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Posted: 8/15/2013 2:26:57 PM EDT
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My Cabelas digital caliper has gone bad on me, it wont hold zero.
Budget is $100 to 150. I would appreciate any suggestions on what brands-models to look at and also what brands-models to not consider. I am not dead in the water, I still have my old school dial caliper to fall back on but I miss the ease of the digital models. All input appreciated. Thanks! |
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Frankly, as crude as calipers are to begin with, a chinese one (like the Harbor Freight or the Frankford Arsenal) is sufficient for reloading. I understand that a quality caliper is a superior instrument to the chinese stuff, but there is no part of reloading where the quality will manifest itself into something that is worth paying for.
Im sure lots of folks disagree with me, but I would save the extra money. If youre repairing intricate machinery, buy something nice. If youre measuring OAL and headspace, the HF one is more than capable. |
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Quoted:
Frankly, as crude as calipers are to begin with, a chinese one (like the Harbor Freight or the Frankford Arsenal) is sufficient for reloading. I understand that a quality caliper is a superior instrument to the chinese stuff, but there is no part of reloading where the quality will manifest itself into something that is worth paying for. Im sure lots of folks disagree with me, but I would save the extra money. If youre repairing intricate machinery, buy something nice. If youre measuring OAL and headspace, the HF one is more than capable. +1 Harbor Freight, $20. Mine has worked for years. I was given a Mitutoyo (new) and the HF measures the same. ymmv |
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+1 Harbor Freight, $20. Mine has worked for years. I was given a Mitutoyo (new) and the HF measures the same. ymmv Quoted:
Quoted:
Frankly, as crude as calipers are to begin with, a chinese one (like the Harbor Freight or the Frankford Arsenal) is sufficient for reloading. I understand that a quality caliper is a superior instrument to the chinese stuff, but there is no part of reloading where the quality will manifest itself into something that is worth paying for. Im sure lots of folks disagree with me, but I would save the extra money. If youre repairing intricate machinery, buy something nice. If youre measuring OAL and headspace, the HF one is more than capable. +1 Harbor Freight, $20. Mine has worked for years. I was given a Mitutoyo (new) and the HF measures the same. ymmv +1 Then buy a 1" standard to make sure the calipers are accurate when you need them. |
| Head to eBay for a digital selection or Amazon for a selection and buyer reviews. The graduations on my Harbor Freight dial micrometer were on a strip of tape and eventually peeled off. My all around now is a Fowler 52-030-006 DL Caliper 6"/150MM combo which is still an excellent value after 5 years of use. You get what you pay for. Fowler 72-030-006 DL 6"/150MM $43 + Free Ship. |
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Calipers are not like wrenches or screw drivers. They do not ware out with "normal" use. The points made here about the inexpensive dial caliper like the ones sold by Harbor Freight as being good and all that is really needed for reloading are dead on target.
I have been a machinist for over 25 years and a QA inspector for some of that time so I know measuring tools. OP: If you must have digital its kind of a toss up. Do any of the "good" ones come with a life time warranty? Personally, I don't like digital for reloading and stick to the tried and true dial type. A 1" standard is useless for calipers. They should be "ZERO" when closed and have no gap. If I was going to get a standard for my calipers I would want one that was close to the size I would be measuring the most. For reloading that would be in the 2" or 3" range. By the way. Calipers of any type are not very accurate because they are very user input affected. It takes a lot of practice to get "good" and consistent measurements. When I worked in aerospace many parts came with inspection criteria. Calipers were generally only allowed to be used to measure parts with +/-.005" or more tolerance. Have you ever noticed the ratchet on a micrometer? It is there so anyone who uses it will apply the same pressure to the thimble. Calipers have no such feature. |
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I have a digital Mitutoyo.
Find myself always picking up the standard dial Fowler. It is quicker and easier to use. I don't have to turn it on or off or make sure its closed completely when I do or zero it when I don't. Also have a Cabela's that actually works just fine for reloading. |
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Quoted: My Cabelas digital caliper has gone bad on me, it wont hold zero. Budget is $100 to 150. I would appreciate any suggestions on what brands-models to look at and also what brands-models to not consider. I am not dead in the water, I still have my old school dial caliper to fall back on but I miss the ease of the digital models. All input appreciated. Thanks! Just before batteries die, they cause weird readings. I use FA calipers I got from Midway for about $20. |
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Just to check, you did try a new battery before calling your calipers bad? Just before batteries die, they cause weird readings. I use FA calipers I got from Midway for about $20. Quoted:
Quoted:
My Cabelas digital caliper has gone bad on me, it wont hold zero. Budget is $100 to 150. I would appreciate any suggestions on what brands-models to look at and also what brands-models to not consider. I am not dead in the water, I still have my old school dial caliper to fall back on but I miss the ease of the digital models. All input appreciated. Thanks! Just before batteries die, they cause weird readings. I use FA calipers I got from Midway for about $20. Tried a new battery, still wont hold zero. |
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I have a digital Mitutoyo. Find myself always picking up the standard dial Fowler. It is quicker and easier to use. I don't have to turn it on or off or make sure its closed completely when I do or zero it when I don't. Also have a Cabela's that actually works just fine for reloading. I started with a digital caliper so that's what I`m used to using. I got my fathers Starrett when he retired from Bell Helicopter and it is a good caliper but I still want a new digital caliper. Thanks to all who took the time to answer. |
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Quoted: ill be the odd man out and say get some cobalt calipers from lowes, have a lifetime warranty if they ever go bad  Now the needle is somewhat tilted and it is rough when it moves. Used my HF digital the rest of the night, but it just doesn't feel very good.
Off to Lowes tomorrow. |
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I am starting to learn some machining skills and got one of these recently: Fowler digital calipers
Seemed like a decent deal for $36. |
| I think a digital Mitutoyo is in your price range. I have been using mine A LOT at work every day for the last two years, and its still on the original battery. For reloading I use a frankford arsenal dial calipers I bought 10 years ago, and it reads zero every time. |
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I've been using the Sinclair one for 3 years now for $39. I also have a RCBS dial that I can use if the batteries go in the Sinclair or if it goes tits up. I figure $39 every few years isn't bad. Who knows? It might last me 10 or 20 years?
I check it against the RCBS dial from time to time, and it's GTG. |
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Quoted: Thank you! I have an older caliper that has been great to work with. But I rearranged my bench last night and dropped my caliper. A couple times. Quoted: Quoted: ill be the odd man out and say get some cobalt calipers from lowes, have a lifetime warranty if they ever go bad Now the needle is somewhat tilted and it is rough when it moves. Used my HF digital the rest of the night, but it just doesn't feel very good. Off to Lowes tomorrow. Life is good. |
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