Digital Caliper

[Delfuego]

Why you guys gotta argue about everything???

My opinion is that measuring tools are important enough to spend a little extra on. I had a cheap pair and never could trust them. The little bit of extra money was worth it to me.

Check this out, not definitive, but informative.

 

[Webster]

I own an analog caliper and want to get a digital caliper also.

I want to spend between $12-$50 while getting good quality.

Can you give me a suggestion for this and vendor?

Thanks

I don't shoot comp. I shoot an accurate 6BR Varmint rifle. I have a 4" Habor Freight digital caliper. About $10. I use it mostly for checking case length and COAL. Works fine for this purpose. Certified is somewhat meaningless. Where I worked a calipers were verified and certified once a year. A cert sticker was attached as proof of cert. I have a Brown and Sharp caliper and a Mitutoyo tube mike that I seldom use or need for my reloading. Calipers are considered unusable in industry if they are not certified every year by some ISO standard. In other words certification is not a one time thing. Zeroing is not calibrating.

 

[Ned Ludd]

I know everyone's going to jump on me but I'm using a $10 digital caliber from Harbor Freight. But it checks well against my 0.0001" micrometers and feeler gauges, so it looks like a bargain to me.

VAPORIZE him!!!

 

[dennyo]

The igaging IP54 digital seems like a good unit. The Youtube shown above does a good job comparing 5 different calipers.

 

[B Nettesheim]

In your price range you are not going to get quality, with quality comes expense. Dont cheat yourself with an inexpensive measuring instrument, buy once and you will have a better chance of getting something that is accurate but more importantly repeatable. A digimatic mitutoyo would be my recommendation. BN

 

[Webster]

In your price range you are not going to get quality, with quality comes expense. Dont cheat yourself with an inexpensive measuring instrument, buy once and you will have a better chance of getting something that is accurate but more importantly repeatable. A digimatic mitutoyo would be my recommendation. BN

You don't use calipers to measure with great accuracy. You use micrometers. You don't measure things like bullet diameters with a caliper. Calipers don't have harden tool steel anvils ground to super specs. Caliper contact surfaces are easily damaged.

 

[B Nettesheim]

He's looking for calipers according to the title.

 

[Webster]

I know everyone's going to jump on me but I'm using a $10 digital caliber from Harbor Freight. But it checks well against my 0.0001" micrometers and feeler gauges, so it looks like a bargain to me.

Not sure which post to reply to so I chose this one. I cannot think of anything over 1” on my loading bench that needs to be measured accurately. Been using my Harbor Freight caliper for several years.

 

[LHSmith]

Not sure which post to reply to so I chose this one. I cannot think of anything over 1” on my loading bench that needs to be measured accurately. Been using my Harbor Freight caliper for several years.

I need a reliable calipers that measures the following with repeatable accuracy: cartridge length, bump dimension using bump gages (base to shoulder datum). I need the calipers to read the same measurement to 0.001" when measuring the same case 10 times in a row (i.e.-repeatable). A Brown & Sharpe Twin-Cal will do this. A Sinclair digital and dial caliper will not. Bump dimensions that vary more than 0.001" WILL show up on target with competition bench guns.
FWIW, everyone's accuracy goals are different as is their ability (equipment-wise and experience) to detect what factors can truly affect it.

 

[Rsadams]

I don't know what you are implying ...but not all calipers are made in China. Check out what the experts say at Long Island Indicator.

I am saying the one pictured and the ones at harbor freight are made in china. Of course not all are made in china.. That's why I included the text from the poster.. Same as you did with my post.. My family owns a motor machine shop so i am aware of the needs for a more accurate tool and the availability of them but at 10 to 50 bucks it will be hard to purchase such a set..Thank you for the link to long island..

 

[Rsadams]

Why you guys gotta argue about everything???

My opinion is that measuring tools are important enough to spend a little extra on. I had a cheap pair and never could trust them. The little bit of extra money was worth it to me.

Check this out, not definitive, but informative.

Thanks for posting. I think I will look for the ezcal it looks like a pretty good one for the money.. Time for a upgrade.. Just fyi they have all reviewed at Amazon..

 

[Guybo]

The digimatic Mitutoyo is a good one and you can pick one up on ebay for a good price if you keep checking.

 

[danny]

I own an analog caliper and want to get a digital caliper also.

I want to spend between $12-$50 while getting good quality.

Can you give me a suggestion for this and vendor?

Thanks

I have not seen a lot of difference in the good ones (Mitutoyo, an early one, about 25 years old) vs. cheap Chinese (varied brands) ones we have in our shop that are abused. None that I know of have ever quit. All of the dial calipers we have that have suffered the same abuse have died (including a Mitutoyo), or will die. The electronics just last. I would think that about any reasonable one that you find would serve reloading needs very well. Pick one at a reasonable price that has features and ergonomics that you like.

Danny

 

[IdahoSharpshooter]

reviews, several of them, are very favorable to the iGaging Absolute Origin model. At $48.95 or thereabouts it meets your needs. A good way to cross check for accuracy is a feeler gauge set.

Amazon has about a dozen different vendors shown.

 

[dennyo]

reviews, several of them, are very favorable to the iGaging Absolute Origin model. At $48.95 or thereabouts it meets your needs. A good way to cross check for accuracy is a feeler gauge set.

Amazon has about a dozen different vendors shown.

I just purchased from Amazon for $39.95
iGaging ABSOLUTE ORIGIN 0-6" Digital Electronic Caliper - IP54 Protection

It should arrive today. I appreciate all the follow-up on this thread. I is amazing what you can learn from reading!

 

[bsekf]

6 inch Mitutoyo on e-bay.

 

[LHSmith]

I just purchased from Amazon for $39.95
iGaging ABSOLUTE ORIGIN 0-6" Digital Electronic Caliper - IP54 Protection

It should arrive today. I appreciate all the follow-up on this thread. I is amazing what you can learn from reading!

Unless you're uniquely disciplined, I recommend to stock up on replacement batteries.

 

[Richard Jones]

Unless you're uniquely disciplined, I recommend to stock up on replacement batteries.

Yep, no auto shut-off on this one..............

 

[akajun]

Funny how that video is found on Igauging's website. WHile the I gauging calipers may be quality, they are not Mitutoyo or Brown and Sharp. Also that guy should learn how to properly use a caliper, torqueing the body and head with that handwheel will give you shitty measurements, and possibly damage the caliper. Grab the jaws in pinch them against the work. Also I don't consider feeler gauges adequate to check a measuring tool. Where are his Jo Blocks or at least standards.
An Mitutoyo sells replacement battery doors for a few bucks each, you can get them from Long Island Indicator.

 

[Delfuego]

reviews, several of them, are very favorable to the iGaging Absolute Origin model. At $48.95 or thereabouts it meets your needs. A good way to cross check for accuracy is a feeler gauge set.

I just cleaned mine today and changed the battery (had one handy). I checked with a feeler gauge and it was spot on. I have had mine 2 years.

While not Mitutoyo Calipers, they are also considerably less expensive. I personally would not pay much for a used measuring device, unless I knew the owner personally.