Digital Calipers

[Scott_AZ]

I have a set of normal old "analog" calipers and use the hell out of them. I bought the digital ones from harbor freight to see if I'd like them knowing they'd probably be garbage, which they were. Who makes a good set of these? I am looking for roughly .001 resolution but not anything too expensive. A decimal/fraction tool would be helpful as well if they make this option. Please share your experiences. Make, model, features, etc.

Something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/General-Tools-...227580&sr=1-16

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[partybarge_pilot]

For work, Mititoyo water proof. For the garage, I got a couple of harbor freights finest. the first 6" pair I got from HF is actually pretty decent. I went back for a set of 8" that looked identical, but the quality just wasn't the same.

[Scott_AZ]

zero out and calibrate, dial a smidge 243.937 inches, wtf...
closed and back to zero, eeeeease her on open 7347.338"...
Third time's a charm!
closed, zeored, slide the wheel on the bottom instead of the normal slide, approaching destination measurement 47.984" AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

It gives a whole new meaning to measure twice, cut once lol. Try to measure two things with these and you'll cut them in half with a gas axe and tune it with a 5 lb hammer.

[DesertGuy1]

X2 for Mitutoyo or Starrett, when it matters. I also keep a couple of Pomona Swap Meet's "finest" as throw-aways but they usually are more than enough for most things off-road.

I have had good luck buying from ENCO and they typically will run specials:
http://www.use-enco.com

[NoThrottle]

All the digital ones are junk, if your eyes are getting too tired to line up the vernier marks then get one with a mechanical dial on it.
What I wouldnt give for a left-handed traditional set of verniers... I've made so many mistakes reading it upside down.

[loufish]

I suggest the Enco dial indicators for general shop use. The digital models are "neat" but they are still a little more fragile are are good for metric conversions....but I still perfer the dial models....

[Zambo]

I got the ones from Home Depot, made by General Tool or something like that. They work good and have metric and fraction readouts. About 35 bucks.

[partybarge_pilot]

If you get any grinding dust in dial calipers it isn't going to end well. Digitals are far more resistant to contamination and wear. I have a set of Mititoyo's that's almost 20 years old and still work perfectly. I don't have any dial calipers left in working condition.

I do have My favorite pair of Etalons out for repair again though, they are over 20 years old...........

[CRAIG_HALL]

Mitutoyo. They aren't junk at all. I can read Verniers fine, but why waste time? Accuracy of digital is far better than anyones eyes on a vernier. In our dirty, metal dusty sheetmetal shop we've never had a pair fail or read wrong on their own. Repeatedly dropped, points broke,battery covers lost are mostly the problems. We've used the digimatic ones in 6", 8" & 24" sizes, I've never had a reason to buy anything else.

[NoThrottle]

Digitals are usually less accurate, I used to work in a calibration lab.
People often confuse resolution with accuracy.
For example you can have a reading 1.000 inches but it could have an accuracy of 2% which is anywhere from 1.020 to 0.980. Read the datasheet don't trust the bling display with meaningless zeroes.
A nice set of verniers is good for about half a thou if you have good eyes and light, but really you should be using a micrometer for that.

(as a side note, most people use a micrometer wrong: make sure the work and the tool are at the right temperature, hold the plastic grip so your hand heat doesnt expand it and use the little torque limiting knob to wind it in until it clicks, dont wind it in with the big grip, its not a clamp I cringe every time I see someone doing it)