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Re: Dial vs Digital Caliper
I use both depending on what I feel like. Both work equally well. The digital is faster, but the dial is slightly more precise because you can read measurements in between the lines. With the digital you are stuck with the number that it spits out.
I use both depending on what I feel like. Both work equally well. The digital is faster, but the dial is slightly more precise because you can read measurements in between the lines. With the digital you are stuck with the number that it spits out.
Re: Dial vs Digital Caliper
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Cacciatore</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I use both depending on what I feel like. Both work equally well. The digital is faster, but the dial is slightly more precise because you can read measurements in between the lines. With the digital you are stuck with the number that it spits out. </div></div>
I agree completely with this.. I use mostly dial when I need to be a little more precise but I used digital for things like measuring groups because I can just zero them on a bullet and go to town.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Cacciatore</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I use both depending on what I feel like. Both work equally well. The digital is faster, but the dial is slightly more precise because you can read measurements in between the lines. With the digital you are stuck with the number that it spits out. </div></div>
I agree completely with this.. I use mostly dial when I need to be a little more precise but I used digital for things like measuring groups because I can just zero them on a bullet and go to town.
Re: Dial vs Digital Caliper
Once you become familiar with dials you can generate your own readings plenty fast. I'll run with accuracy/consistency over "ease of use" any day!
Once you become familiar with dials you can generate your own readings plenty fast. I'll run with accuracy/consistency over "ease of use" any day!
Re: Dial vs Digital Caliper
I find dial calipers to be just as fast and a bit more accurate than digital calipers, plus you almost never have to re-zero a dial caliper.
I find dial calipers to be just as fast and a bit more accurate than digital calipers, plus you almost never have to re-zero a dial caliper.
Re: Dial vs Digital Caliper
I have a digital and its nice but I plan on buying a Starret dial when I can scrape together the money so I have something always ready to work when I have batteries that arent ready to work.
You chose a great manufacturer to buy from.
I have a digital and its nice but I plan on buying a Starret dial when I can scrape together the money so I have something always ready to work when I have batteries that arent ready to work.
You chose a great manufacturer to buy from.
Re: Dial vs Digital Caliper
Starret Dial Caliper, good choice
Starret Dial Caliper, good choice
Re: Dial vs Digital Caliper
My cousin got a patent on the 3 phase phase detector and wrote the software in the coolant proof digital calipers. I asked him why he only gives .0005" resolution. He says they don't want to give much more resolution than they have accuracy. I can get .0001" resolution looking at dial calipers and get .0002" accuracy with good ones.
My recent testing of cheap vs expensive dial calipers:
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthre...rue#Post3456924
My cousin got a patent on the 3 phase phase detector and wrote the software in the coolant proof digital calipers. I asked him why he only gives .0005" resolution. He says they don't want to give much more resolution than they have accuracy. I can get .0001" resolution looking at dial calipers and get .0002" accuracy with good ones.
My recent testing of cheap vs expensive dial calipers:
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthre...rue#Post3456924
Re: Dial vs Digital Caliper
The dial caliper will stil be reading precisely 62 years from now, long after nobody makes the battery that goes in the digital caliper.
The dial caliper will stil be reading precisely 62 years from now, long after nobody makes the battery that goes in the digital caliper.
Re: Dial vs Digital Caliper
Dial...
I much prefer to see the needle winding around the dial, bearing witness to the fact it's actually doing its thing. With digitals, you gotta just trust those little pesky electrons are doing what they're supposed to.
Dial...
I much prefer to see the needle winding around the dial, bearing witness to the fact it's actually doing its thing. With digitals, you gotta just trust those little pesky electrons are doing what they're supposed to.
Re: Dial vs Digital Caliper
I have both, but my digital is solar powered.
I have both, but my digital is solar powered.
Re: Dial vs Digital Caliper
Have both, use both, trust both. Always good to have things that don't use batteries or electric.
Have both, use both, trust both. Always good to have things that don't use batteries or electric.
Re: Dial vs Digital Caliper
The first set I bought was digital. Had the Lyman brand on them and after a year or two they shot craps. I went on ebay and bought a good set of Mitutoyo dial and they work great. We use Sterret and Mitutoyo digitals at work here and they are great and very sturdy but...still like my dials.
The first set I bought was digital. Had the Lyman brand on them and after a year or two they shot craps. I went on ebay and bought a good set of Mitutoyo dial and they work great. We use Sterret and Mitutoyo digitals at work here and they are great and very sturdy but...still like my dials.
Re: Dial vs Digital Caliper
Get both
I use my digital normally, but if it goes out or starts giving weird readings I have a dial backup
Get both
I use my digital normally, but if it goes out or starts giving weird readings I have a dial backup
Re: Dial vs Digital Caliper
I like the zero switch on the digital.
It keeps me from having to remember and subtract when I measure the difference between two things.
I like the mm/in switch on the digital.
It keeps me from multiplying and dividing by 24.5.
