Caliper recommendations

[padom]

I work at the State testing laboratory for the Department of Transportation. I had the machine shop check my HF calipers and micrometer and there is no, zero difference in measuring accuracy and repeatability with these and their Lab standard Starrets. Sorry but that's the way it is. You are paying for smoothness and the name.

Your lab checking your HF calipers means nothing. They very well may be accurate right now, mine were also. Drop them, use them for a year or two, etc then tell me how accurate they are. You won't know when they go bad unless you (or your lab) is checking them regularly. Trust me, I just shattered a pair of HF calipers on my concrete shop floor this weekend out of frustration. After neck sizing brass with a Redding Competition micrometer neck sizing die with a .336 bushing this weekend my HF calipers were showing the necks as measuring .3285 after sizing but the .334 and .335 bushings would not fit over the necks. If the neck trulely measured .3285 the .334 and .335 bushings would slip right over and be sloppy as hell. I ordered a pair of Mitutoyo's that arrived sunday and sure enough the necks measured exactly what they were supposed to, .3365 (because of spring back).

Hopefully you have the proper tools to regularly check your HF calipers for accuracy and catch it before they go bad and you mess up your brass or something more serious.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

I got an idea! don't use your calipers in an area where they can be dropped and broken and take your time handling them :

I have never dropped a pair of calipers on anything hard or from any height that could damage them. Always use them over my reloading bench or work bench. I know that's not possible for some folks using them in their profession, but for the hand loader, it should be a pretty simple rule to follow. If I must use as caliper where it can be dropped and damaged, I go to my dial caliper. Much more robust build.

I agree with the earlier post that if cheaper calipers are just as accurate as high dollar calipers, it would hurt a lot less if you broke a pair of the cheap or mid priced calipers. If anyone thinks they can drop a pair of high dollar Mitutouyo or Starret digital calipers on concrete from 4-5 feet and they keep working fine every time, they are badly mistaken.

 

[LHSmith]

Trust me, I just shattered a pair of HF calipers on my concrete shop floor this weekend out of frustration. After neck sizing brass with a Redding Competition micrometer neck sizing die with a .336 bushing this weekend my HF calipers were showing the necks as measuring .3285 after sizing but the .334 and .335 bushings would not fit over the necks. If the neck trulely measured .3285 the .334 and .335 bushings would slip right over and be sloppy as hell. I ordered a pair of Mitutoyo's that arrived sunday and sure enough the necks measured exactly what they were supposed to, .3365 (because of spring back).

Hopefully you have the proper tools to regularly check your HF calipers for accuracy and catch it before they go bad and you mess up your brass or something more serious.

The proper tool to measure case neck OD is a micrometer. Calipers are the proper tool for measuring case length.

 

[jimcasey01]

I work at the State testing laboratory for the Department of Transportation. I had the machine shop check my HF calipers and micrometer and there is no, zero difference in measuring accuracy and repeatability with these and their Lab standard Starrets. Sorry but that's the way it is. You are paying for smoothness and the name.

Your lab checking your HF calipers means nothing. They very well may be accurate right now, mine were also. Drop them, use them for a year or two, etc then tell me how accurate they are. You won't know when they go bad unless you (or your lab) is checking them regularly. Trust me, I just shattered a pair of HF calipers on my concrete shop floor this weekend out of frustration. After neck sizing brass with a Redding Competition micrometer neck sizing die with a .336 bushing this weekend my HF calipers were showing the necks as measuring .3285 after sizing but the .334 and .335 bushings would not fit over the necks. If the neck trulely measured .3285 the .334 and .335 bushings would slip right over and be sloppy as hell. I ordered a pair of Mitutoyo's that arrived sunday and sure enough the necks measured exactly what they were supposed to, .3365 (because of spring back).

Hopefully you have the proper tools to regularly check your HF calipers for accuracy and catch it before they go bad and you mess up your brass or something more serious.

Micrometers and for those insisting on using calipers, a calibration block or good pin gauge at or near the diameter that you are measuring used for calibration will save a lot of frustration. If trying to measure less than .001 accurately, use a micrometer, calipers will not work with that fine of increment. It does not matter if they read in .0001 increments, still won't work. Calipers are for rough measurements.

 

[JRS]

I work at the State testing laboratory for the Department of Transportation. I had the machine shop check my HF calipers and micrometer and there is no, zero difference in measuring accuracy and repeatability with these and their Lab standard Starrets. Sorry but that's the way it is. You are paying for smoothness and the name.

Your lab checking your HF calipers means nothing. They very well may be accurate right now, mine were also. Drop them, use them for a year or two, etc then tell me how accurate they are. You won't know when they go bad unless you (or your lab) is checking them regularly. Trust me, I just shattered a pair of HF calipers on my concrete shop floor this weekend out of frustration. After neck sizing brass with a Redding Competition micrometer neck sizing die with a .336 bushing this weekend my HF calipers were showing the necks as measuring .3285 after sizing but the .334 and .335 bushings would not fit over the necks. If the neck trulely measured .3285 the .334 and .335 bushings would slip right over and be sloppy as hell. I ordered a pair of Mitutoyo's that arrived sunday and sure enough the necks measured exactly what they were supposed to, .3365 (because of spring back).

