Dial Caliper Recommendation

[Spike Strip]

Ok, so I went to use my cheap HF digi caliper and for the umpteenth time the battery is dead with no replacement handy.

The garage wall now has a new dent in it.

Time to grow up and buy a dial Caliper.

Any recommendations for a GOOD unit that preferably reads both inch and metric, if possible? I suppose I'd spend up to 100 bux, or more, depending on VALUE or if made in USA.

TIA !

 

[KLF]

I have a Mitutoyo that I really like. But honestly I also have a cheap eBay 12" that works just as well, is always dead on with the calibration sticks. I don't use it very often so I keep it stored without the battery installed.

 

[Weber Sarge]

I've never seen a manual dial type with both scales - it would take two separate calipers . I've had good luck with InSize , Fowler , ect....
Mitutoyo , Starrett ect are going to come at a pretty hefty premium , if it's just for general shop use I'd stick with the cheaper ones since dead-on accuracy isn't that important . There are good used ones that show up on Ebay , but anything labeled Starrett goes through the roof fast despite being beat up . C-frame micrometers are a lot more accurate if you're working with shafts and such...just fyi . I've found some interesting and helpful tools from iGaging lately , mostly their digital scribe tool that use for fab work -
35-780

Hmm, I stand corrected . Not sure how long the dual-drive would last in that face assembly , but their stuff seems to be good quality despite the price -
Dial Caliper 6'' / 150mm DUAL Reading Scale METRIC
Guess I'll get one myself , lol .
I would say this , don't crank down hard moving across the rack on that one , and keep it clean and away from grinder filings/dust .

What all do you need measuring tools for ? Helps us know what you need for recommendations...

Sarge

 

[Weber Sarge]

Btw - if you fab anything , need one of these -
LaGesse Products - LaSquare™ LAS-12S

Don't know how I'd live without mine , not cheap but very well made and that wide base works better than anyone would ever expect .

Sarge

 

[Spike Strip]

Thanks for the recommendations, guys. I was looking at that iGaging and will probably get it, or may just buy one from Amazon.

It would just be for general shop use. I rarely do fab work.

 

[e9999]

dial ones are cheap on Craigslist. Put out a wanted ad. Can't go wrong with either Mitutoyo or Starrett. But take a known block to check when you go there.

 

[firestopper]

I recently purchased a 12" iGaging caliper and love it. It uses a commonly found battery (2032). The large digital readout is easy on my eyes and for the money, its a great buy. I will say my 6" Mitutoyo has not required any batteries for 34 years.

 

[Weber Sarge]

I need one of those long ones , how does the rack reader feel on that one , some of the cheaper ones almost feel like turning a dead electric motor with a bad bearing over or something . Worst part here is all the dust/grinding grit flying around the shop , I try really hard to protect all my measurement tools but sometimes they just get showered with stuff . I know there are fully sealed ones available , but cost more than my welding equipment when it was new .
Sarge

 

[Tapage]

I also have a Mitutoyo ( old one ) and if I'm not gonna use it for a wile, just pull the battery ..

 

[firestopper]

Sarge,
The iGaging calipers are as close to a digital Mitutoyo as you can get but a fraction of price. I paid $70 for the one showed . They are smooth and feel right. Operating a machine shop and fab/welding shop under the same roof requires additional precautions for both tooling and machines. Both dirty but the grim and grit from the welding side can ruin a machine let alone a $70 tool.

 

[Weber Sarge]

Amen to that , I just need a real shop compared to working in a closet - we're trying to find a house to buy...
I'll say this - I bought one of those Harbor Freight (US General brand) roll around carts w/lid - 5 drawer and love it . All the lathe's tooling/chucks ect lives in that cabinet along with almost all of my measuring equipment and is well-protected . Only reason I mostly stick to the cheaper lines of calipers and such is due to the shop/work conditions - owning/using very expensive brands isn't necessary for me and things have a high chance of getting destroyed in fab work and repairs . So far , not a complaint one about iGaging's products - they work quite well , especially that digital scribe/depth tool , I love using that thing for laying out parts/holes .

So far , I have these -
Digital Mortise Marking Divider Marker Gauge Calip

7'' Digital Electronic Protractor Miter Angle Rule

0-4'' Electronic Digital DEPTH GAGE Gauge INDICATOR

http://www.amazon.com/RIGHT-MACHINI...UTF8&qid=1461678917&sr=8-249&keywords=iGaging

I use the marking gauge and that mini square the most . Those beveled squares are nice for repairing things that are too tight for anything else , like the impeller off a Grasshopper I fixed a few days ago . Not sure what went through it , but it bent most of the blades and cracked every weld in it ....

Sarge

 

[firestopper]

I'll be buying more iGaging interments for sure. I have checked the accuracy using standards and they are on the money. As for as the HF tool boxes, they are the best bang for the $$ too. I have Mac and Snappy's in the house garage but the real work horses are the four 44" HF tool boxes loaded with machining/automotive tools. Heavy as hell and they work fine in the static application I use them in.

 

[Weber Sarge]

I just looked at those 44" US General boxes again yesterday when I ran in to grab a couple of the cheapo drill press clamps (table hold-down clamp thread coming) . I swear they've dropped slightly in quality , feels like the drawers are a more loose fit to the cabinet - maybe it's just my imagination . I need a bigger box , but I'm seriously right at the 44" weight loading limit so not sure what to do ...

Sarge

 

[73fj40lc]

I have a Mitutoyo now. I did the same thing with the cheap HF calipers and got tired of screwing with them. I can say that the Mitutoyo is a quality caliper and has a good hard case with box to store it in. It is easy to calibrate and is smooth in operation. I find myself using it more often now that I have a good one that works when I need it. I use mine a lot in gunsmithing.