Vernier Caliper-cheap and easy

[pinkshogun]

i need a new cheap caliper for occasional use. must reach 6" or 150mm. i would think with electronic there's another thing to break.

what can you recommend

[AngryScientist]

how much accuracy do you need?

you may laugh, but if you only need to read to the 1/2mm level, i have a couple of the $1.99 harbor freight jobbers that work perfectly fine.

i also have a thousand dollars worth of Starrett calipers that i used to use at work when super accuracy was needed, and i can say that the harbor freight thing is adequate for anything bike related.

https://www.harborfreight.com/6-in-utility-caliper-63664.html

[false_Aest]

Anything from Amazon or Harbor Freight < $20 will do for a bike + home use.

Mitutoyo for $100 - $200.

Just note that the cheap ones sometimes (read: always) have bad circuitry and can (read: will definitely) fail.

I have an analog caliper that I keep around when the battery in my digital calipers die at the precise moment when I need them most.

[Mark McM]

I second the Harbor Freight/Amazon calipers for home use. Also, I'd recommend a dial caliper over a vernier - the dial is much easier to read, and can be zeroed to account for caliper wear and/or manufacturing imprecision.

[Krenovian]

I purchased a cheap digital one from Harbor Freight. It lasted 10 years before it went south. I replaced it with a Mitutoyo (used) from eBay. Probably more accuracy than needed for most things but I do some occasional milling work. Be aware that there are counterfeit versions of Mitutoyo calipers on the market. An online search will clue you in as to what to look for. The counterfeit versions are indistinguishable from the real thing unless you know how to identify the subtle differences. Any new digital Mitutoyo selling for $39.95 is most certainly a fake, but probably more than adequate for general use if you aren’t concerned with 0.001” or greater accuracy.

I’ll second the recommendation for a dial caliper over a vernier scale for ease of reading. A cheap digital version is even easier to read. The Harbor Freight digital caliper I had would give repeatable readings within a couple of thousandths.

[Gsinill]

I agree with everybody on the cheap HF or Amazon versions.
Good enough for home/hobby use in my opinion.

The electronic ones come really handy, especially because you can switch between metric and imperial.
BUT the battery life of the one I have is annoying.
One would think that it does not use any power when not in use but for whatever reason, it just feels that every time I want to use it I need to change the battery.
That's why I got 2 additional dial calipers for mm and inches as well.

Also, like with most machinist tools there are usually really good deals of used Starretts, Mitutoyos, SDIs etc. on CL or Facebook Marketplace.
Hobby machinists seem to be an endangered species and once the older ones retire or pass, their tooling is often sold off cheap by family members.

[mtechnica]

Unless you’re a machinist the cheap ones are more than good enough. I’m a mechanical engineer and most of us in the department have inexpensive calipers we keep on our desks for measuring things. Obviously the machine shop has nicer ones.

[unterhausen]

most cheap digital calipers are accurate enough. I am getting tired of dealing with battery issues. iGauging seems like an upgrade from the low-end digital calipers, including Park. Amazon sells a nice digital Mitutoyo for around $100, and I think that's a pretty good deal. Otherwise, I am really horrible at reading verniers and I much prefer a dial. Although, most people don't even read the vernier past the first decimal point, so mistakes are not that likely.

Yes, I know there are people that really enjoy reading verniers and think that people that don't use them are lesser humans, but for most of us that don't do it all the time, mistakes are inevitable.

[mtechnica]

Not to mention the digital ones make it easy to convert from inch to metric and some of them even convert to fractions. It can save a lot of time to realize your 28.518mm or whatever part is actually just 1 1/8” and you can find it on McMaster for $3.

[redir]

In guitar making I have to be pretty accurate with some of the measurements and I had purchased some reasonably priced lower budget calipers and they were plenty good enough. I now have a whole tool box full of Starette stuff from my father and honestly they measure the same as the cheap. I'd still be a bit weary of going total bottom of the line cheap though.

+1 on the analog dials too.

[Dired]

If you can wait a couple of weeks, there are a ton of ridiculously cheap options on ali.

https://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?SearchText=caliper&opensearch=true

[fmradio516]

Ive always used Vernier, but recently got an amazon digital. Its pretty good but yeah, the battery thing sucks.

Really want a dial caliper. Any good ones around that arent a ton of money?

[unterhausen]

I have a couple of Chinese dial calipers that are pretty solid. Name brand dials cost $15 less than compatible digital calipers

Looks like most of the metric dial calipers also do inch. I think that would drive me nuts.

[kingpin75s]

how much accuracy do you need?

you may laugh, but if you only need to read to the 1/2mm level, i have a couple of the $1.99 harbor freight jobbers that work perfectly fine.

i also have a thousand dollars worth of Starrett calipers that i used to use at work when super accuracy was needed, and i can say that the harbor freight thing is adequate for anything bike related.

https://www.harborfreight.com/6-in-utility-caliper-63664.html

I would say I have pretty good success with reading these to the 0.1mm level if you are careful with your measure.

Certainly a 1/2mm may be a fair tolerance especially if you so not know the number to expect, but have been spending a lot of time lately measuring 26.8mm seatposts and I get this to read dead on.

I keep a bunch of them around for bike stuff and a big plus that they are plastic so do not have to worry about scratching anything.

Cannot beat $2.

[m_sasso]

I had the same battery draining/drawing issue with my inexpensive Chinese set.

Callipers are not something I use everyday so pulled the battery, eliminate the draw and store the battery loose in the calliper storage case. I have now had the same battery for a few years, 20 seconds to install or remove it when I need to use the callipers.

