Calipers

[r0tt3n1]

I am in the Mitutoyo camp. Have several old Starrett dial calipers used at work a lifetime ago that are just worn out. Bought some of the cheap electronic ones and they were unreliable and had poor battery life... Finally bought the basic Mitutoyo CD-6 ASX Digimatic and have never even had to think about it for quite a while now. No battery changes, just works, grab em and use em...
The digital versions are far easier to use with comparators. clip on the comparator, hit the zero button on the caliper and go.

 

[dcali]

The nice ones (Mitutoyo, Starrett) are worth it in my opinion, although they’re not going to be any more accurate than the imports. But they are smoother and tend to be put together better (not surprising given the price difference). I also like the digital ones, but that’s more of a personal preference thing.

I’ve had a set of mitutoyo digitals for about 20 years and they’re every bit as good as when they were brand new. With that kind of life, I think cheap calipers are in the false economy bucket. But if money is tight, the cheap ones will do.

 

[TheOtherZilla]

Ive been fighting the batteries going dead on electronic ones, drives me nuts.

Don't leave em on..

 

[AJC]

I have always used mitutoyo dial calipers. They work just fine but if your doing a lot of work with comparators, digital would be convenient. I dont have one yet but maybe later.

 

[Medic505]

Electronic or manuel?

Mitutoyo or starett?

Or cheap frankfort arsenal electronic?

How big is the quality difference from cheap to expensive? Are cheap ones just as accurate? I never see this discussed...

Stupid questions should cost $20 bucks.

 

[Matt in Virginia]

IMHO,
Forget Starrett. I went through that phase at The Colorado School of Trades. My Starrett Dial Caliper lasted almost as long as the Chicom junk we were issued going in(which puked after 30 days). I have since bought Swiss Etalons. That being said I would avoid ANY dial caliper. Go digital and I strongly recommend that you go Mitutoyo Digital IP65 if you can swing it. I also prefer my Mitutoyo 8" Digital Caliper versus any 6" I have ever used. Handier believe it or not...

Regards, Matt.

 

[gunnermhr]

I'm a bit of a tool snob, if your budget allows it get either the Mit's or starrett, you'll like the smoothness of them. The batteries on the Mit caliber last a really long time.

The real difference between budget and quality calipers is accuracy when measuring at the tip, you wont see any variance when measuring at the tip or in close to the beam of the caliper. In all honesty though, most budget calipers will be more than accurate enough for reloading

 

[JFrank]

I take a measurement BBTO then write on the Bullet using a cheap Harbor Freight caliper w/comparator of course.
A year later I get the same number .686

 

[6MMsteve]

I will have mitutoyos posted tomorrow have 6 calipers they are used but function as new prices r 100s less than new

 

[Crow]

Somehow, I've ended up with five sets of calipers on my reloading bench.

The two from Harbor Freight aren't worth the trouble of replacing the batteries, and are gathering dust.

My first set, an old Lyman dial unit still works great and sees occasional use.

Far and away, the two handiest sets I have are the Mitutoyo Digimatic and the iGaging IP54. Both report identical numbers, with the Digimatic being slightly smoother. Hard to say if it's $100 smoother, but the Mitutoyo definitely gets the most use.

 

[Zero333]

I have Mitutoyo digital, Mitutoyo analog, and a cheap analog one's from a machine shop store that have a big analog dial. and another cheap digital set.

I like analog dial because that's what I'm used to. I end up using the cheap analog with big dial the most and then the Minutoyo digital one's after that.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

go to shars.com and spend your budget. they have all the top brands plus some red ones in digital that are very well made for the money. some knock off brand that's better than typical

 

[dmoran]

"Best bang for the buck" <> IMO/IME

iGaging Absolute Origin IP54 Digital Calipers

Around $40 for a 6" / around $55 for an 8"
Lot's of options and sizes
Data output (cable and/or Bluetooth)
Good battery life (CR2032 3V battery) - been getting Plus-1-year from cheaper lithium's (Loopacell = 20 for under $10)
Amazon Link: www.amazon.com/iGaging-ABSOLUTE-Digital-Electronic-Caliper/

Have become a big fan of iGaging Digital measuring tools (have 3 of there calipers, 1 micrometer, and 4 of there indicators).

