Calipers,,Digital or Mechanical

I have a Lee Valley digital that sees less and less use after I got my Princess Auto dial. Don't get me wrong, the digital one is great, but I find I can use the dial one faster with the same precision. Maybe it's 'cause I'm partially dyslexic (or stupid :slap: ) but I seem to flip numbers from time to time. Harder to do that with the dial.

(E) :cool:
 
Dial versus digital, same thing with a clock, dial is always quicker to "read" because you only look at the position of the hand, you don't actually have to "read" (and mentally process) the numbers.
 
Where to buy?

Costs?

I am interested in a quality dial caliper, but don't want to spend $200
 
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When I took my apprenticeship and was on the tools, and primarily because in many instances where I needed to use calipers, conditions made it difficult to read a normal set, I opted for an 8" Mitutoyo dial set. Simple, fast easy to use and trouble free. Seeing as they worked so well, I picked up the same in a 3" variety for reloading. That was about 30 + years ago and they're still problem free. Oh, no batteries needed.;)
 
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I have 2 of the crappy tire Digital Calipers that I use and a spare in an unopened box.

Great piece of equipment for the price. I would bet dollars to donuts that even the higher priced digital calipers use the same rebranded parts as CT.
 
I've got one of the Mastercraft ones from CT. Works good for me with no issues. Is it accurate enough to split the atom? Probably not, but it's good enough and reasonably affordable.
 
CyaN1de said:
Great piece of equipment for the price. I would bet dollars to donuts that even the higher priced digital calipers use the same rebranded parts as CT.
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No.
I have used Mity's for 10 years now. When I touch a Canadian Tire special caliper it feels like sliding sandpaper along the rule.
The CT junk is the same as any other no name chinese caliper.

The price gets you quality.
Just like people pay $1500 for a Colt upper instead of $700 for an Armalite.
They pay for the difference.

I picked up my last Mity from an ebay auction. A canadian dealer, it was used. Great condition, $90 for a $300 caliper.
 
CyaN1de said:
I have 2 of the crappy tire Digital Calipers that I use and a spare in an unopened box.

Great piece of equipment for the price. I would bet dollars to donuts that even the higher priced digital calipers use the same rebranded parts as CT.
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Not a chance, My calipers were 230 bucks and they are coolant\water proof and smooth as butter. If you use them 50 times a day the Canadian tire ones don't cut it.
 
rivetc78 said:
No.
I have used Mity's for 10 years now. When I touch a Canadian Tire special caliper it feels like sliding sandpaper along the rule.
The CT junk is the same as any other no name chinese caliper.

The price gets you quality.
Just like people pay $1500 for a Colt upper instead of $700 for an Armalite.
They pay for the difference.

I picked up my last Mity from an ebay auction. A canadian dealer, it was used. Great condition, $90 for a $300 caliper.
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They are a bit gritty for the first while but they do smooth out. I believe the finish on the top of the rule is to blame for this. I actually polished my first one and it works like a charm.

The parts I was referring to is the measuring unit. they all seem to look like they came from the same factory with different stamps on them.

Canadian Tire Caliper
0586800_450_CC_v1_m56577569830710053.jpg


Mitutoyo
MITUTOYO.JPG


John Marshall said:
Not a chance, My calipers were 230 bucks and they are coolant\water proof and smooth as butter. If you use them 50 times a day the Canadian tire ones don't cut it.
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For the average hand loader I think the $16 CT calipers will measure your OAL just as accurately as your $230 ones.

I suppose if you need them to be coolant and water proof then you may need to spend the extra $$ on them.
 
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Cerdan said:
I'm old school. I like my callipers the same as my watches: ANALOG!

I agree with your salesman that, in theory, there's a greater risk of something going wrong with a digital device than with a mechanical one. In reality though, I don't think it makes much difference.
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Same here.DAN>>>:p:D
 
A clean, well maintained digital caliper of reputable manufacture is enough for anyone reloading. So is a clean, well maintained dial caliper. Only problem I can see is that you could either forget to re-zero the digital after doing some incremental measuring, or misread the .100 dial on the dial caliper. Buy a quality tool of whatever strikes your fancy. Look after it, and it will look after you.

PS. in truth I don't use a caliper for anything more precise that a couple thousandths at work (that is what micrometers were made for!).
 
Does anyone have anything good to say about the Lyman dial calipers? Seem to be about $40 in Atlanta. (Where I am today)
 
Personal preference prevails - I.M.H.O. use a dial / mechanical because you will never need to rely on battery power. When the battery dies on a digital, you have a paper weight.
 
johnnyreb65 said:
You guys are the best

604shooter,

thanks for the heads up on the digital, went down to Crappy Tire and picked one up. Now the big question should I keep both or return the Lyman analog?
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Keep both. Spare caliper or spare battery. Cause you know the battery won't die Saturday morning.....;)
 
joe-nwt said:
Keep both. Spare caliper or spare battery. Cause you know the battery won't die Saturday morning.....;)
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X2
The Battery died on mine and one of these days I'll change it
Till then I'll use one of my mechanicals
The digital was just a convenance for quick reading
My main caliper is a dial model by Central tool
 
Been using calipers for 25 years. I have used them all but now only an 8" dial and nothing else. The 8" has a better balance and the dial is quicker to read when doing repetitive measuring. But this is my preference.
257 Roberts
 
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