[loxx0050]

I've got some cheapo "Tool Shop" brand digital calipers at home for use. Never had an issue with battery drain as I've had it for a few years and it still works fine on the original battery (really don't use it that much honestly). It even came with a brand new spare battery which I've never used (yet).

Bought it at Menards actually since that is the economy brand tools they offer. Comes with it's own nice enough case (mine had a indent to keep that spare new battery even).

https://www.menards.com/main/tools/hand-tools/measuring-layout-tools/calipers/tool-shop-reg-6-stainless-steel-digital-caliper/men-000748mc/p-1444447045445.htmhttp://

I have access to precision/calibrated stuff if needed but for most home stuff this cheapo one is plenty good.

[Dave]

Harbor freight digital calipers shut off automatically. They can often be bought for $10 with a coupon. I've had mine for 7 years.

I also have a spare pair - I've had that pair for years and it still works on the original battery. Nothing works unless you press the on button.

[bicycletricycle]

if you can learn how to read the vernier type than those basic mititoyo are my favorites, cheap and last forever.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Japan-Mitutoyo-530-104-Vernier-Caliper-Metric-Inch-Range-0-200mm-0-6in-0-02mm/312849164788?_trkparms=aid%3D555018%26algo%3DPL.SI M%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20131003132420%26meid%3D3ae1d82 acba347f08b147efd41d78c4a%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D2% 26rkt%3D12%26mehot%3Dpf%26sd%3D264487176887%26itm% 3D312849164788%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

[fmradio516]

Harbor freight digital calipers shut off automatically. They can often be bought for $10 with a coupon. I've had mine for 7 years.

Thats good. I bought my digital caliper on Amazon and its really annoying. Theres an on/off button, but if the caliper is off, as soon as the slide moves even a little bit, it turns on. so i need to be very careful when im putting it back in its case otherwise it will kill the battery.

[fmradio516]

if you can learn how to read the vernier type than those basic mititoyo are my favorites, cheap and last forever.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Japan-Mitutoyo-530-104-Vernier-Caliper-Metric-Inch-Range-0-200mm-0-6in-0-02mm/312849164788?_trkparms=aid%3D555018%26algo%3DPL.SI M%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20131003132420%26meid%3D3ae1d82 acba347f08b147efd41d78c4a%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D2% 26rkt%3D12%26mehot%3Dpf%26sd%3D264487176887%26itm% 3D312849164788%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

yeah thats my go-to if i dont feel like messing with the digital. not sure of the brand but looks just like that. ive had it forever. Nice and heavy.

[unterhausen]

most cheap digital calipers will eat batteries even when turned off. In fact, I think the mitutoyos that I have also slowly drain their battery. I have one cheap caliper that I think I used once and it has gone through 2 batteries already.

I need an outside micrometer or 2, trying to decide if I should buy one of the immense number of wonderful old vernier micrometers or go digital

[bikinchris]

Wrong quote.

All manual Vernier calipers can be read down to the tenth of a millimeter with ease. Well, good light.

[glepore]

The hf ones have a coupon now for $10.

[Peter P.]

I've got a Mitutoyo digital vernier, model CD-6"CSX. I think it was about $70.

No battery issues. Works fine.

I also have an "economy" vernier (manual reading) vernier such as THIS ONE (https://www.mcmaster.com/calipers) from McMaster Carr. Once you get the hang of reading it, it's fine. $26.

[P K]

Starret dial calipers (not digital) for $50-, good balance of cost and quality

[Mark McM]

Wrong quote.

All manual Vermeer calipers can be read down to the tenth of a millimeter with ease. Well, good light.

Here's a self portrait of Vermeer, showing him holding his calipers in his right hand:

https://cdn.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossy,ret_img,w_640/https://www.geographyrealm.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/geographer-vermeer.jpg

[redir]

Starret dial calipers (not digital) for $50-, good balance of cost and quality

50 bucks? Where do you find those for a fiddy?

[fmradio516]

50 bucks? Where do you find those for a fiddy?

also interested

[teleguy57]

here's a self portrait of vermeer, showing him holding his calipers in his right hand:

https://cdn.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossy,ret_img,w_640/https://www.geographyrealm.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/geographer-vermeer.jpg

potd!

[bikinchris]

Here's a self portrait of Vermeer, showing him holding his
Thanks for pointing that out. I HATE auto correct. I know what i typed in and didn't proof read it again.

[unterhausen]

50 bucks? Where do you find those for a fiddy?

I think the cheapest Starrett dial caliper costs around $100. But someone posted an ebay link to a $100 vernier for $17 (from China), so what do I know?

I don't think the Starretts go for $50 used on ebay, seems like everyone thinks they should cost more than that

[paredown]

I picked up an old school Starrett dial caliper on eBay for about $35:banana:

(I don't see any that cheap now--I think it was when the Great Recession was on!)

[simplemind]

potd!

Both wrong, that a compass he’s holding! :eek:

[P K]

50 bucks? Where do you find those for a fiddy?

Guess it's been a little while since I bought mine, searched and found some for $80-, still think they're a good deal at that price.

[Mark McM]

Both wrong, that a compass he’s holding! :eek:

"Compass" is another name for a divider caliper. The divider caliper in the painting is being used for the second purpose described in Calipers entry in Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calipers#Divider_caliper):

In the metalworking field, a divider caliper, popularly called a compass, is used in the process of marking out locations. The points are sharpened so that they act as scribers; one leg can then be placed in the dimple created by a center or prick punch and the other leg pivoted so that it scribes a line on the workpiece's surface, thus forming an arc or circle.

A divider caliper is also used to measure a distance between two points on a map. The two caliper's ends are brought to the two points whose distance is being measured. The caliper's opening is then either measured on a separate ruler and then converted to the actual distance, or it is measured directly on a scale drawn on the map.