Best Dial Calipers for ~ $50
- Thread starter rommel500
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Re: Best Dial Calipers for ~ $50
I'm in the same situation looking for one, there are so many in that link from $23 to $400, how is one to have any idea whats good and whats not?
I'm looking to spend about that $50 mark, I want to be sure I'm not just buying a $23 one for my $50.
Is the $50 RCBS any different than the $25.00 Frankfort Arsenal other than the stickers?
I'm in the same situation looking for one, there are so many in that link from $23 to $400, how is one to have any idea whats good and whats not?
I'm looking to spend about that $50 mark, I want to be sure I'm not just buying a $23 one for my $50.
Is the $50 RCBS any different than the $25.00 Frankfort Arsenal other than the stickers?
Re: Best Dial Calipers for ~ $50
Starrett or Mitutoyo are a good place to start! 6" dial or a digital! Buy once, Cry once.
If you watch Ebay for those you can usually pick one up cheap! I picked up a nice 6" Mitutoyo for $25 +$5 S&H. It can be done!
I have watched a few close out for $30 the last few months. I picked up a Starrett 6" dial for $20 shipped for a buddy that just started loading! Go thru and watch a bunch! Then bid!
One to watch
Terry
Starrett or Mitutoyo are a good place to start! 6" dial or a digital! Buy once, Cry once.
If you watch Ebay for those you can usually pick one up cheap! I picked up a nice 6" Mitutoyo for $25 +$5 S&H. It can be done!
I have watched a few close out for $30 the last few months. I picked up a Starrett 6" dial for $20 shipped for a buddy that just started loading! Go thru and watch a bunch! Then bid!
One to watch
Terry
Re: Best Dial Calipers for ~ $50
The consensus is that the Chinese digitals all come from the same factory. You can usually get one on sale at Harbor Freight for around $15.
The consensus is that the Chinese digitals all come from the same factory. You can usually get one on sale at Harbor Freight for around $15.
Re: Best Dial Calipers for ~ $50
I was reading this thread and looked down and the half dozen calipers I set aside for testing. I have yet to come up with a uniform test yet for calipers to compare:
1) cost
2) absolute accuracy
3) repeatability
4) linearity
I expect the Midway calipers [I got 10 years ago for $20] to test ~.0002" and the SPI calipers [I got recently for $40] to test ~.0030"
So I did a Google search in rec.crafts.metalworking for "test procedure for dial calipers".
I found this:
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.craft...436b5b5849660c4
While I was reading that thread I remembered two things:
1) I have taken apart calipers and they are hard to get working right again... I can't remember if I got it right.
2) "Anti backlash idler gear"? My father has a patent on some anti backlash for gun elevation and he has explained to me recently. Now I can't remember how it works.
The lines between my laziness, incompetence, and forgetfulness are blurred, but I do have an opportunity to take apart the SPI dial calipers and fix those lousy POS's.
And if you read the thread at the link I gave you, maybe you could make YOUR calipers more accurate.
I was reading this thread and looked down and the half dozen calipers I set aside for testing. I have yet to come up with a uniform test yet for calipers to compare:
1) cost
2) absolute accuracy
3) repeatability
4) linearity
I expect the Midway calipers [I got 10 years ago for $20] to test ~.0002" and the SPI calipers [I got recently for $40] to test ~.0030"
So I did a Google search in rec.crafts.metalworking for "test procedure for dial calipers".
I found this:
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.craft...436b5b5849660c4
While I was reading that thread I remembered two things:
1) I have taken apart calipers and they are hard to get working right again... I can't remember if I got it right.
2) "Anti backlash idler gear"? My father has a patent on some anti backlash for gun elevation and he has explained to me recently. Now I can't remember how it works.
The lines between my laziness, incompetence, and forgetfulness are blurred, but I do have an opportunity to take apart the SPI dial calipers and fix those lousy POS's.
And if you read the thread at the link I gave you, maybe you could make YOUR calipers more accurate.
Re: Best Dial Calipers for ~ $50
I am leaning towards a stainless steel smith and wesson model. I am sure its made in China buy another company but it seems to have decent reviews and its only $25 so I won't be too hurt if it doesn't work out.
I am leaning towards a stainless steel smith and wesson model. I am sure its made in China buy another company but it seems to have decent reviews and its only $25 so I won't be too hurt if it doesn't work out.
Re: Best Dial Calipers for ~ $50
I bought the frankford arsonal(Midway) and have been well pleased.About $20.00 bucks
I bought the frankford arsonal(Midway) and have been well pleased.About $20.00 bucks
Re: Best Dial Calipers for ~ $50
I've bought several of the cheap $20-$30 digital calipers and they all stopped working after a few months. Nothing would come up on the screen and replacing the battery didn't help. I bought a manual Dillon SS caliper and it works well for what I need it to do. For measuring case length, width, and even thickness it does the job. I wouldn't buy another digital unless it was a good brand but those can go up to hundreds of dollars.
