Canadian Tire Vernier Calipers

If you don't routinely check your scales and calipres for accuracy than you're asking for trouble.

Don't build with dull screws, don't use uncalibrated tools, dont assume firearms are unloaded.

Better to be confident in what's not wrong
 
I've gone through two CTC digital calipers. Decided to try from another source, found the Blindman's Fractional Electronic Caliper at Lee Valley for $42.50. They have extra large digits which is not a bad thing, and have a repeatable zero. For my non-brain surgery applications they have function fine, had it over two years now, still going strong.
 
hsatimmy said:
If you don't routinely check your scales and calipres for accuracy than you're asking for trouble.

Don't build with dull screws, don't use uncalibrated tools, dont assume firearms are unloaded.

Better to be confident in what's not wrong
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Best to add "Don't pay for bargain basement tools and expect them to match good ones"

In all seriousness, the cheap tools are great, but if you really want to know a reliable, repeatable measurement, you need both a tool that is capable of providing that, plus the ability to test it regularly against a known size, or better, a set of known sizes.

Just because the display goes to 6 decimal places, does not mean any more than it was likely the maker got a deal on a bunch of that many decimal place displays to use up.

Any expectation that a cheap digital caliper should be able to measure consistently to tenths of a thou, or even to a thousandth of an inch, reliably, is just hopeful fantasy.

Measuring bullets with a caliper is a waste of time and effort. Right up there with trying to use the bathroom scale to weigh your powder charges. Buy a micrometer.
 
vagrantviking said:
I've been using the Canadian Tire digital calipers for a couple years and only have an issue when the battery is dying.
For critical things I've checked them against a quality micrometer and never seen a discrepancy.
Also know a machinist who had and still has some high end calipers. They stay in the drawer for double checking high precision work but aren't used on a daily basis anymore. He is happy with the Canadian Tire ones and has them all over the shop. Great for most work and no tears shed if it hits the concrete floor.
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When finished using the CTC caliper I remove the battery and keep it in the recess in the case. Good for the price.
 
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Brian,

It is normal if you do not follow the instructions when putting the battery in for the first time. The blades must have been open when you first put your battery in.
 
CanXB said:
Brian,

It is normal if you do not follow the instructions when putting the battery in for the first time. The blades must have been open when you first put your battery in.
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Thanks, I’ll check that out.

I bought them off eBay , used.
They already had a battery installed.
 
22to45 said:
I have 2 pairs... they are both junk.. one pair is consistently .0035 under, and one is .002 under. I have calibration standards for my micrometer, and I have a large number of bullets to measure. plus one pair does not have the same error from inside to outside.. .. cheap no good, good no cheap.
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My Kanukistan tire caliper has been certified by the American Petroleum Institute !!!!!
 
Brianma65 said:
My Mitutoyo calipers have to be reset to zero ,every time I turn them on.
They’re always at .5.
Is this normal?
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Reset the Origin.

https://www.mitutoyo.com/videos/zero-caliper/


I never turn the screen off, batteries still last 1-3years with them On all the time anyhow. I've got a bunch of mitutoyo calipers up to 24" and digimatic micrometers, never had an issue with any yet, some 15yrs old with daily use.
I only use energizer 357's
 
Buy a Mititoyo SB simpson has a sale on them right now you can get a 6" dial for like $120. they have test dials on sale too but that only helps you if you are a machinist

Cheers

Phill
 
yeah I find all digitals do that. any little bump will move them. Wait do you mean 0.5" or 0.0005". if its 0.5" send it to Mitutoyo they will fix it.

Cheers

Phill
 
350 Mag said:
IF you want a caliper that comes close to Mitutoyo that doesn't break the bank check out iGaging brand...best bang for the buck!
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I've had one of the CTC ones for a few years and its been "OK", but I just bought an iGaging and am already impressed with the difference in quality/accuracy.
 
manicmechanic said:
The newer digital calipers work ok but I hate anything that needs batteries (like red dot scopes).
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Apparently there are solar powered (like they do with calculators) calipers available. PA was mentioned as a source.

M
 
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Batman13 said:
Buy a Mititoyo SB simpson has a sale on them right now you can get a 6" dial for like $120. they have test dials on sale too but that only helps you if you are a machinist

Cheers

Phill
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Just a forewarning... There is a thread on a hobby machinist forum that I belong too that has a rather long thread going now on the prevalence of Asian forgeries being sold as bona-fide Mitutoyo's. E-bay & amazon have both been mentioned as well as some of the more well known tool suppliers are handling them. They are very good copies visually but the operational functions leave a lot to be desired.

I personally have owned one Mitutoyo and it didn't survive the first drop to a floor and currently have 6 or 8 CT and other budget priced digital calipers in the shop, house and loading room and I can only remember one having an accuracy issue, it was out a 1/2 thou but was consistently out the same amount. Some have suffered floor drops and unlike the Mitutoyo, they keep on ticking.
 
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