Looking at getting each these. Have looked at Mitotuyo (Made in Japan). Digital locking Caliper 0-6" for $140. http://www.pgiinc.com/digdialcal.html Micrometer, also Mitotuyo Digital 0-.5" $104. http://pgiinc.com/miqumi9.html Any opinions or other rec's.?
Mitutoyu and Brown and Sharp are the two best brands you can go with. I have found that with calipers and mics that you really do get what you pay for. Dial calipers are every bit as acurate as digital and a bit cheaper too. J & L industrial and Enco have deals on calipers and mics pretty much every month. Heres a couple of links. http://metalworking.mscdirect.com/CGI/NNPDFF?PMCTLG=08&PMPAGE=1 http://metalworking.mscdirect.com/CGI/NNPDFF?PMCTLG=08&PMPAGE=1 http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INPDFF?PMKANO=188&PMPAGE=8&PARTPG=INLMPA&PMCTLG=01
You won't buy better than Mitutoyo With the verniers, I would suggest you buy the dial type (easier to interpret)...Even though the digital type are rated at an accuracy of .0005" (1/2 a thou), I doubt that you would ever be able to "feel" that sort of accuracy. Also I also highly doubt that you will require that sort of accuracy over 6 inches anyway. The dial type will also not be subject to the reliance on batteries as are the digital types. With the micrometers, I would recommend just a plain vanilla pair of Mitutoyo's....You will be able to measure to accuracies of .0005 once you develop the "feel"...Dials and digital read outs are not necessary on micrometers as it is quite easy to learn how to read the measurements on the micrometer barrel..you would be just paying for bells and whistles that are fragile and unnecessary. Both Verniers & Micrometers are only as accurate as the person using them. If you have never used them before try to get someone to show you the correct method of holding them to ensure accuracy. Learning how to get the correct "feel" just takes practice.
Totally relate to ease of reading digital verses a dial or vernier scale. My own personal preference for precession measurements is Starrett but there is nothing wrong with Mitutoyo either.
I use Starret, unfortunately I got the caliper & micrometer in college, so now I also use a dollar store magnifying glass Gonna have to invest in a pair of metric ones, a little easier than using a conversion table
Ordered the Brown and Sharp dial caliper and 0-1" micrometer. Probably will have the glasses on when working on the bike anyway.
Seems I'm late.... I like this one. Solar powered, easy to read digital with large numbers, and changes from inches to mm with the push of a button. Want to measure a nut to see what size socket to buy? Measure it in mm then push the 'in/mm' button and get the size in inches too - in case the store does not have the metric size. Model 500-474 http://www.mitutoyo.com/TerminalMerchandisingGroup.aspx?group=1383 This place came up with a google: $139.95 http://www.penntoolco.com/catalog/products/products.cfm?categoryID=3949 Really like the solar power feature. EDIT - I've tested that by measuring shims, feeler gauges, and other things many times and they always match. Sometimes I need a quick way to confirm my math calculations of adding up feeler gauges and converting in-metric. .
I like the digital because i deal with bother standard and metric all the time and it's nice to be able to see the numbers (yeah, I'm getting old). I have a set of digital $20 verniers i got from Harbor Freight for my tool box, the cheap Chinese thing is amazingly accurate and useful. Just an FYI if your just looking for something for casual use / tool box.