Here's a Caliper Roundup video worth watching:

 

[Rsadams]

A ton of the cheap ones you see at different prices are the same ones harbor freight sells for $10 bucks... I and alot of people use them and they work just fine....If you want better the price goes WAY higher and they are worth it... Even the ones that some big names sell are the same ones harbor freight sells but for more money.....

 

[linekin]

I have several vernier calipers that are rarely used. Have trouble lining up the lines without a magnifier so too time consuming at work. The exception is a Starrett Master 12" with 50 division graduations which are a pleasure to use but again, time consuming.
The 6" Starrett dial my mentor gave me is what I use most at work, along with my boss' cheap 12" electronic calipers. These have 3 1/4 long jaws which are handy, accurate, & repeatable.
At home I use a Mititoyo 8" digital I got off this site reasonable because one inside jaw had a slight chip. These are becoming my favorite & would buy another when needed although 8" is far more than needed for what we do reloading.

Keith

 

[Dusty Stevens]

A ton of the cheap ones you see at different prices are the same ones harbor freight sells for $10 bucks... I and alot of people use them and they work just fine....If you want better the price goes WAY higher and they are worth it... Even the ones that some big names sell are the same ones harbor freight sells but for more money.....

Do you have an example? Alot of them do resemble the industry standard mitutoyo for digital

 

[Fotheringill]

The cheap ones MAY be dead on and on par with the more expensive ones. What I did find out about my General cheapy is that the OD was spot on and the inside was off by 2/1000. It was apparent to the eye when the the OD was closed and at 0 and by holding the calipers up to a light that the ID blades had space between them.

Go with the more reliable and recommended calipers.

 

[Rsadams]

Do you have an example? Alot of them do resemble the industry standard mitutoyo for digital

If you look at say the cheap made in China ones harbor freight sells and the cheap made in China ones on Amazon they appear to be exactly the same exept they cost more than harbor freight , even the ones Dillon sells ( digital ) are the same as harbor freight.... If you have the ones from harbor freight , go look at Dillon's digital , even the case is the same.... I could of course be wrong...lol. My reloading needs are not what most people on here are and I use the harbor freight ones so I look at them alot... One day I would like a better set....

People may not want to admit on here they use the harbor freight ones but alot of people do..lol

 

[Dusty Stevens]

If you look at say the cheap made in China ones harbor freight sells and the cheap made in China ones on Amazon they appear to be exactly the same exept they cost more than harbor freight , even the ones Dillon sells ( digital ) are the same as harbor freight.... If you have the ones from harbor freight , go look at Dillon's digital , even the case is the same....

Oh i agree about that- most chinese stuff is like that. You go to the chinese middleman and say i need calipers, he says would you like a new design or put your brand on our already done model? 3 days later you can have a million of them for $5ea. What i was asking is where can you get the mitutoyo with the goofy name on it or whatever? Whoever makes them for mitutoyo will damn sure sell the exact model with a different color stripe on it. The harbor freight ones, while the same as 100 other models, are not the same as any top brand. I have mitutoyo but would love to have a chinese copy or 3

 

[Rsadams]

Oh i agree about that- most chinese stuff is like that. You go to the chinese middleman and say i need calipers, he says would you like a new design or put your brand on our already done model? 3 days later you can have a million of them for $5ea. What i was asking is where can you get the mitutoyo with the goofy name on it or whatever? Whoever makes them for mitutoyo will damn sure sell the exact model with a different color stripe on it. The harbor freight ones, while the same as 100 other models, are not the same as any top brand. I have mitutoyo but would love to have a chinese copy or 3

Ohh sorry I missed your point.... I do not know if there's a cheaper copy of those.... Kinda seems that China doesn't have a problem just taking things so there's bound to be something out there.... Now I also am interested , I wouldn't mind giving those a shot myself... I really need to get a better set than the cheapo harbor freight ones.... I will start looking this week and if I spot something I will let you know....