Precision measurement instruments

[Justin B.]

I'd like to give my preliminary impressions of the digital calipers that Harbor Freight has on sale right now.  The 6" is on sale for $15.95, and in my opinion is a great deal.   I have had one of these for about three months and so far it has held up well, is accurate, and dead-solid consistent.  I have checked it against my Mitutoyo dial caliper and they agree 100%.   [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

Just thought I'd give a heads-up in case anybody was needing a good caliper but scared by the prices.  I went and bought two more of them today!  

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

So...I take it a digital caliper is just the ticket for someone (me) that never learned how to read a old-fashioned analog (no-dial) caliper, like I have?

[Justin B.]

Yeah, that's about the size of it.  AND, even knowing how to use one of the "old timey" ones I am starting to grow attached to it!    And for the price, I don't think you can beat it...

[Ed Miller]

Rob, "analog" isn't the problem.  It's "venier" or something like that.  I have a set of inside bore guages and a nice caliper, that I bought cheap at a local garage sale, that are very well made in Germany but are vernier scaled.  I studied that in college for some classes so I know how to read them but I have to THINK every time, as I don't use them often enough for it to become automatic.  Still, they're good enough for me.  But I wouldn't put down the HF models either, especially if you have a standard against them to compare.

[Justin B.]

I have a 1" micrometer that's accurate to .0001.  I don't know if I even remember how to read the ten thousandths scale!

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Yeah, Ed, vernier is what I was thinking of.  I just don't use it enough to remember the details.

I did use it tonight, though, to measure two exhaust nuts.  The one for the big bikes showed 50mm easy.
All I could say for sure was the R65 nut is 45mm and some change...

I hope to be near Indy's H.F store tomorrow.  Wish me luck that I don't blow my recent conservative spending habits...

[Justin B.]

Yes, good luck.  I can't seem to get out of the place without blowing a C-note...  :-/

[MrRiden]

Sold off most of my Starrett tools years ago for a song. Longing for a nice veneer caliper [digital] I too bought the HF one for measuring and a set of their snap [bore] gauges to complement it. The accuracy is more than suitable for my garage exploits and when I check it against my collection of Mitutoyo mics they agree. Now you all have me considering replacing my long gone dial indicator and base. any suggestions?
Rich

[Justin B.]

I have a cheapo HF 1" dial indicator and magnetic base but they also have a digital that is on sale for around $20 right now, I think.  About the only thing I use the dial gauge for is checking wheels and rotors for warp and chucking up stuff in the lathe - it seems fine for that...  Their magnetic base works very well.