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Posted: 10/17/2013 5:59:51 PM EDT
| Can't take the performance inconsistency of my digital Kobalt calipers... Can I get a recommendation for a reliable brand / model that wont set me back $200? |
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Seen 4 of them go TU on 3 different millwrights , why the one guy had to learn twice I don't know 
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You can buy cheap, like HF, FA, etc., and treat it as a consumable, or maybe find a used Mitutoyo like this:
ebay Mitutoyo calipers Lots of people are using the cheapies, and they seem to work. I've had a Mitutoyo for some 12+ years now, still going strong.. Or, of course, go non-digital.. |
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I bought 6" mits dial calipers from msc direct. Nice calipers.
Mitutoyo calipers |
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I have these and like them a lot. I prefer analog calipers
Lyman Analog Calipers |
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Quoted:
Can't take the performance inconsistency of my digital Kobalt calipers... Can I get a recommendation for a reliable brand / model that wont set me back $200? What happened to your calipers? Most 6" calipers are only good for about 0.0015". Really good digital ones are good for 0.00075", but cost more than double the rate of the cheapies. |
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There is a differance in cheap calipers and good calipers. I have a set of Lyman's and they're pretty bad. They have a mushy feel at the stop and a horrible thumb wheel. I have a set of these too (link), and they are very crisp when they stop with a great, positively engaged thumb wheel. Buy once, cry once. Mitutoyo 505 Series Dial Caliper |
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Go with dial calipers. Period.
Electronic calipers vary in repeatability throughout the range you are measuring, as well as their price. Calipers only have an acceptable range of accuracy of +/- .002" by industry standard, and are never used for a critical dimension. If you need a digital caliper to toggle between abs/inc reading, get a cheap calculator and do the math instead of using a digital caliper. Personally, I use Brown & Sharpe calipers at work (tool and die maker), but bought a cheap $20 caliper to use for reloading. This is a personal preference. All the cheap calipers are made in China, fwiw. |
| Received an IM from another member asking how I made out with the new calipers. I went with Mitutoyo dial and they are great! Also picked up an RCBs set of dial as part of a trade and they work great too. Never going back to digital. Ever.... Thanks all for the info! |
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