I've bought several of the cheap $20-$30 digital calipers and they all stopped working after a few months. Nothing would come up on the screen and replacing the battery didn't help. I bought a manual Dillon SS caliper and it works well for what I need it to do. For measuring case length, width, and even thickness it does the job. I wouldn't buy another digital unless it was a good brand but those can go up to hundreds of dollars.
Re: Best Dial Calipers for ~ $50
There was another thread regarding this subject somewhere! It mentions getting Pin gages! These are a calibration for you caliper. You calibrate your scales so why not check the accuracy of your caliper???
I have heard from a machinist that I shoot with that you can use the non-fluted end of a drill bit or end mill for the same purpose. Not 100% sure of this method or how accuate that would be. I inherited a set of pin gages so I use those.
Food for thought in this area.
Terry
There was another thread regarding this subject somewhere! It mentions getting Pin gages! These are a calibration for you caliper. You calibrate your scales so why not check the accuracy of your caliper???
I have heard from a machinist that I shoot with that you can use the non-fluted end of a drill bit or end mill for the same purpose. Not 100% sure of this method or how accuate that would be. I inherited a set of pin gages so I use those.
Food for thought in this area.
Terry
Re: Best Dial Calipers for ~ $50
One thing to remember about digital calipers. They take batteries. Change them frequently. I left one of mine go for a while, and It started acting funny, giving weird readings. I knew my hornady bullet comparator was 1.003, and it wasn't reading right. I replaced the battery and all was right in the world again.
Dial calipers don't need batteries.
I keep plenty of batteries around for my cabelas's brand digial now. I bought it in their reloading section to "test it out." Been using it for a couple years now. No complaints outside of the battery going out.
One thing to remember about digital calipers. They take batteries. Change them frequently. I left one of mine go for a while, and It started acting funny, giving weird readings. I knew my hornady bullet comparator was 1.003, and it wasn't reading right. I replaced the battery and all was right in the world again.
Dial calipers don't need batteries.
Re: Best Dial Calipers for ~ $50
Ive got a dozen different calipers, dial and digital, 6", 8" and 12". I like my Mitutoyos best, but they are 8" and 12". A little more than needed in the loading room. I use My Brown & Sharp 6" ones in the loading room. Very accurate and repeatable. I also have 6" Starretts but they are my work calipers, they are as good as the Brown & Sharp though. I have cheap Harbor Freight digitals and they are fine if your tolerences are +- 0.005" but dont expect them to do better than that. I prefer dial calipers over digital cause you dont have to worry about batteries and I can read the dial just as quick as the screen. I would look at Mitutoyo, it may be a bit more expensive but it will last you a lot longer and be a lot more accurate than cheap calipers. One nice thing about the Mitutoyos is you can easily reset them to zero with with the needle straight up. For cheap price and moderate quality look at Shars brand machinist tools. They are Chinese but are a bit better than Harbor Freight grade.
Ive got a dozen different calipers, dial and digital, 6", 8" and 12". I like my Mitutoyos best, but they are 8" and 12". A little more than needed in the loading room. I use My Brown & Sharp 6" ones in the loading room. Very accurate and repeatable. I also have 6" Starretts but they are my work calipers, they are as good as the Brown & Sharp though. I have cheap Harbor Freight digitals and they are fine if your tolerences are +- 0.005" but dont expect them to do better than that. I prefer dial calipers over digital cause you dont have to worry about batteries and I can read the dial just as quick as the screen. I would look at Mitutoyo, it may be a bit more expensive but it will last you a lot longer and be a lot more accurate than cheap calipers. One nice thing about the Mitutoyos is you can easily reset them to zero with with the needle straight up. For cheap price and moderate quality look at Shars brand machinist tools. They are Chinese but are a bit better than Harbor Freight grade.
Re: Best Dial Calipers for ~ $50
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: orkan</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> I knew my hornady bullet comparator was 1.003. </div></div> Yours too? I always thought my comparator was just not done correctly and that is why it measured 1.003, instead of what I thought should have been 1.000, good to know I'm not crazy!
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: orkan</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> I knew my hornady bullet comparator was 1.003. </div></div> Yours too? I always thought my comparator was just not done correctly and that is why it measured 1.003, instead of what I thought should have been 1.000, good to know I'm not crazy!
Re: Best Dial Calipers for ~ $50
Harbor freight on sale $9.95 holds tolerance as well as a mitutoyo. My Dad has a machine shop and has probably close to 100 different verniers, dial calipers, digital Micrometers Etc. For general work the harbor freight works great and when it gets covered in cutting oil its not as painful to junk it as a $100 mitutoyo.
The mans made a living as a machinist for over 50 years, if he says the $10 harbor freight is all I need..I'm not going to argue!
Harbor freight on sale $9.95 holds tolerance as well as a mitutoyo. My Dad has a machine shop and has probably close to 100 different verniers, dial calipers, digital Micrometers Etc. For general work the harbor freight works great and when it gets covered in cutting oil its not as painful to junk it as a $100 mitutoyo.
The mans made a living as a machinist for over 50 years, if he says the $10 harbor freight is all I need..I'm not going to argue!
