Calipers, dial or digital?

bertn

bertn

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My $15 digital canadian tire caliper has crapped out. Still works up to 2 inches but after that it starts acting up, like resetting at zero all of the sudden etc.
Worked fine for about two years but I think my next one should be something that last longer...

I pretty much only use it for the gun (reloading) hobby so don't really need it for other stuff.

Should I get another digital one or go for a dial model this time?
I don't want to spend too much but will not buy another one of the CT ones again.
Bought most of my reloading tools used but with measuring tools I don't know if it would be smart to try to save some bucks there.

Any recommendation what to get or know of a good sale?

Thx!
 
It's personal preference. One is no more accurate than the other, Despite that the digital may read to half a thou discrimination, it's not accurate to half a thou.
 
I have both.... A vintage no-name dial caliper and a princess auto special. Other than the batteries in the PA digital dying just when I was about to use it, I've had no issues.

BTW, neither one is exact when compared to the 1.000" Starrett standard I have. I think it may be time to spring for a better caliper.
 
Mitutoyo. Otherwise it doesn't matter what cheap piece of ^&*% you buy for around $15. It will be stamped with whomever is peddling it, but it will be made at the same place in China. If you don't require repeatable measuring to a tenth of a thou, then just get the same one or something similar from CT or wherever. I have had a cheapo CT purchased dial caliper for over ten years, and it works just fine for measuring CBTO or COAL type measurements. $15 for a couple of years use is dirt cheap. I send that amount of money downrange in the first ten or fifteen minutes I am out shooting.
 
rick357 said:
Mitutoyo. Otherwise it doesn't matter what cheap piece of ^&*% you buy for around $15. It will be stamped with whomever is peddling it, but it will be made at the same place in China. If you don't require repeatable measuring to a tenth of a thou, then just get the same one or something similar from CT or wherever. I have had a cheapo CT purchased dial caliper for over ten years, and it works just fine for measuring CBTO or COAL type measurements. $15 for a couple of years use is dirt cheap. I send that amount of money downrange in the first ten or fifteen minutes I am out shooting.
Click to expand...

You can't measure to a tenth of a thou with a caliper anyway. I'd wager most can't do it accurately and repeatability with a micrometer either.
 
OldDude said:
I have both.... A vintage no-name dial caliper and a princess auto special. Other than the batteries in the PA digital dying just when I was about to use it, I've had no issues.

BTW, neither one is exact when compared to the 1.000" Starrett standard I have. I think it may be time to spring for a better caliper.
Click to expand...

Yup, Starrett makes some good stuff too.
 
Tokay444 said:
You can't measure to a tenth of a thou with a caliper anyway. I'd wager most can't do it accurately and repeatability with a micrometer either.
Click to expand...
OK, although I didn't actually state caliper for my tenth of a thou, a half a thou with a good cal should be able to be done repeatedly. A tenth of a thou with a mike repeatedly and a a half to a tenth of that most of the time depending on the isntrument. Any better than that and one has to start making temperature compensation and stabilization a priority with high accuracy mikes or optical measuring. It is not required so I have no need to get involved at that level.

My statement still stands. For COAL and CBTO measurements, a cheapo caliper purchased from CT, PA, etc should be more than adequate.
 
I used to like those 15$ ones then I bought a Digital Mitutoyo ! Would never go back to cheap junk after using one. Buy once Cry once ;)
 
rick357 said:
OK, although I didn't actually state caliper for my tenth of a thou, a half a thou with a good cal should be able to be done repeatedly. A tenth of a thou with a mike repeatedly and a a half to a tenth of that most of the time depending on the isntrument. Any better than that and one has to start making temperature compensation and stabilization a priority with high accuracy mikes or optical measuring. It is not required so I have no need to get involved at that level.

My statement still stands. For COAL and CBTO measurements, a cheapo caliper purchased from CT, PA, etc should be more than adequate.
Click to expand...
All my digital Mitutoyo mics have calibration certificates and certificates of accuracy that state they are good to +/-.00015". That's a 3 tenths tolerance band. To accurately measure to tenths, you need a quality device that reads to at LEAST the next order of magnitude.
 
I also have a set of gauge blocks, so I can determine if there is any truth to what the caliper is telling me.
Whether I use a caliper or micrometer depends on how precise the measurement must be.
 
I'm a big fan of a 8" caliper, I have both digital and dial Mitutoyo's and the dial is always within reach.
I mostly user the digital for quick conversion of measurements.

David
 
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