Vernier Caliper-cheap and easy

[unterhausen]

Originally Posted by redir

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

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

[simplemind]

Originally Posted by teleguy57

potd!

Both wrong, that a compass he’s holding!

[P K]

Originally Posted by redir

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]

Originally Posted by simplemind

Both wrong, that a compass he’s holding!

"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:

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.