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Posted: 5/8/2008 8:35:50 AM EDT
Digital or Analog Whats your preference and why I am looking to get into reloading soon and I am assembling equipment and reloading components now. I'm leaning toward digital for better accuracy. |
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I use this one --> Calipers I've seen it repackaged from several different retailers. Shop around. |
+1 I have an nice Mitutoyo digital caliper but I'm sure it's no more accurate than a good analog. I like digital because you can read it at a glance. Stay away from the cheap plastic calipers. |
I have a lyman, BTW.
Ditto. I bought mine on ebay for about $20. I am still pleased with it after 5 years of use on the reloading bench. I'm still using the original battery. ...... Just checked ebay, there are 100's listed for under $15. |
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Thanks, I was looking for a cheap set. Just ordered some off ebay, under $20 with shipping. Glad to hear that they hold up. |
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With precision measuring tools, you get what you pay for. Some machinists will buy a brand new set of the $20 cheapies every year for heavy use, and throw them away at the end of the year. I prefer buying a quality tool once and taking care of it. I actually have vernier, dial, and electronic...plus some of the really old school spring leg calipers that you check with a steel rule. The Mitutoyo electronic calipers I have are fine and have never given me any trouble except when a drop of coolant or sweat gets on the reading surface of the main beam. I could buy some coolant proof electronic calipers to solve that problem. If the read surface gets damaged, you're screwed. They also aren't any more accurate(sometimes less accurate) than dial calipers. Dial calipers are generally good to go, but if you drop them, burr up the contact surfaces, or get something in the rack and pinion gear, you may be SOL. Vernier calipers are harder to read, but I've never used a set that wasn't right on the money. This is the only type of caliper I trust within +/- .001". Good digital calipers can be had for around $80, and good dial calipers can be had for around $60-$70. A truly good set of vernier calipers is as expensive, and sometimes more so, than either dial or digital of the measuring capacity. If you need to get closer than +/- .001", you need a micrometer. Nothing less is acceptable. There are various types and some are better suited to certain tasks than others. Did someone say caliper pron? I bought the calipers below at a pawn shop for $40. The new price on these is close to $600.   ETA, the reading as it sits in the picture is .044" for an outside measurement. Enjoy. 
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I can get brand name Mitutoyo digitals for just a few dollars more. |
| If you go digital make sure you verify your zero every once in awhile. A dial caliper is less apt to get reset by accident, compared to a digital set with a floating zero. You also have a visual indicator when your dial calipers have been moved because 0 will no longer be at 12' o clock |
If they get dropped, or get crap in the rack and pinion gear, the 0 won't be at 12....unless you have the special tool to reset it. |
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I have four pairs of digital calipers and a Mity.. precision micrometer that is awesome for $150-- better be. I actually measured the width of a cunt hair with it. (I told my wife to give one up or I'd collect it myself.) I have some $100 Craftsman calipers and they are excellent, my main all-around measuring tool. But then I bought three pairs of digital calipers at Harbor Freight for $20 each on sale (4-inch, 6-inch and 8-inch) and all work as good as the Craftsman. (Harbor Freight also has the cheapo plastic ones for $12 but I'd pass on those.) I have one pair fitted with an OAL case gauge that measures at the datum line, and another pair that is fitted with a OAL bullet ogive gauge -- so I don't have to keep changing when reloading. I put the 4-inchers in my range bag. I use those digitals for a lot of exact measuring. They come in handy, read quicker than analogs -- just like my scales are all digital. I'm hi-tech in every thing and have chosen to move on with the times. I can't help but chuckle and shake my head in amazement when I watch old NASA footage and see those geniuses do all that with slide rules, etc. They were really geniuses, and smart enough to know when to change to calculators, then laptops, then Blackberries, and so on. Go digital, they, like most accuracy and computer items today, get better and cheaper every year. |
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Digital $17 frequently on sale at Harbor Freight............hey, we're not building an ICBM here. Or, IF you know how to read a dial.........that will work too.........though, even my cheap-o one from RCBS cost more than the digital from Harbor Freight. But, there is no batteries to go dead. Aloha, Mark |
 LMAOAnyway, I'm a Paramedic and read dials daily for blood pressures. Also reading syringes for precise measuments of medications for administration. Digital looks like the way for me for accuracy, plus analog = anal log Kidding, I am sure there are super accurate dials as well. edit spelling |
I like that one........NO, I mean that's funny. You would be surprised but, there once was a thread about a guy asking: How to read his dial caliper. As for the $17 HF comment.........it goes to: IMHO, a Timex watch (under ordinary use) will tell time just as well as a Rolex. In the end though, IF it's worth it to you.........go ahead........it's your $. Aloha, Mark |
Sorry, but no. Every brand of dial calipers I've ever seen was guaranteed by the manufacturer to be accurate within +/- .001" over the entire 6" measuring range(or within 6" if the measuring range was greater than 6"). By contrast, some digital calipers(yes, even the name brands) are only guaranteed to be accurate within +/- .005" over a 6" measuring range. The rest are only guaranteed to the same +/- .001" accuracy in six inches as standard dial calipers. You may be confusing resolution with accuracy. Most digital calipers will show a resolution to .0005", but again, they are only accurate to within +/- .001"....and that is going to be with an experienced user. Calipers absolutely suck for any real precision measuring. Due to their design, they do have a fair amount of "spring" in the contact surfaces. I can change the reading on most calipers by several thousandths by applying more or less pressure when taking a reading. Even if the instrument was capable of higher precision, the spring in the jaws/mainbeam would make it useless due to varying amounts of pressure applied by the user. Compounding that, thermal expansion from the heat in your hand would also change the reading. I'll repeat what I stated earlier on in this thread. If a greater level of precision than .001" is necessary or desired, you need a micrometer. Depending on the item or dimension that needs measuring, it may require a standard micrometer, ball/tubing micrometer, blade micrometer, etc.. |
Speak for yourself!  I was going to use Unique, but it's too dirty for this application. I settled on 6 metric tons of Titegroup. Powder Valley had the best prices. The missile is almost done, but I can't afford diesel to move it into position.  BTW, I use Frankford Arsenal calipers. Still have all ten fingers. |
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