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Mitutoyo Calipers, Buying The Real Deal

snakepit

snakepit

I was looking into buying a Mitutoyo Caliper and in my research I found out that you need to be aware of cheaper Chinese imitations. Here is a article I came across to help you determine if you have the real deal.

How to tell if your calipers are genuine.

Here is how to tell if the Mitutoyo calipers you purchase here (or anywhere else) are genuine:

First, and most importantly, I purchased my calipers from Amazon.com LLC because I have come to trust them as a seller, and I knew they would take care of it if I found out the calipers were not genuine Mitutoyo. They were offering the calipers for 92.00 USD with "free" Prime shipping, which would be the best deal on the web for these calipers if they were in fact genuine.

Secondly, once the calipers came, I took careful note of the packaging and paperwork and took good-quality pictures of it all. I checked these important details:
(1) The battery should read “SR44” and “Japan” on the battery itself (not just on the packaging), and there should be no battery already installed in the calipers.
(2) The calipers should come in a sealed plastic bag packed with a bit of Ferobrite anti-corrosion paper and a yellow tag on the locking knob telling how to install the battery and such.
(3) The display of these calipers should read, "0.0000" when zeroed out in the "inches" mode - counterfeits might read, "0.000" and might have a smaller 0/5 digit on the far right.
(4) The locking knob on the top should be the same shape and style as shown in my pictures.
(5) The "ORIGIN" button should be recessed as also shown in my pictures.
(6) The serial number on the caliper should match the serial number listed on the calibration certificate.
(7) The calipers and packaging should not mention China - anywhere - especially not on the box/envelope in which they were shipped.
(8) According to Mitutoyo, it is actually okay if the signature is printed on the calibration certificate, which is a little disappointing, as I have always wanted Mr. T. Suzuki's autograph.

After I checked for these dead giveaways, I emailed Mitutoyo at their tech support page telling them where I had purchased the calipers and I asked if they would please verify my calipers' authenticity, and offered to send pictures. They replied quickly and asked for the pictures, so I sent them pictures of all of the components, packaging, and documentation making sure the image quality was good enough that they could make an informed decision.The next day, they got back with me saying that they had confirmed my calipers' authenticity.
 
Mitutoyo calipers are very nice. But for those in the market for a top quality set of calipers that won't put a bad dent in your wallet, check out the "iGauging OrginCal" absolute zero calipers. I use the Mitutoyo Digimatic calipers at work, but own the OriginCal at home and I can tell you first hand that the OriginCal is every bit as good in every way to the Digimatic, perhaps even better. Yet they are a fraction of the price.

Heres a video review that shows the quality and features of the OriginCal. The author of the video picked them over the Mitutoyo Digimatic calipers as the #1 set in a long string of reviews on various calipers. Not trying to knock Mitutoyo because they are very nice, but you can homestly save yourself a good amount of money and get the same or better quality with the iGauging OrginCal.

PS: Starrett calipers are arguably the pinnacle of caliper quality ;)

 
snakepit said:
I was looking into buying a Mitutoyo Caliper and in my research I found out that you need to be aware of cheaper Chinese imitations. Here is a article I came across to help you determine if you have the real deal.

How to tell if your calipers are genuine.

Here is how to tell if the Mitutoyo calipers you purchase here (or anywhere else) are genuine:

First, and most importantly, I purchased my calipers from Amazon.com LLC because I have come to trust them as a seller, and I knew they would take care of it if I found out the calipers were not genuine Mitutoyo. They were offering the calipers for 92.00 USD with "free" Prime shipping, which would be the best deal on the web for these calipers if they were in fact genuine.

Secondly, once the calipers came, I took careful note of the packaging and paperwork and took good-quality pictures of it all. I checked these important details:
(1) The battery should read “SR44” and “Japan” on the battery itself (not just on the packaging), and there should be no battery already installed in the calipers.
(2) The calipers should come in a sealed plastic bag packed with a bit of Ferobrite anti-corrosion paper and a yellow tag on the locking knob telling how to install the battery and such.
(3) The display of these calipers should read, "0.0000" when zeroed out in the "inches" mode - counterfeits might read, "0.000" and might have a smaller 0/5 digit on the far right.
(4) The locking knob on the top should be the same shape and style as shown in my pictures.
(5) The "ORIGIN" button should be recessed as also shown in my pictures.
(6) The serial number on the caliper should match the serial number listed on the calibration certificate.
(7) The calipers and packaging should not mention China - anywhere - especially not on the box/envelope in which they were shipped.
(8) According to Mitutoyo, it is actually okay if the signature is printed on the calibration certificate, which is a little disappointing, as I have always wanted Mr. T. Suzuki's autograph.

After I checked for these dead giveaways, I emailed Mitutoyo at their tech support page telling them where I had purchased the calipers and I asked if they would please verify my calipers' authenticity, and offered to send pictures. They replied quickly and asked for the pictures, so I sent them pictures of all of the components, packaging, and documentation making sure the image quality was good enough that they could make an informed decision.The next day, they got back with me saying that they had confirmed my calipers' authenticity.
Click to expand...
If you buy precision tools from a reputable supply house such as msc or Travers you shouldn't have any problem with authenticity.
 