Hopefully you have the proper tools to regularly check your HF calipers for accuracy and catch it before they go bad and you mess up your brass or something more serious.

Micrometers and for those insisting on using calipers, a calibration block or good pin gauge at or near the diameter that you are measuring used for calibration will save a lot of frustration. If trying to measure less than .001 accurately, use a micrometer, calipers will not work with that fine of increment. It does not matter if they read in .0001 increments, still won't work. Calipers are for rough measurements.

Exactly the education I received from Dan Dowling and Stu Harvey

 

[Raythemanroe]

For the Micrometer.
I just went and did a search on the iGaging Speedmic to get a price on it. It seems there are 2 of them quite different internally I guess, but practically identical in looks .
The Igaging Speedmic price I received was $165.00 on Amazon and another one they carried is $39.95 looks the same. I could not see or find a model/serial number for either one (That bothers me a lot).
I found this out by clicking on 2 different searches, so if you are going to buy one you better be very careful !

For the Calliper .
I didn’t check them out, I have a good one.

Good luck and be careful, this could very well be a "Bait and Switch" type thing.

Watch the YouTube link on the second page, clearly you will know which is the Absolute Origin Speed Mic..

https://youtu.be/GRfTRsspOnw
Ray

 

[Joe Salt]

Thanks Ray they look nice!

Joe Salt

 

[Changeling]

Sorry Ray, I stand by what I said ! I don't feel there is enough evidence that what you/me/everyone is seeing is legitimate .
The commentator is definitely "PRO" product offering something that/with 2 variations with NO serial Numbers or any other product identification and NO specific implication witch one a buyer would be getting, and NO means of product identification sounds a lot like a SCAM!!!

Ray, stop and think! I don't mean to upset you in any way, but this deal has the stink of "CON" all over it!!

However you do what you think is best! I just suggest you stop and think about it!

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Sorry Ray, I stand by what I said ! I don't feel there is enough evidence that what you/me/everyone is seeing is legitimate .
The commentator is definitely "PRO" product offering something that/with 2 variations with NO serial Numbers or any other product identification and NO specific implication witch one a buyer would be getting, and NO means of product identification sounds a lot like a SCAM!!!

Ray, stop and think! I don't mean to upset you in any way, but this deal has the stink of "CON" all over it!!

However you do what you think is best! I just suggest you stop and think about it!

If it works, it works. that's all that really matters. And for the price point, I think they're definitely worth a try. Especially since they come with a 2 year warranty. Most electronic devices are lucky to have a 1 year warranty...

 

[Raythemanroe]

I already own them They sell more then one Mic, video is of the Speed Mic.. That and the Absolute Origin caliper is the only ones I have any experience with.. Good product, I'll post a pic when I get home in a day if you need verification..



Ray

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Might I add that the Mitutoyo products are only backed by a 90 day full parts and labor warranty. Then they only cover manufacturing or software defects for 9 months after that for a total of a 1 year warranty

 

[bigedp51]

I drive a Ford Escape and see no need to have a Lexus or Range Rover.

In the early 1970s before I was married I bought a Mitutoyo micrometer and Vernier calipers. As I got older the anologe

 

[LHSmith]

I drive a Ford Escape and see no need to have a Lexus or Range Rover.

In the early 1970s before I was married I bought a Mitutoyo micrometer and Vernier calipers. As I got older the anologe

Ed must be having one of those senior moments?

 

[JRS]

Might I add that the Mitutoyo products are only backed by a 90 day full parts and labor warranty. Then they only cover manufacturing or software defects for 9 months after that for a total of a 1 year warranty

Mitutoyo carries a full 1 year warranty. The 90 day warranty applies to anything they repair, no matter the age of the tool.

 

[bigedp51]

I drive a Ford Escape and see no need to have a Lexus or Range Rover, and my gas mileage and over all cost of driving a Ford is much less.

In the early 1970s before I was married I bought a Mitutoyo micrometer and Vernier calipers. As I got older the analogue gauge on the vernier calipers became harder to see with the onset of chronologically gifted eyesight so I bought a "much cheaper" digital vernier caliper made in China.

I love my cheap Lyman digital vernier calipers and they are just as accurate as my "vintage" Mitutoyo ones checked on pin gauges. I'm not building a Swiss watch or parts for a detonator on a hydrogen bomb, I'm just taking comparative measurements of new, fired and resized brass cartridges cases that most likely will spring back even larger after I measure them.

On top of this I wouldn't have a heart attack if I dropped a less than $30.00 set of calipers that will read to .0005.

Below a Colt Field gauge for a AR15 rifle, 1.4736

And the same gauge in my "calibrated" Hornady gauge and I can't see .0005 on my analog Mitutoyo because they don't make braille gauges.

