Dial caliper doesn't always return to zero

[Gil P.]

Is it normal for a dial caliper to not always return exactly to zero? Mine varies + - .0005.

They are Etalon dial calipers that I bought as a refurbished set.

 

[GunzRUs]

Is it normal for a dial caliper to not always return exactly to zero? Mine varies + - .0005.

They are Etalon dial calipers that I bought as a refurbished set.

Check for dirt on the blades, mine does it to

 

[Martin52]

Open the blades and slide in a sheet of clean photocopy paper, close the blades then withdraw the paper with the blades closed. This ought to do it, if cleaning is the problem.

 

[TAJ45]

^^^^^^ Same process for your 0-1 MICS.

 

[Gil P.]

I'll try cleaning the blades, thank you.

 

[Ackman]

All it takes is just a tiny little grit or dust something in the gear teeth. Calipers in the my shop were like that only a bit worse. I just took it apart and gave it a good cleaning. Good for another 40yrs I hope.

 

[Hal]

They are only accurate to .001

Hal

 

[BoydAllen]

One thing that I have done to my dial calipers is to adjust the "gibs", tiny screws that you can use to set the jaws parallel. and snug up the sliding jaw clearance, on the part that it slides on. Another thing worth doing is to clean the rack with stiff brush.

 

[hogpatrol]

I wouldn't worry about it. Calipers are just one step up from a good six inch scale.

Edit: Etalons are accurate to .002 (plus or minus .001)

 

[jackson1]

I believe many people ask more of their dial calipers than they were intended to give. All my life I have had one in the top of my tool box and used them daily, but when wanting to make reliable accurate measurements in the range of+/-0.001, I would choose a different devise. How's that for a run on sentence?

 

[AckleymanII]

A good Brown and Sharpe(swiss made) Calipers, Starrett, Mitutoyo mechanical calipers are tools you will cherish in your shop.

 

[hogpatrol]

With skillful use, these will get a more accurate dimension than the 1/2 thousandth reading, plus or minus 1 digital calipers. With good eyes, within five or less with a good 100ths scale.

 

[epc308]

With skillful use, these will get a more accurate dimension than the 1/2 thousandth reading, plus or minus 1 digital calipers. With good eyes, within five or less with a good 100ths scale.
View attachment 1209361

View attachment 1209362

Oh, to have the vision I once had. The split on a caliper dial is still doable, but reading a scale to .005 is in the past.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

A good Brown and Sharpe(swiss made) Calipers, Starrett, Mitutoyo mechanical calipers are tools you will cherish in your shop.

Etalon are swiss made and a step up from 99% of the others out there. Think of them as a brown and sharpe with a thumb roller

 

[Guewithane]

As others have said here, I consider +/- .0005 a bit of a bridge to far. With the right calipers and a good feel it is possible. The “good feel” is important as all calipers are very springy when compared to a micrometer. Referencing it out on a known gage pin is a good way to develop the right pressure.
I used a lot of them over the years as a QC manager in a small machine shop. If the customer had a +/- .0005 tolerance on the print then it would be highly unlikely the machinists could comply to that requirement using calipers. Some tried over the years and I usually had to send the parts back with a “non conformance slip”

 

[6MMsteve]

when your calipers don't return to zero always hold them up to the light and see if light shines through the jaws, if so clean jaws check for a small burr on the ID side, chk points also for a small burr use a magnifying glass..make sure they close at the end smooth if not you have a small burr or grit

 

[Will Henry]

I have a set of Mititoyo calipers which I have had for 45 years and they were very good for forty years but now they are off by a couple thou on a 2 inch gauge. They have been used constantly since I bought them. I also have Etalon, Starrett, and Chinese KBC's; all of which seem to be accurate. I have vernier calipers which are older and are perfectly accurate but a little more fussy to use. I like the verniers because they are better in a dirty environment. A .0005 variation in reading is usually due to dust on the faces. WH

 

[Toolbreaker]

I have vernier calipers which are older and are perfectly accurate but a little more fussy to use. I like the verniers because they are better in a dirty environment. A .0005 variation in reading is usually due to dust on the faces. WH

I do like my B&S verniers, but my arms have been getting awful short to see them as well as I used to.

 

[Brians356]

Check for dirt on the blades, mine does it to

The #1 problem, a tiny bit of grit or something on the arms obstructing full closure. If you use fine steel wool on your bench, it could likely be a tiny filament of the wool. I always wipe off the closing surfaces, then verify zero before using.
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[7887mm08]

when your calipers don't return to zero always hold them up to the light and see if light shines through the jaws, if so clean jaws check for a small burr on the ID side, chk points also for a small burr use a magnifying glass..make sure they close at the end smooth if not you have a small burr or grit

THIS^^^^^