Ask the pros:) Long Island Indicator Service. Starrett lost their reputation for quality long ago. "Buy Starrett for the name, not the quality".
 
Sign up at Penn Tool co, they usually have a Mitutoyo spring promotion each year and can get genuine Mit calipers, mics, and other stuff at a good discount and they are a reputable company.
 
I have 3 iGauging OriginCal calipers which I have purchased over the course of 12 years and they get a lot of use. The oldest one is still working ok but slight pressure changes when closing the jaws have started causing a slight fluctuation in the readings. The second one is about 8 years old and it stopped working about a year ago. I bought the 3rd one to replace the one that died and it works good. When reloading I like using 2 calipers, one I leave the comparator body on and the other I use for other various measurements. I just thought since I was going to purchase another one I would try the Mitutoyo 500-196-30 6". I know it cost more but at about $115 and free shipping I thought I would try it. The one thing that I don't like about the iGauging OriginCal is that it doesn't have a automatic shut off feature and will stay on until you manually turn it off. I have often gone long periods of time of not using them only to find a caliper still on when I pick it up.
 
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A few years ago I bought a set of calipers from Amazon. Reticently I was looking for another set and saw that there were a lot of Chinese make knock offs on eBay. I had also read somewhere about there being knock offs (but not necessarily Mitutoyo calipers) on Amazon so I examined the calipers.

Much to my dismay the label said "Made in China". I Googled a bunch of articles/posts on how to determine if they were authentic, pretty much resigned to the fact that they were knock offs. I was planning to have a conversation with Amazon and to bolster my claim I contacted Mitutoyo. Like the OP they were great and asked me to send pix.

The next day I received an email that they were authentic.

Mit 700 113 10 002.jpg
 
Dusty Stevens said:
Exactly. I have a bunch of starrett tools but they are the real deal 20+ yrs old
Click to expand...
i have quite a few starrett tools also and they are all older ones. my calipers are the US made 120s. I agree alot of their stuff isnt what it used to be. i only buy used starrett tools now except i have bought a few new levels
 
We have varoious really high end Starrett measuring tools at work as well. Digital and mechanical. None of them are cheap models. All top of the line. You can feel the quality as soon as you touch them.

The iGauging tools are excellent and are more than capable of anything I require at home for reloading ammo and the limited machining I do on my mill. But the high end Starrett tools are definitely a notch above the iGauging and Mitutoyo. Of course you'll pay a lot more to get that extra bit of quality.
 
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I'm too cheap and clumsy to buy $100 calipers. The iGauging OrginCal are incredible for the money. I think I got mine off Amazon. Way better than the $30-$40 digital calipers sold at Home Depot.
 
Bought a Mitutoyo digital 0 to 8" about 25 years ago and it is still working fine. Kept it clean, and yearly battery change is all I have ever done. Spent my life in a machine shop as a tool and die maker, have a mostly Starrett tools. Only have a couple of Mitutoyo tools, all them have provided excellent service. In my generation and union membership, anything from Japan was frowned upon. As for indicators, I have always and liked used Interrapid. As a professional I always tried to buy the highest quality possible. As a hobbyist, that level of quality is probably not necessary. Cheap or expensive measuring tools must meet certain standards. Have been burned several times buy buying cheap low quality adjustable wrenches, tap wrenches and a few other hand tools. Some times you just have to live and learn.
 
when your not using digital calipers for any length of time,take the batteries out they last a lot longer..
 
I have real Mitutoyo calipers Absolute coolant proof, fit and finish is perfect that's where the knockoffs fail, Mitutoyo can take a licking and still work perfect, Digimatic Mitutoyo calipers won't hold up in a hostile environment
 
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jackson1 said:
Bought a Mitutoyo digital 0 to 8" about 25 years ago and it is still working fine. Kept it clean, and yearly battery change is all I have ever done. Spent my life in a machine shop as a tool and die maker, have a mostly Starrett tools. Only have a couple of Mitutoyo tools, all them have provided excellent service. In my generation and union membership, anything from Japan was frowned upon. As for indicators, I have always and liked used Interrapid. As a professional I always tried to buy the highest quality possible. As a hobbyist, that level of quality is probably not necessary. Cheap or expensive measuring tools must meet certain standards. Have been burned several times buy buying cheap low quality adjustable wrenches, tap wrenches and a few other hand tools. Some times you just have to live and learn.
Click to expand...
I guess we all have had to live and learn that the cheaper price usually means what it implies. Although one lesson I recently had was about my digital calipers not holding zero. While searching for a replacement I learned about maintenance and operation , both being in error on my part. Thinking if it moves and its steel then use a lube, WRONG ! Keep the calipers clean and wiped free of any dirt and oil. Use the thumb wheel only and slowly when approaching closure on an object.
Both pairs I have ( not the most expensive ) seem to be working much more consistently. As for now a new caliper purchase is on hold for me.
 
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