I also like cheap Casio watches with big numbers because it makes life easy and my costly analog Citizen Eco Drive watch is seldom worn.

Signed
bigedp51 (AKA the cheap bastard)

 

[bigedp51]

I drive a Ford Escape and see no need to have a Lexus or Range Rover.

In the early 1970s before I was married I bought a Mitutoyo micrometer and Vernier calipers. As I got older the anologe

Ed must be having one of those senior moments?

Actually I'm typing using a laptop sitting in the Lazy Boy recliner and one of my two dyslexic fingers hit the wrong key or touch-pad and I thought the first post evaporated and was lost cyberspace.

P.S. If I was having a senior moment my post would have looked like one of fguffeys, long and rambling like the novel War and Peace but written in Greek. :

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Might I add that the Mitutoyo products are only backed by a 90 day full parts and labor warranty. Then they only cover manufacturing or software defects for 9 months after that for a total of a 1 year warranty

Mitutoyo carries a full 1 year warranty. The 90 day warranty applies to anything they repair, no matter the age of the tool.

You'd better read your warranty details again. Not only is it one year, but it only applies to the original owner. It's non transferrable. I copied and pasted their Warranty statement word for word right off their website. Here it is...

Warranties
Mitutoyo America Corporation warrants all of its products it sells and ships in the United States and Canada for one year from the date of shipment to the original purchaser. The description as shown below is not a warranty by itself and is for general information only. For warranty terms and conditions as they pertain to a specific product, contact the Mitutoyo America Corporation service center.
Mitutoyo America Corporation warrants the products and software it manufactures and sells directly or through an authorized distributor, if the product or software is in the possession of the original purchaser. Except for software, Mitutoyo America Corporation will, at its option, repair or replace any part or parts which upon examination are found to be defective in workmanship or material, provided the product is returned to Mitutoyo America Corporation and the purchaser can prove that the product has been used and maintained and, where applicable, installed in accordance with Mitutoyo America Corporation instructions and has not been subject to abuse. For software, Mitutoyo America Corporation will replace defective media or make a warranted program operate or replace the program with a functionally equivalent program as warranted, provided there is satisfactory documentation that the software has been installed, used, and maintained in accordance with Mitutoyo America Corporation instructions in the User Manual and provided further the customer can satisfactorily show that a defect exists.
Mitutoyo America Corporation does not accept liability or responsibility for repairs, additions, or modifications made to the product, including those made by others, without Mitutoyo America Corporation’s written consent.
The warranties Mitutoyo America Corporation provides do not adversely affect Mitutoyo America Corporation’s right to modify or change the design of products, without notice, including any of its specifications or materials.
Export Compliance
All products in this catalog are subject to the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Control laws of Japan, US Export Administration Regulations (EAR) or the Canadian Export and Import Permits Act. Re-export or relocation of any of these products may require prior approval by an appropriate governing authority. If a purchased product is exported or re-exported, even if it is not considered a regulated item by a governing authority, Mitutoyo would like to be made aware, as the customer service available for that product may be affected. If you have any questions, please consult your local Mitutoyo sales office.
Safety Caution
Carefully read the specifications and functions in this catalog before selecting products. Safety may be compromised if you use products for purposes other than those stated here. Feel free to contact your nearest Mitutoyo sales center if you wish to use a product for other purposes or in a special environment.
Appearance and Specifications
Appearance and specifications are subject to change without prior notice for product improvement.
The product names in this catalog are registered trademarks or trademarks of Mitutoyo or their respective

 

[bigedp51]

Thank you raythemanroe for the link, $39.99 and $26.95 that even a cheap bastard like me can afford. And better than the cheap Chinese one I bought.
You must be as smart, good looking and modest as I am..................

iGaging ABSOLUTE ORIGIN 0-6" Digital Electronic Caliper - IP54 Protection / Extreme Accuracy
http://www.amazon.com/iGaging-ABSOLUTE-Digital-Electronic-Caliper/dp/B00INL0BTS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427248540&sr=8-1&keywords=igaging+calipers


iGaging IP54 Electronic Digital Caliper 0-6" Display Inch/Metric/Fractions Stainless Steel Body
http://www.amazon.com/iGaging-Electronic-Digital-Fractions-Stainless/dp/B001AQEZ2W/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1427248540&sr=8-2&keywords=igaging+calipers

 

[Catfur]

I'm not building a Swiss watch or parts for a detonator on a hydrogen bomb,

I dunno any of the people making the detonator parts, but I'm pretty sure the people actually putting the bomb together use Mitutoyo... (the requirement is just that the M&TE be calibrated to NIST traceable standards, though)

Starret for me, though (my young eyes can still read a dial, too).

 

[lawrence97]

Mitutoyo did not cover my calipers less than a year old which were rough since day one but I figured they just needed some use to smooth out... I bought while traveling and misplaced the receipt so I'm guessing they went by the manufacturing date and billed me for a repair and shipping.