im looking to buy a new digital caliper ,what is a good choice ???? i got the mastercraft one sometimes i get a good reading then the next time its out of whack ///// really cant trust it anymore trying to do col its just not accurate can you guys give me some ideas ?????? thanks hound 13
digital calipers what is a good choice
- Thread starter hound2013
- Start date
I don't have a problem with my master craft calliper. I have starrett and bluepoint at work and have compared readings with my crappy tire set a few times. It was right on the money. Try replacing your battery. When the battery runs low you can get off readings.
If you are set on getting a quality calliper go starrett or mitutoyo.
If you are set on getting a quality calliper go starrett or mitutoyo.
Are you really set on digital? I picked a rcbs calliper from BassPro for around 40 dollars I think. They are excellent. High precision to .001 all stainless. Quality is affordable.
Do not use junky calipers. Especially the crappy tire Home Depot types that are only .01 accurate.
Do not use junky calipers. Especially the crappy tire Home Depot types that are only .01 accurate.
I picked up a dial caliper from Lee Valley for ~$40 and it works great. Side by side comparing it to Mitutoyo's and Starrett's it's bang on every time. Almost as easy to read as a digital but no batteries to get low and throw off measurements.
The Master Craft ones from Canadian Tire display down to .0005" and I have compared mine to Mitutoyo, Starrett, and others and they are fine. They are occasionally .001" off from the others but for OAL that really doesn't matter. Anything you need real precision for you should be using a micrometer anyway (like bore slugs or bullet diameters).
ambishooter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Southeastern Canuckstan
Mitutuyo or Starret Dial Calipers are better choices and no need batteries to use it. However, battery powered calipers are no-brainers specially for people with no so good eyesight. Mastercraft digital calipers are not bad provided you keep an ample supply of batteries.
Keep an eye on ebay or on kijiji for a set of Mitutoyo 6" digital calipers, This is the only brand I own in my machinist tool box for 95% of my precision tools. I think the only tool that isnt a Mitutoyo for precision measuring is a Brown and Sharp Depth Mic.
Another vote for Mitutoyu. I have a set of digital vernier calipes, and a digital Micrometer that reads to 1/100,000th inch
Never had an issue with either unit. Batteries are cheap, keep a spare on hand.
Regards, Dave
Never had an issue with either unit. Batteries are cheap, keep a spare on hand.
Regards, Dave
Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Chemainus B.C.
Good choices
. When I went off of the tooks and on staff, there were two items I took out of my tool box and put on my reloading bench. A 4" set of Mitutoyu calipers with a dial and a Mitutoyu 1" vernier micrometer that also has a digital metric read out.
Look at it this way, lots of Mit's going on well over 20yrs of daily use in machine shops(never seen a dead one yet), I never turn mine off, just change batteries every 2-4yrs.
Cheap digitals, I've seen crap out within days(or right out of the box) to maybe 6months and lots of hick ups in between and they eat batteries fast, maybe you get a year or 2 out of them for reloading... x10, you've paid more for junk than you would have for 1 good tool that can be trusted and that still has value.
Quality feels good too.
Cheap digitals, I've seen crap out within days(or right out of the box) to maybe 6months and lots of hick ups in between and they eat batteries fast, maybe you get a year or 2 out of them for reloading... x10, you've paid more for junk than you would have for 1 good tool that can be trusted and that still has value.
Quality feels good too.
