Digital micrometer

points

points

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Super GunNutz
Rating - 100%
84   0   0
Location
Greenwood BC
Thank Christ for the digital age. As I have gotten older, I have had more trouble reading the scales on my micrometers. Even with a strong pair of reading glasses I was having trouble reading the scale on my vernier calipers.
I finally picked up a $30 digital caliper and, wow. Easy to read, accurate and fast. I think the accuracy of the one I got is close to a thou and I couldn't see my old scale as good as that. My old micrometers are now in my museum tool box.
This should have gone to gunsmithing forum DOH!
 
my eyes wont let me read the vernier scale anymore either, i have owned $100 pair down to a $15 dollar pair(crappy tire sale)
i used them for years in aircraft repair,...never had a problem with accuracy just dead batts....need one with a little solar pannel!
 
I have a set of gauge blocks. Easy enough to check precision. For many/most purposes these digital calipers are adequate. I have both Mitutoyo and CT. Digital micrometers are another thing, have never used one. All my micrometers are vernier. For real precision, are not micrometers preferable to calipers?
 
Digital calipers are great. You don't use calipers for real precision stuff anyhow. That is what micrometers are for.
 
mg4201 said:
Digital calipers are great. You don't use calipers for real precision stuff anyhow. That is what micrometers are for.
Click to expand...

That's my view also. Most of the work I do the calipers are as accurate as I need. Micrometers are for that real fussy stuff. Calipers are fast and easy (if you can see them) So the digitals are just my new eyes.. My old calipers were quite pricey but if you can't read them then they are worthless.
 
tiriaq said:
I have a set of gauge blocks. Easy enough to check precision. For many/most purposes these digital calipers are adequate. I have both Mitutoyo and CT. Digital micrometers are another thing, have never used one. All my micrometers are vernier. For real precision, are not micrometers preferable to calipers?
Click to expand...

Technically speaking, the vast majority of screw gauge micrometers ARE calipers.
 
SCDL said:
Technically speaking, the vast majority of screw gauge micrometers ARE calipers.
Click to expand...

If you labeled a micrometer as a caliper on a trade school exam they would put an X next to it.

In my experience the Chinese digital calipers are not all that accurate. But they are adequate for home gunsmithing and reloading uses. Just make sure you calibrate them before you use them. I find dial calipers best for precision work but a micrometer should be used when high accuracy is required as less experience is required to use them correctly.
 
gagreflex said:
If you labeled a micrometer as a caliper on a trade school exam they would put an X next to it.

In my experience the Chinese digital calipers are not all that accurate. But they are adequate for home gunsmithing and reloading uses. Just make sure you calibrate them before you use them. I find dial calipers best for precision work but a micrometer should be used when high accuracy is required as less experience is required to use them correctly.
Click to expand...

They wouldn't if I wrote "micrometer screw-gauge calipers". Ask me how I know. :D

I'm partial to Japanese calipers, myself.
 
I have dial calipers, digital calipers, micrometers and digital micrometers ( all high quality) they all have their place...

For general caliper work I prefer a dial... you don't have to turn it on, clean the surfaces and check to see if it is zeroed and turn it off - every time you use it.
 
guntech said:
I have dial calipers, digital calipers, micrometers and digital micrometers ( all high quality) they all have their place...

For general caliper work I prefer a dial... you don't have to turn it on, clean the surfaces and check to see if it is zeroed and turn it off - every time you use it.
Click to expand...

If I had a nickel for every time I tried to measure something with a turned off caliper I would be rich. :D
 
My digital calipers turn themselves on as soon as you move them to start to measure something... so you only need to remember to turn them off. I just picked up some calipers from my industrial supply guy, solid stainless and the battery in his set has lasted two years. He uses his many times each day.

I'm going back to find out if he has a "digital micrometer" from the same maker. The label on the case says "Talon Tool". Nothing on the instrument or documentation says who made it.

And for those of you who hate batteries, yes, Mitutoyo has a solar digital caliper. Only about 50% more than the equivalent battery-powered one. Ouch.
 
I am on my second chinese digital caliper. The first one was very accurate, the second one much less so and I rely on a vernier micrometer for anything important. Also the digital calipers seem to eat batteries and I have to remind myself to turn it off after every measurement

cheers mooncoon
 
I have only ever used digital vernier calipers, faster, easier, etc. And, they meet the accuracy I require from a vernier caliper, or a "very near" calipers as I refer to them when talking with new apprentices.

Digital Micrometers are for people who dont know how to properly use a Mic. All of my Mics are graduated to 0.0001 increments - have to be for true precision. The problem with digital measuring tools is the computer is usually graduated in 0.001 or 0.0005 increments, meaning that it rounds to the closest number. Not good when the tolerances on some things I've done have been +/- 0.0001.

The only definite advantage that digital mics give is the tradesman wont suffer from 25 thou disease.....

Just my $0.02:cool:
 
Okay - So if I want to buy a digital caliper/micrometer to measure my barrel thickness for ordering a Muzzle brake and then want to use it for reloading purposes - any suggestions on where to buy one at a reasonable price -
Im not a gunsmith nor a machinist so it wont be put to the use they would ... and its been way to long since I last read a vernier scale, so digital it is.
 
Mudduck said:
Okay - So if I want to buy a digital caliper/micrometer to measure my barrel thickness for ordering a Muzzle brake and then want to use it for reloading purposes - any suggestions on where to buy one at a reasonable price -
Im not a gunsmith nor a machinist so it wont be put to the use they would ... and its been way to long since I last read a vernier scale, so digital it is.
Click to expand...

Cambodian Tire. Your accuracy requirements are incredibly low. Buy a real tool (Starrett, Mitutotyo) if you plan on using it for anything that requires precision.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom