Calipers

[PBWalsh]

So I need new calipers, my Frankford Arsenal digital calipers seem to be unreliable. They do not consistently measure and stay on with a fresh battery, plus they can have a difficult time being precise every measurement on the same object.

Should I skip digital and go straight to analog?

What are good calipers in both digital and analog? Trying to keep budget under $60 for one caliper UNLESS $100 gets me something that much better. Local shop has an RCBS analog for $60, how are those?

 

[Waorani]

Mitutoyo

 

[Kadams1563]

Mitutoyo 500-196-30 Advanced Onsite Sensor (AOS)

Get these on Amazon. $120-130

 

[TSpork]

Mitutoyo 500-196-30 Advanced Onsite Sensor (AOS)

Get these on Amazon. $120-130

I literally just bought these last week. I got tired of my set and experienced the something as you. stopped having those issues with the Mitutoyos.

If it means anything, this is what we use at the pharmaceutical company I work at. And i've talked to a manager that used to work at other companies, and was told that's what everyone uses too

 

[LawnMM]

Mitutoyo

This, they're very nice

 

[pmclaine]

Get made in USA Starrett model, quality and the small town of Athol, MA needs the support.

 

[TSpork]

Get made in USA Starrett model, quality and the small town of Athol, MA needs the support.

I’ve seen a set of these at work too. They’re very nice also

 

[Threadcutter308]

Either Mitutoyo or Starrett analog. It may have changed, but last time I looked, digitals could only resolve to a half a thou. With the naked eye, you can resolve closer to a third, possibly a quarter of a thou. Also, analogs always work when you turn them on....

 

[Waorani]

Either Mitutoyo or Starrett analog. It may have changed, but last time I looked, digitals could only resolve to a half a thou. With the naked eye, you can resolve closer to a third, possibly a quarter of a thou. Also, analogs always work when you turn them on....

Maybe the Harbor Freight class digitals (which includes all the cheapo Frankford Arsenal, etc garbage). Genuine Starrett is always good though.

 

[wapiti16b]

I purchased an old pair of analogs from a pawn shop 38 years ago and they still work fine , they came in a case with Rockwell Space Shuttle decals and medallions . I think I paid $ 25.00 or so but really cannot remember . The brand is Peacock , a machinist friend said they were about mid-grade quality . They have served me just fine , the only downside vs digital is a miniscule amount of math is required to zero when using comparators and such .
If I were going to buy new Starret was what my machinist friend suggested FWIW !

 

[BlackFenix]

I am a fan of these: https://www.amazon.com/iGaging-ABSOLUTE-Digital-Electronic-Caliper/dp/B00INL0BTS. I have had my set to for over 3 year and they have worked flawlessly.

 

[PBWalsh]

Thank y’all, I will look into the Starrett and the Mitutoyo calipers.

Edit to add, I’d love to have an American made analog Starret but $200 aint in the cards currently, I could probably swing the Mitutoyos though.

Any experience with the mentioned RCBS ones? Or would I be pissing down the same hole as my current Frankfords?

 

[wilson1911]

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_...utoyo+500-196-30+Advanced+Onsite+Sensor+(AOS)

 

[arm017]

accurate measurements must be consistent. i have 4 pairs of RCBS calipers, that I thought were 'good enough' in the past. The mitutoyo is simply worth its based on it's repeatability and consistency. You can actually believe your measurements. They just feel more solid and much more accurate as they line up with the tenth micrometer much more than any of the budget type stuff.

 

[crunchy]

mitutoyo calipers are top of the list for things to buy in the coming months.

 

[spife7980]

I have mitutoyos digital, msi had a sale on them for 80 bucks. Too good to pass up but the igauging are almost just as good for us reloaders and 1/3 the price normally.

 

[arm017]

I have mitutoyos digital, msi had a sale on them for 80 bucks. Too good to pass up but the igauging are almost just as good for us reloaders and 1/3 the price normally.

Agree- very impressed with the igaging stuff. I have their mics too.

 

[Waorani]

Note that the really cheap "Mitutoyos" on ebay/elsewhere are knockoffs.

 

[TSpork]

Note that the really cheap "Mitutoyos" on ebay/elsewhere are knockoffs.

To avoid this, I got the ones with the calibration certificate.

When I looked a couple weeks ago, it was $60 extra for it. When I ordered it was only $5 extra, so I just paid it

 

[Kraze]

Add another vote for the igaging calipers if you're on a budget. I went from some harbor freight calipers to the igaging absolute origin calipers and it was definitely a worthwhile upgrade.

 

[sabrecross]

Etalon. Always returns back to zero. made in Switzerland.

 

[kujuak]

The Mitutoyo calipes come in 0-6" and 0-8" size. Is there a reason to get the larger one? I shoot up to 338 WinMag. Would the larger be needed for 300NormaMag, 338 Lapua> I have no desire ever to load 50 cal!

 

[spife7980]

The 8 is great so that when its open you still have enough to hold onto without having to contort your hand. That said I got my 6" on a great sale and I wouldnt have paid the upcharge for the not on sale 8.

 

[canezach]

Any idea what the "Certificate of traceability to NIST" is?

Edit: Disregard. Looks like its a certificate that shows it's accuracy is verified by National Institute of Standards and Technology

 

[TSpork]

Any idea what the "Certificate of traceability to NIST" is?

Edit: Disregard. Looks like its a certificate that shows it's accuracy is verified by National Institute of Standards and Technology

Useful for stuff like electronics. Manual calipers don’t really go out of calibration. But basically saying we know the output is correct. We calibrate everything yearly or twice a year at work. It’s amazing how much some things can drift. That being said, I don’t ever plan on recalibrating my personal calipers

 

[lightman]

Brown and Sharpe are considered to be the gold standard in measuring tools. Starett were good but seem to be getting cheapened up. Mitutoyo makes a good produce. I have a pair of electronic calipers that came from Sinclair that are accurate and work well but I have to remove the battery to keep them from draining it. I probably would not expect much from RCBS or Lyman.

For a good read, google Long Island Instrument Repair. They repair measuring instruments and sometimes sell used tools. The front part of their web site has some good info on calipers.

 

[Rust]

I'm retired now but at work it was all calibrated Mitotoyo and Starrett. Yes, even analog calipers had to be checked and certified against NIST masters. That said, the mics and calipers on my bench are Mitotoyo. One thing about some of the cheaper imports, their jaws aren't especially hard and once the flat measuring surfaces are worn or dinged you might as well toss them.

 

[magtech]

I've used two different digital calipers and they both had issues. One was a tool shop beans and the other was an old digital mitoyoyo.

They never measured the same so I got my mitoyoyo dial calipers from the shop and they have really helped. I trust them more than any digital caliper I've had.

 

[Snuby642]

Have a set of dial craftsman for over 30 years, still work fine, used in mfg.
Now have a generic set of digitals, easy to read display.

Dont overpay for brand names, get something from a machinist supply,
Dont think there are that many manufacturers compared to the myriad of brands.
+/- 0.0005 is fine for ammo making. Imo

If you can get a piece of ground tool steel use it for your standard.

 

[Doom]

Repeatability is the key as opposed to accuracy. You can use a bullet diameter to check small readings and a case to check the longer lengths. Mark the brass and bullet and you can check the calipers at any time.

For years I used a Frankford Arsenal Digital, which finally went south and I now have a Harbor Freight digital and a Hornady dial. Both work well, but the Harbor Freight isn’t smooth operating.