digital calipers

[semenza]

I do keep the digital calipers next to the metal lathe because of the lubricants that can get splashed about. I also use the digital calipers when I'm machining metal on the drill press and using IPA.

Oohh, that is just hanging there waiting for a witty reply .........................  I'm not gonna say it though.  [wink]  [big grin]

Seth

 

[Crazyraceguy]

I started as a machinist, so long ago that they didn't call it "manual", because there was no other way. Learned on traditional vernier type. We had Brown & Sharp at work, my personal one was Fowler. In a machine shop, calipers are a "guess-ta-meter" for non-critical measuring, even back then. Micrometers and optical comparators were the real thing.
I upgraded to a dial type in the 80s and still prefer them.
They use some digital model back at the edgebander, but batteries seem to be a hassle.
I have a cheap pair of the dial type in my main toolbox, but I don't use them much. It's just not that big of a thing for what I do.
Still have the Fowlers in the shop at home, for the occasional metal work. The dial ones just work, always.

 

[Michael Kellough]

I like the solar powered calipers. Dial, always on, no battery required.
Okay it’s not solar. Any light source will do.

The most handsome caliper I have is an ancient Kodak vernier scale type. I can’t read it but it looks great. Just two pieces of intricately machined pieces of hardened steel. And a little spring loaded pawl.

 

[Mini Me]

I have an inexpensive Harbor Freight digital caliper for over 15 years and still works fine.  It's just as accurate as my Mitutoyo dial caliper plus you can switch between mm and inches.  You do have to remove the batteries when not using for an extended period of time or it will drain the batteries.

Fred

I have read a lot of complaints about battery life but none of my 5 no name calipers suffer from it.

 

[Mini Me]

What are the advantages of the dial over the read out?

Seth

All digital measuring instruments have a resolution specification meaning that the read head has to move a certain amount before any change is seen on the screen. It most probably has no effect on the work most of us do but for machine tool rooms a mechanical instrument is more accurate.

 

[GoingMyWay]

I bought these iGaging ABSOLUTE ORIGIN 0-6" Digital Electronic Calipers back on October 7, 2017.  I don't use them that frequently, but I'm still on the original battery more than 5 years later so these don't seem to suffer from battery drain issues.

 

[Birdhunter]

I like the Starrett products. I have both the battery unit and the dial unit. I prefer the dial version. I also have a cheap plastic battery unit. If I am in a hurry and I don't need absolute accuracy, I use the plastic unit. Somewhere in the past, I bought a dial caliper that reads only in fractions. Probably pretty cheap, but it works.

 

[Cheese]

I mentioned earlier that I prefer to use dial calipers, well here the proof is in the pudding.  [smile]

Mitutoyo 8" imperial
Helios 6" imperial
Helios 6" imperial & 150 mm metric
Etalon 6" imperial
Brown & Sharpe 150 mm metric
Brown & Sharpe digital 6" imperial & 150 mm metric

Check out where the pair of imperial 6" Helios are made...that gives you an idea how old they are.  [wink]

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[Bob D.]

Hard to make it out [member=44099]Cheese[/member]  but looks like it says Germany to me.

 

[Cheese]

Hard to make it out [member=44099]Cheese[/member]  but looks like it says Germany to me.

Western Germany Bob…when was the last time you saw that?  [blink]

 

[Packard]

Hard to make it out [member=44099]Cheese[/member]  but looks like it says Germany to me.

Western Germany Bob…when was the last time you saw that?  [blink]

There was a time where “Made in East Germany” meant crude manufacturing, lousy quality control, bad investment.  While made in West Germany meant Mercedes Benz, Leica, Lowenbrau, BMW, Merck, etc.

Even pure bred dogs from East Germany has suspect lineage. 

Though some of the “made in Germany” bit is a sham.  German law allowed “made in Germany” labels if the final assembly was done on German soil.  So my old Walther PPKS was “made in Germany” even though the entire gun was produced in Portugal.  But the grip halves were screwed in on German soil.

Similarly the Porsche 928 was manufactured entirely in Spain, but the four bolts that held the driver’s seat in place were installed in Germany, so “Made in Germany”.

They did manage to maintain the vaunted quality despite the foreign manufacture, so no much of a hit. 

But, “made in East Germany” was not a good thing.

 

[hdv]

Well... I can think of one example where something from the Eastern half might actually be better. That being German Shepherds.

"Wessie's" are bred with an almost 45° angle in their hind legs. This puts an incredible amount of stress on the joints and tendons and is the cause of many ailments in that type of German Shepherd. "Ossie's" are bred to be on their hind legs at a more regular angle, just like many other (working) breeds. Some people might think that is aesthetically less attractive, but at least the animals are better off health-wise. I know which I would prefer if I were to choose a German Shepherd for a dog. I am more into mountain dogs from the life stock guard dog group (Herdenschutzhunde), though.

 

[peacefulandpatriotically]

I have a complete set of Mitutoyo's thinking I would be using them all the time seeing as I do woodwork as well as metworking, but the one I always end up reaching for is my FIL's old Swiss brand dial vernier I got when he passed. I find a dial on a decent vernier to be extremely more useful than a digital one, even ones as good as Mitutoyo's.

And of course it's a bonus never have to worry about the batteries, which even when switched off still drain. And no need for frequent calibration is also nice. Just my 2c to ponder!

can you explain why you prefer a dial caliper?

 

[afish]

Dial is better as there are no batteries to worry about, no buttons to press, no auto off.  The digital is better as its less prone to reading errors, and the big one for me is switching between inchs and mm.  This is big for me as sometimes I work in MM and sometimes inches.  Either way still happy with my cheapo husky and if it breaks they will warranty it.  I wouldnt build a rocket booster with it but for woodworking its mooooore than good enough.

 

[luvmytoolz]

can you explain why you prefer a dial caliper?

For all the reasons afish above mentioned. I love quality tools and I really thought I'd love the precision of quality micrometers/calipers, but I only really use them when metal working while machining. The simple dial caliper has a good size dial so no squinting or trying to work out what sided of the line the needles on, I'd honestly be lost without it, it's so useful.

And never having to worry about frequently checking calibration or setting it is a joy. I also have several vernier calipers, but a decent dial caliper just can't be beat.

 

[Packard]

I bought a digital vernier in January of 2022.  It came with one spare battery.  I ordered 20 more for $5.99.

In my opinion, the batteries are a non-issue. So far, in just over a year, I have only used the one spare that came with the vernier.  I got plenty of warning that it was getting tired as the numbers were getting faint. 

It appears that I now need to replace the one that is in it now.  Another 30 cents going down the drain.

 

[Cheese]

...The simple dial caliper has a good size dial so no squinting or trying to work out what sided of the line the needles on, I'd honestly be lost without it, it's so useful.

And never having to worry about frequently checking calibration or setting it is a joy. I also have several vernier calipers, but a decent dial caliper just can't be beat.

+1

Besides, the last measurement taken remains visible all day long without having to push a button to retrieve it.

I guess you could say I prefer a good dial caliper over a digital caliper by a margin of 5:1.  [tongue]

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