New Tool Day

[srimes]

No, I don't use my dials much. When I'm designing something, I'll often be making something like five measurements in as quick a time as you can physically do it while marking down the numbers, thinking of my design while doing it. A Vernier is a horrible option for that because I have to pause with each measurement and think to interpret the reading, and that disrupts my design thought process. A dial is way better, but even it requires a short thought to interpret the dial reading and add it to the scale reading to get a complete number. With a digital caliper, I simply read the number, write it down, and I'm off to my next measurement without losing my design train of thought.

My first digital instrument was a mic that had a mechanical digital indicator on it, and that was a game-changer, but too expensive (not mine - the college's.) I bought a 1" Mitutoyo mic with the electronic digital readout on it about 35 years ago, and I really haven't looked back since...

It's also pretty easy to bluetooth them to a computer. Even faster and no transcribing or data entry errors.

Not super cheap but totally worth it in a production environment.

 

[NashvilleTJ]

In that case - Dial, baby, dial!

I have several dial and digital calipers. When I reach into the tool box, I inevitably pick up a dial. Just my personal preference.

 

[mrblaine]

I own close to two-dozen calipers and micrometers, from Vernier to dial to digital. As for digital calipers, I have several cheap brands and several Mitutoyos. What I've found is that all the cheap brands utilize a "wake-on-movement" option so that as soon as you move the thumbwheel, it wakes up. On the other hand, the Mitutoyos all have to be turned on with the power button. The convenience of the "wake-on-movement" function is nice, but there's a massive penalty for that convenience - poor battery life.

The Mitutoyos draw almost no power when they're off because all they need to do is keep the zero point in memory. On the other hand, the cheaper ones will draw the battery down in a matter of a few weeks even if you never use them because it takes a lot more power to monitor for activity than it does to maintain the zero.

So, if you want a high-quality, long-battery-life option, Mitutoyo is it, but you'll pay for that. They're not cheap. However, if they are out of your price range, and you have to go with a cheaper brand, you'll definitely want to remove the battery when it's not in use. If you don't, and you don't use it all the time, every time you go to use it, the battery will be dead. Also, all cheap brand calipers are not equal, even if they look it. I've had a few that felt very gritty when moving them. So bad that they got tossed in the trash. I don't recall for sure which ones, but I think they were Harbor Freight's Pittsburgh line because I know I've tried those, and I don't have any in my possession currently.

I use mine weekly, so the battery life doesn't bother me so much, but there was a time when I didn't used them very often, and it was very annoying to have to put a new battery in every time I wanted to use them!

My new sets of Mitutoyo have the "wake-on-movement" with auto shut-off.

 

[mrblaine]

Good point, although I rarely do anything in metric, even for 3D printing. My brain is programmed for thou, not mm.

I am not a fan of metric, but one does need to be versed in how to use it. The V bar had a flaw that would cause me grief so I had to do a quick conversion to find out what fastener in metric was close to 10-24. Toss the calipers on a screw, get the the size in thou, hit the metric button and what do you know, 5mm is close enough to work and now I don't have to worry about goobers using a 10mm socket on 3/8" nuts and causing problems.

 

[B1Toad]

I've had this one for over 6 years now without a problem.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07X8JQ8L5?tag=wranglerorg-20

 

[sab]

My new sets of Mitutoyo have the "wake-on-movement" with auto shut-off.

I've not seen those. How's the battery life?

 

[mrblaine]

I've not seen those. How's the battery life?

Don't know yet. I've only had them since July and they are on the batteries they shipped with.

 

[Blove63]

This is the caliper I use. I haven't had to change the battery yet.

 

[Shank]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/8200328894...pid=5337789113&customid=&toolid=10001&mkevt=1

My home digital set is a vintage set of Brown and Sharpe calipers, I used them through college as well.

I have a knockoff complete garbage digital set at work too but somehow too cheap to bring my good stuff from home.

I also have multiple brown and sharp and starrett dial sets at home. My go to seems to be my dial starett.

 

[5632]

I have never had a bad set of calipers. I have probably had 20 to 25.

 

[B1Toad]

This is the caliper I use. I haven't had to change the battery yet.
View attachment 711775

You shouldn't be showing it off, when the grid goes down there will be all sorts of folks knocking on your door wanting to borrow it.

 

[GoldenGorilla]

Good. I wrote myself up TWICE for PPE violations resulting in preventable injuries.

Safety 3rd!

 

[PurpleTJAZ]

This is the caliper I use. I haven't had to change the battery yet.
View attachment 711775

I use the exact same RCBS one, over 30 years now. Batteries are still good.

 

[Blove63]

I use the exact same RCBS one, over 30 years now. Batteries are still good.

Lol, I've had mine for 18 years, and also never had to change the batteries.