CDN Tire micrometer/digital caliper sale. Which micrometer should I buy?

I bought some CDN Tire digital calipers on sale a few years ago, and I already had a basic set of Mitutoyo vernier calipers from 15 years ago, when I worked in a machine shop. They are good enough for most things, but I have always meant to pick up some micrometers for when I am really anal about measuring something.

I can remember a fellow I worked with who bought his digital calipers for about twice what I paid for my basic Mitutoyo's (I think mine were about $70 in 1995.) I don't remember what brand they were, but I know they weren't Mitutoyo or Starrett. It probably wasn't even two months later, when he walked over to me with a pained look on his face, and showed them to me with the electronics in pieces. He said he dropped them a few feet and they just exploded.

I've used the Mitutoyo dial calipers before and liked them, but I figure it is just one more thing to go wrong it they are dropped. I have seen them in pieces too.

FWIW, my Mitutoyo's still look mint, but then again I was very anal about protecting them and ensuring that anyone who borrowed them did the same. They don't get daily use anymore though, and I probably only use them a few times a year now, instead of dozens of times a day.

There was a post a long time ago from a member who did product testing for CDN Tire. I can't remember who it was now, but I saved his post for posterity.

Until recently, I worked for CTC head office as a product developer. One of my early jobs with the company was to review these calipers when the first samples were provided to us by the vendor.

I compared them to a Mitutoyo caliper that was sent out for calibration every 6 months. Deviation in any measurement I tried to take, inside, outside, depth or step, never exceeded the readability of the unit (0.001").

The only shortcoming I found was that if you lock the slide then try to use force to move it, it disorients the processor slightly and it will not give correct readings until the unit is re-zeroed. Pretty small "flaw" in an otherwise good tool.
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It would seem that all of the CDN Tire Mastercraft calipers and micrometers are a good value for the money. Especially when they go on sale for 60% off.
 
zuke said:
They were set up and certified in house.
We made part's for Bombardier,Dehavland, the U.S. military,and a whole slew of other's.
Those chinese c clamp's surprised us all, especially some guy's who just spent 250-300 on an 8 inch solar digital digital vernier.
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its nuts what you can spend on tools for the machine trade, you alway keep that cheap one in the bottom of the tool box just in case
 
Any tool that can meet the calibration requirements, is a good tool.

If you don't have a way to check the mic against some standard, it's pretty much only trustworthy as a comparison against itself. Not that that is all bad, if all you need it for is stuff that is not being made for someone else.

If you have use for them, the mics from C-Tire are as good as any of the 'house brand' mics elsewhere, and like as not, came off the same boat. Sometimes you get what you pay for, sometimes you pay for the brand name sticker, not the product.

Cheers
Trev
 
To keep an eye on the accuracy of my tool's now I picked up a couple gauge block's off EBAY.
We used to do this in a machine shop I worked at.
Keep'em oiled and they'll last and you know their right.
 
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