Questions about digital calipers

[Buccaneer]

This is the $40 one off Amazon I bought last year.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00INL0BTS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

While it reads accurate,
it’s hard to get an accurate reading on a piece in my lathe, as when you
slide it off, the reading changes, when you try to lock the caliper
and remove it.
That said, it would be plenty good to measure seal sizes, bores, etc., anything
you can read while the caliper is in place.
I use mine a lot for scribing preset distances when laying out parts to work on.

While working on the lathe, I find myself using a quality veneer calipers
I’ve had since 1977, or my dad’s old Craftsman micrometers.
Harder to read with my tired eyes, but accurate.

Prepare to be boarded!

[opposedtwin]

Thanks for all the info guys! I figured I’d get a a good education if I asked here.
Scott

[joecb]

I’m with frankr on this one… I have two chinaesium digital calipers and a “no name chianesium” dial caliperthe I have had for years. The two digital ones pretty much stay in the tool box , batteries removed. The go to tool is the dial caliper… it’ always ready, no dead batteries. Oh’ and buy the way all three are on the money within 0.001 , good enough for most work. Need to be closer, it’s the USA – B&S mic.
I also have a chianesium 6 inch linear scale mounted on the Z axis of my mill-drill, It’s basically a caliper sans the jaws. It works fine , but the batteries are a PIA. Seems like every time I go to the mill the thing is dead. I’m considering rigging a AA cell in a battery holder and hard wiring it in.

Joe B

[RICHARD A. WHITE]

I have 4 set of Vernier calipers… and yes I know how to use them, batteries NEVER go bad….LOL Old school rules

http://www.richardsoutboardtools.com
classicomctools@gmail.com

[dmbono]

I prefer dial over digital. I recommend a dial that reads with 100 divisions, rather than 200 divisions per turn.

[joecb]

OK Richard, you are not the only “old guy” here that still can use a vernier caliper. Now for the vernier caliper challenge… I have this really neat old Brown and Sharpe caliper that marked to the Vickers Co. #1318. Vickers made some pretty cool stuff.
Anyway, do you know what the little pit mark inside the circle is used for? $64,000 dollar question.

Joe B

• This reply was modified 4 years, 5 months ago by Mumbles.

[Mumbles]

It’s the same old story here, you get what you pay for.

I’ve had $10 digital calipers from Ebay which went straight into the trash after arriving from China and currently I have some nice middle of the road calipers from Princess Auto in 6 and 8 inch sizes and a large 30″ plastic caliper for measuring flywheels or brake shoes. I also have some cheaper 6″ ones on the bench which work quite well and are used on a daily basis.

Reading in fractions is handy but it is only a ballpark reading and metric is mandatory for working on foreign motors and for measuring bearings. The better quality calipers have a back light and read down to half a thou which does come in handy but isn’t necessary. If I’m doing fine turning or fitting on the lathe, then I use micrometers as there can be too much error using calipers. The digital calipers do get used for rough turning though and a decent electronic caliper will not drain the battery either when they are turned off. A spare battery should be kept in the case anyway. I still have a vernier caliper but it is put away and collecting dust along with my old slide rule.

Here, grab a coffee, sit back, and listen to what AvE has to say about digital calipers in these two videos.

https://youtu.be/WvszAb0Y0Ec

https://youtu.be/KnDype-j3hk

• This reply was modified 4 years, 5 months ago by Mumbles.

[RICHARD A. WHITE]

If I was to hazard a guess, it could be used to “calibrate” the verniers…or zero them out… but that would not be the only way….

http://www.richardsoutboardtools.com
classicomctools@gmail.com

[kirkp]

Scott, sent you a PM
Kirk

[kerry]

I’ve used Mitutoyo 6″ digital calipers for years at the factory I work at. I’ve had my current set for around 15 or so years, because my old one didn’t survive a drop from six feet. My fault. I wipe it down with a lens cleaning moist towelette once a week (my hands get dirty) and keep a spare SR44/357 battery handy. As accurate as a mike? No. Its a good snapshot that works faster. I can check multiple things in the time it takes to check one with a mike, and keep a mike handy if something “flags” near or out of my comfort zone.

If you have too many, AND not enough, you're a collector.

[Author]

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