaper; it's rough out there!

Sounds good. Off to HF first thing in the morning!

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Mike Lindstrom

Have you checked the battery? And are you sure you zeroed it out both times? I've got 3 and never had one go bad, even the cheapies that are 10 years old and have been dropped a few times. I have a set of drill indexes I check them against now and then and none have been out by more than .0005". Maybe I got lucky.

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http://www.chassonguitars.com

The battery isn't brand new, but recent. I've repeatedly zeroed it, and it's done some other odd things recently. Trying to mark the center on a board, as I got up to 3" it seemed to work, but as I got to 4" it jumped back to 3" or so. I couldn't not figure out why 1.7" was so far off center. I don't know if it's related, but somewhere around the spot where it was having trouble it has never moved smoothly. Anyway for the cost of a new one, it isn't worth messing with this one.

Looks like HF is open already. I better get moving. I've not had much productive shop time this year and need to get busy.

Mike

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Mike Lindstrom

All the cheapy ones I've had have had problems with the sliding mechanism getting not smooth. I've got used Matco and Mitytuyo for $35 that are much better with that.

I've never had one that was inaccurate, but I did have one that added .2 to every measurement thing.

Getting the lifetime warranty one seems like a good plan!

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Pat

I've had the same dial caliper for the past twelve years. It's one of the first tools I bought myself. Nothing special, just some $30 thing from the local hardware store. Does it have to be digital?

To each their own. I prefer non digital. I find that on a dial you can estimate the ten thousandths position as best as your eyesight allows and it'll be accurate. That isn't always necessary, but it can be nice. I use calipers for laying out nut slots, so that could be part of why I'm so picky.

Sometimes the digital comes in real handy because you can zero the dial at any point and work forward or backward from there. No math required. It is also easier to see for those of use that are in the geezer category.

I have the Grizzly 6" dial caliper, been using it for about four years with no problems. Not as silky smooth as my Mitutoyo but plenty good enough for my shop.
http://m.grizzly.com/products/6-Dial-Caliper/G9256


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The dial calipers are one of the few things I'll buy from Harbor Freight. The one I have is accurate and remarkably cheap. I also have a Harbor Freight dial gauge that I put into my own frame for a thickness caliper. Cheap and effective,and I can measure the thickness in the middle of a plate,

Thanks for all the ideas. HF 4" digital acquired this morning. Sides were confirmed to be 0.75ish and bent perfectly. I haven't gotten much done recently. Feels good to be back in the shop and making progress.

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Mike Lindstrom

My favorite Cheapie caliper is a no-name repaired 1" "Sheet metal Mic" with a 13" throat.. I can measure nearly all the way across a jointed up top set with it.....

Otherwise - "Good" name brand units can be had so cheap online that it's not worth buying the no-name knockoffs.... High precision measuring instruments is one place I don't like to cheap out with discount house fare....

Thanks

John