At my desk I have dial.
In the reloading room I have a dial.
In the machine shop I have both the dial and digital.
I like the zero switch on the digital.
It keeps me from having to remember and subtract when I measure the difference between two things.
I like the mm/in switch on the digital.
It keeps me from multiplying and dividing by 24.5.
At my desk I have dial.
In the reloading room I have a dial.
In the machine shop I have both the dial and digital.
Re: Dial vs Digital Caliper
Analog all the way.
Analog all the way.
Re: Dial vs Digital Caliper
I have both and use them to confirm each other, after a while it is not necessary anymore. I do grab the dial calipers the most though.
I have both and use them to confirm each other, after a while it is not necessary anymore. I do grab the dial calipers the most though.
Re: Dial vs Digital Caliper
Thanks for all the replies. I am glad that I stayed with the dial. A package was waiting on me when I got home tonight. The Starrett is not as smooth as some of the Brown and Sharpe and Mitutoyo's I have used but it is American made and that matters to me.
Thanks for all the replies. I am glad that I stayed with the dial. A package was waiting on me when I got home tonight. The Starrett is not as smooth as some of the Brown and Sharpe and Mitutoyo's I have used but it is American made and that matters to me.
Re: Dial vs Digital Caliper
I use vernier. Not quite as quick to read as a dial, but not bad. Somewhat less damage-prone than a dial, too, which was an issue when I used to farm. Now it's just an issue because I still think like I'm farming.
I use vernier. Not quite as quick to read as a dial, but not bad. Somewhat less damage-prone than a dial, too, which was an issue when I used to farm. Now it's just an issue because I still think like I'm farming.
Re: Dial vs Digital Caliper
Only argument in favor that makes sense to me, thanks to Clark: "I like the mm/in switch on the digital."
The problem is, I absolutely hate the metric system so the ability to immediately switch to the metric system is useful to me about once or twice a year.
I much prefer a dial, if that makes me a Dinosaur, too bad. BB
PS verneir's drive me nuts! It was difficult to read when that was all there was and now, it may as well be Greek.
Only argument in favor that makes sense to me, thanks to Clark: "I like the mm/in switch on the digital."
The problem is, I absolutely hate the metric system so the ability to immediately switch to the metric system is useful to me about once or twice a year.
I much prefer a dial, if that makes me a Dinosaur, too bad. BB
PS verneir's drive me nuts! It was difficult to read when that was all there was and now, it may as well be Greek.
Re: Dial vs Digital Caliper
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Clark</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I like the zero switch on the digital.
It keeps me from having to remember and subtract when I measure the difference between two things.
I like the mm/in switch on the digital.
It keeps me from multiplying and dividing by 24.5.
At my desk I have dial.
In the reloading room I have a dial.
In the machine shop I have both the dial and digital. </div></div>
Same here - being able to zero the digital at any point is a huge time saver when taking incremental measurements.
As for the accuracy thing, my Mitutoyo and Brown&Sharpe digitals have consistently shown to be dead on to .001" consistently and you're fooling yourself if you think a dial caliper is more accurate than that...any more than .001" and you should be using a micrometer.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Clark</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I like the zero switch on the digital.
It keeps me from having to remember and subtract when I measure the difference between two things.
I like the mm/in switch on the digital.
It keeps me from multiplying and dividing by 24.5.
At my desk I have dial.
In the reloading room I have a dial.
In the machine shop I have both the dial and digital. </div></div>
Same here - being able to zero the digital at any point is a huge time saver when taking incremental measurements.
As for the accuracy thing, my Mitutoyo and Brown&Sharpe digitals have consistently shown to be dead on to .001" consistently and you're fooling yourself if you think a dial caliper is more accurate than that...any more than .001" and you should be using a micrometer.
Re: Dial vs Digital Caliper
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mtrmn</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Old school all the way--no electronics for me. </div></div>
Old school? I might offer <span style="font-weight: bold">vernier</span> if you want old school.
OFG
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: mtrmn</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Old school all the way--no electronics for me. </div></div>
Old school? I might offer <span style="font-weight: bold">vernier</span> if you want old school.
OFG
Re: Dial vs Digital Caliper
I've used both for over 20 yrs. like both. Digitals seem to last me longer
in my shop because there no rack and pinion to collect shavings they also
Seem to be more shock proof. I usually grab my dials though. PRKmachinist is right any closer that .001 you need to reach for the mic.
I've used both for over 20 yrs. like both. Digitals seem to last me longer
in my shop because there no rack and pinion to collect shavings they also
Seem to be more shock proof. I usually grab my dials though. PRKmachinist is right any closer that .001 you need to reach for the mic.
Re: Dial vs Digital Caliper
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Gunsnjeeps</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Have both, use both, trust both. Always good to have things that don't use batteries or electric. </div></div>
+1
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Gunsnjeeps</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Have both, use both, trust both. Always good to have things that don't use batteries or electric. </div></div>
+1
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