Dial calipers or Digital, which is better, easier to use

Boltcarrier

Boltcarrier

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I have never owned a dial style caliper before so I am asking for experienced opinions

right now I have a digital caliper and I can't seem to get the same reading, so when I try to measure the case for example, first time it give a reading and when i measure again, it gives another reading, and it never goes to zero, i always have to push the button to set it to zero.

i am planning to get a new caliper with the budget of around $50 to $60

and i am looking at the dial style ones but i wonder if it would be more reliable and provide a more consistent reading than the digital ones.
 
A good, quality, digital caliper is hard to beat. I have 2, a Mitutoyo, and a Helios.
Both are quite good, and return to zero properly.
One feature I really appreciate is being able to switch between Metric and Imperial
values. I also have 2 digital Micrometers and one old style mechanical unit. Dave.
 
You might just need a new battery or it needs a good cleaning. You can get almost any dimension that you are look for it you squeeze the calipers hard enough. Be gentle, it is a measuring tool not a wrench, lol.
The advantage with a digital is that you can zero it anywhere. Say you want to measure a bunch of brass and don’t trim unless a piece is over 2.005”. Set your vernier at 2.005 and zero it. Anything that read + goes into one pile and everything - goes into another pile.
 
I use both dial and digital calipers. I like both of them

I have three sets of dial calipers and even an older "vernier" caliper that is extremely accurate but requires a good set of eyes/glasses to read properly.

In your listed price range, IMHO there isn't anything I would trust available for a digital nor a dial caliper, unless you can find a decent used one.

My digital is a Mitutoyo. When the battery starts to run down, the lcd readout starts to fade and when you can barely see it any longer, the readings are inconsistent.

Some of the cheap Chinese calipers are pretty good but I find the models with both imperial and metric choices will often be wrong.

If you're just measuring case lengths, a few thou one way or the other won't make much if any difference.

One thing that will screw up some digital calipers is a strong magnet being placed on it or swiped over it. I've heard that heat will also affect the readouts.
 
bearhunter said:
I use both dial and digital calipers. I like both of them

I have three sets of dial calipers and even an older "vernier" caliper that is extremely accurate but requires a good set of eyes/glasses to read properly.
Click to expand...

I am in the same group as you. Reading the vernier reminds me of a slide rule.
 
Eagleye said:
A good, quality, digital caliper is hard to beat. I have 2, a Mitutoyo, and a Helios.
Both are quite good, and return to zero properly.
One feature I really appreciate is being able to switch between Metric and Imperial
values. I also have 2 digital Micrometers and one old style mechanical unit. Dave.
Click to expand...

Likewise, I use the digital. Mostly the imperial measurement I use, only sometimes the metric.
 
I use a cheap digital because really, really, really, really close is good enough for me.
 
maynard said:
You might just need a new battery or it needs a good cleaning. You can get almost any dimension that you are look for it you squeeze the calipers hard enough. Be gentle, it is a measuring tool not a wrench, lol.
The advantage with a digital is that you can zero it anywhere. Say you want to measure a bunch of brass and don’t trim unless a piece is over 2.005”. Set your vernier at 2.005 and zero it. Anything that read + goes into one pile and everything - goes into another pile.
Click to expand...

I concur.

I find calipers with somewhat flatter blade edges allow for reasonably more stable positioning of case head and mouth when the brass is placed between the caliper arms. There may be a need to lightly "twirl" the case to obtain best constant reading. However, it is also an individual thing in terms of how the caliper is used - consistency being the key word here.

I like and use both dial and digital to cross check where necessary to ensure that the readings match.
 
I have all three types and rarely use the dial type. Prefer my digital but won't hesitate to pick up my old vernier set. I have a cheap digital set on the reload bench, it's accurate but kills the battery even when shut off, requiring battery removal. My Mititoyo set doesn't do that.
 
I have and use all three types. I have no preference, it depends on what I'm using it for as to what I will use. Of the three, the vernier probably gets the least use now, mostly due to either not having my glasses, or them being too damned smudged up.

I agree on the cheap ass digital sold by CTC. batteries go dead sitting in the drawer. I had a cheapy at work, I used to take the batteries out. It would turn itself on in the tool box. Mititoyo makes probably the best, but you best have a full wallet.
 
I use a digital one. Checked it against the calibration standards at work and it was bang on. Having said that, dial calipers don't run out of batteries at the most inopportune time.

Auggie D.
 
I have been using precision tools, including both dial and digital calipers daily in my work for decades.
Dial or digital is just personal preference.

Chinese dial calipers are surprisingly very good (I'd almost say excellent) and have been for a long time. Since your budget is low, get one of these. You will be very happy with it.
Absolutely do not get cheap digital calipers. They are garbage (such as any sold by Canadian Tire). I have not seen one yet that is any good. They rapidly drain batteries and the electronics in them are short lived too.

Higher priced digital calipers are excellent (Mitutoyo, Starrett, Swiss brands) but are out of your price range.
 
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Mitutoyo digital all day long

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I have digital 1-6 master craft in the truck and in the shop. They are my go to. I check them against my 1-8 Mitutoyo. They are so close I hardly ever use the Mitutoyos. 15$ on sale. I don’t care if I accidentally break them. They go on sale every couple months. At Canadian tire
 
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