Calipers: What Do Ya Suggest?

[Jakey]

I've started checking around a little bit looking at different calipers. Down the road they will be coming in very handy with various projects for school. Does anyone have any experience with calipers they'd share, any specific brands to stay away from or check out? Craftsman looks to have a couple of decent options: Looky #1 (http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_SessionID=@@@@0267217214.1067803176@ @@@&BV_EngineID=ccdkadcjkkekmgfcehgcemgdffmdflk.0&vertical=TOOL&pid=00940196000&bidsite=CRAFT)
Looky #2 (http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&pid=00938776000&bidsite=CRAFT)
Thanks

[MATCHBX]

I use an NSK at work that I got from the Snap-On man about 3 years ago. I haven't had any problems with it. I think it was around $80. It's a regular dial one like what you showed in the links. I've only adjusted it once since I got it. We tested a few days ago against one that just got back from being calibrated and it is still perfect. It doesn't have any flex to it when measuring (a problem that is found with digital calipers).

If you know that you will be using a micrometer, I would suggest buying the caliper separate from the micrometer. Buy a set of micrometers for different sizes. Believe me, you won't regret spending the extra money now.

When it comes to precise measuring, don't buy cheap crap. The only problem i see with the first one is that it doesn't have a wheel to do the small adjustments. The second one has that wheel. It makes it so much easier to move the slide.

[JET]

Alright, since I am a machinist I can tell you what to get. For a dial caliper Brown & Sharpe is the best. For a digital one, got with a Mitutoyo digimatic. The Brown & Sharpe is what I have. It has worked great for 9 years. Check Ebay, I see them on there a lot.

[MATCHBX]

We have a Brown & Sharpe in our lap room at work. That thing is about as old as I am and it is still working perfect.

I just don't put too much faith in the digital ones. I like it to be analog so I can see it's working properly.

Of course if you really want to go "Old School" you could get a good Veneer (sp?) caliper.

[ABV]

I got mine at work from MSC industrial supply or something like that. I think they cost around $25. For what I use them for they work great. I've had them for almost a year, and I would put money down that they are still 100% dead on. But... Like I said, for what I use them for, I don't need that extra peace of mind of spending an extra $100 for a good name brand. I probably only use them a couple times a week just for basic measurements. If they're going to be used alot everyday for years and years, then I wouldn't skimp on them.

I'm not an expert on what brands are good for what, but I can say that out in the shop at work, alot of what I see is Mitutoyo. And another thing, Craftsman makes good hand tools and stuff because that's what they specialize in. I don't doubt that the calipers they make (or buy and slap thier name on) are good quality, but when you need hand tools buy Craftsman, when you need measuring equipment, buy from someone who speciaizes in it.

If you want I can check, when I get in to work tomorrow, for the catalog that I bought mine from. I know they have an online catalog too. They have lots of stuff in the under $100 range, and lots of stuff if you want to spend more. But if you go through a supply warehouse you're probably going to get a better deal than if you go through a retailer.

**Edit** here's a link for MSC -----> http://www.mscdirect.com/

[JET]

A brown & sharpe 6" caliper should be around $80 new. I wouldn't be afraid to buy a used one on Ebay either. The digitals are very accurate and can do a few cooler things (zero them out at different points to see differences between pieces without subtracting #'s or convert to metric). The are ~$120 new for the Mitutoyo.

[Jakey]

Originally posted by JET@Nov 2 2003, 11:14 PM
A brown & sharpe 6" caliper should be around $80 new. I wouldn't be afraid to buy a used one on Ebay either. The digitals are very accurate and can do a few cooler things (zero them out at different points to see differences between pieces without subtracting #'s or convert to metric). The are ~$120 new for the Mitutoyo.
Recommend any specific place to purchase one from? :bounce:

[ABV]

Originally posted by Jakey@Nov 2 2003, 11:39 PM

Recommend any specific place to purchase one from? :bounce:
Look here Dial Calipers (http://www.mscdirect.com/IWCatSectionView.process?RestartFlow=t&Merchant_Id=1&p_section_Id=1330&Section_Id=1330&p_product_type_Id=775&ShowProductList=t&p_att_type_id_0=27595&p_att_value_id_0=358361&p_search_flag_0=1&p_att_type_id_1=26420&p_att_value_id_1=275358&p_search_flag_1=1&SelectedAtt.length=2&pbegin=0&pcount=15&NameVector%5B0%5D.Name=Brand+Name&NameVector%5B0%5D.Value=Mitutoyo&NameVector%5B1%5D.Name=Maximum+Measuring&NameVector%5B1%5D.Value=6.0000&NameVector.length=2&View.x.x=91&View.x.y=10), and here Digital calipers (http://www.mscdirect.com/IWCatSectionView.process?RestartFlow=t&Merchant_Id=1&p_section_Id=1331&Section_Id=1331&p_product_type_Id=776&ShowProductList=t&p_att_type_id_0=27593&p_att_value_id_0=358360&p_search_flag_0=1&p_att_type_id_1=26416&p_att_value_id_1=275357&p_search_flag_1=1&SelectedAtt.length=2&pbegin=0&pcount=15&NameVector%5B0%5D.Name=Brand+Name&NameVector%5B0%5D.Value=Mitutoyo&NameVector%5B1%5D.Name=Maximum+Measuring+Range&NameVector%5B1%5D.Value=6.0000&NameVector.length=2&View.x.x=115&View.x.y=16)

[Jakey]

Originally posted by E*thug+Nov 3 2003, 07:53 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (E*thug @ Nov 3 2003, 07:53 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Jakey@Nov 2 2003, 11:39 PM

Recommend any specific place to purchase one from?&nbsp; :bounce:
Look here Dial Calipers (http://www.mscdirect.com/IWCatSectionView.process?RestartFlow=t&Merchant_Id=1&p_section_Id=1330&Section_Id=1330&p_product_type_Id=775&ShowProductList=t&p_att_type_id_0=27595&p_att_value_id_0=358361&p_search_flag_0=1&p_att_type_id_1=26420&p_att_value_id_1=275358&p_search_flag_1=1&SelectedAtt.length=2&pbegin=0&pcount=15&NameVector%5B0%5D.Name=Brand+Name&NameVector%5B0%5D.Value=Mitutoyo&NameVector%5B1%5D.Name=Maximum+Measuring&NameVector%5B1%5D.Value=6.0000&NameVector.length=2&View.x.x=91&View.x.y=10), and here Digital calipers (http://www.mscdirect.com/IWCatSectionView.process?RestartFlow=t&Merchant_Id=1&p_section_Id=1331&Section_Id=1331&p_product_type_Id=776&ShowProductList=t&p_att_type_id_0=27593&p_att_value_id_0=358360&p_search_flag_0=1&p_att_type_id_1=26416&p_att_value_id_1=275357&p_search_flag_1=1&SelectedAtt.length=2&pbegin=0&pcount=15&NameVector%5B0%5D.Name=Brand+Name&NameVector%5B0%5D.Value=Mitutoyo&NameVector%5B1%5D.Name=Maximum+Measuring+Range&NameVector%5B1%5D.Value=6.0000&NameVector.length=2&View.x.x=115&View.x.y=16) [/b][/quote]
Thanks Mark! I didn't even see the link you posted above. :headache:

[ABV]

No problem. Thos links are just for the Mitutoyo's. If you pick on "reset current search", then you can search for different brands, sizes etc..