Digital Caliper Recommendations Sought

[Jim Garry]

Hi everyone. I've been using a $30 digital caliper (CE 150 mm) for years and for almost that long I've been telling myself I ought to break down and get a much more accurate piece. But there is a wide variety to choose from even in the over-$100 category and so many online recommendations (often paid for by manufacturers) that it's difficult to make a decision.

I'm budgeting up to $200. Would really appreciate the community's recommendations.

[billtebbutt]

Many options well within your budget. If you intend on doing lathe/millwork, make sure you plump for the liquid-proof versions.

Have had mine for well over a decade, use it multiple times a week. Lovely bit of kit

best,
bt

[10rmotor]

Mitutoyo seems to be the industry standard these days, which unfortunately has drawn the attention of fake caliper manufacturing companies. Do yourself a favor and search youtube for videos on how to spot the fakes. fleabay is loaded with them, like for example a 12" digital mitutoyo caliper for under 100 bucks! Those are 500 from vendors like grainger or others!

[Fred Michael]

Mititoyo is great. I have also been pretty happy with my Fowler caliper as well

[Steve Demeter]

Mititoyo is the best dollar / value there is

[BLS]

"...and get a much more accurate piece."

How accurate is what you have and how accurate are the expensive ones? I use them for run of the mill stuff but use my old calipers for anything precise.

[romoman]

Or is it worth getting a bunch of cheap ones to have everywhere and then a good caliper for when you need good measurements. I've found for a lot of things, the cheap ones are good enough and you're not worried about them.

[Jim Garry]

Thanks everyone. Seems like there's an obvious choice. And good thoughts on using the old ones for jobs that don't need the accuracy.

[PDM075]

Another vote for Mitutoyo. I have 4 of their digital calipers for well over 20 years (one is closer to 40 years old) when Mitutoyo Japan first introduced digital equipment and have never had a failure yet.

I had an uncle that worked out of an office in our family business who distributed and sold high end Japanese measuring equipment so there was always very high end measuring tools around our family manufacturing business, so I naturally aquired a lot of these tools to use in m own race and fabrication use since the early 80's.

I've bought various cheaper calipers meant for brake rotors and large objects that plain and simply suck compared to Mitutoyo.

buy once, cry once.

[patman]

I have one $150 Mitutoyo, and a bunch of $20 ones. I like amazon brand Neiko. Generally they agree pretty close, but it is nice to have one that you know for sure is accurate.

If you can only get one, get the Mitutoyo for sure.

[Lotus7]

Hi everyone. I've been using a $30 digital caliper (CE 150 mm) for years and for almost that long I've been telling myself I ought to break down and get a much more accurate piece.

I'm a big supporter of quality tools when they are required.
May I ask what aspect of FFord (based on your avatar) requires 'better' accuracy than you believe you're getting? (Are you engine building for instance?) As someone asked above, curious what error you think you have with current gauge?
Cheers

[Jim Garry]

There's difficulty with repeatability of measurements. Maybe the caliper has simply been around long enough that it's no longer working as designed and a new, similar one would work fine.

But I decided to look for a more accurate piece and asked the community for advice.

[Rick Kirchner]

If repeatability is an issue, then the rack or the drive gear might be worn on a mechanical device, the slider could be dirty on a digital one. Might try some contact cleaner, see if it improves. Otherwise, I'd trust a caliper to a thousandth or two, and beyond that I think you need to use a micrometer.

[Jim Garry]

Thanks Rick

[10rmotor]

I'm a big supporter of quality tools when they are required.
May I ask what aspect of FFord (based on your avatar) requires 'better' accuracy than you believe you're getting? (Are you engine building for instance?) As someone asked above, curious what error you think you have with current gauge?
Cheers

If you're building an engine, you're most likely not using calipers, you're using micrometers. At least, for sizing bearings, pistons, and cylinder bores.

[Robins Ken]

If repeatability is an issue, then the rack or the drive gear might be worn on a mechanical device, the slider could be dirty on a digital one. Might try some contact cleaner, see if it improves. Otherwise, I'd trust a caliper to a thousandth or two, and beyond that I think you need to use a micrometer.

Well described Rick. Measuring is all about technique and repeatability. Emery cloth was invented for good reason.

[pacratt]

Another vote here for Mitutoyo.
Over 35 years as a machinist, about 90% of my tools are Mitutoyo and my 0-6" dial calipers are the only ones I've had to replace (2 so far) due wear on the anvil tips (1) and dropping on a concrete floor (1).
Glenn