My newest toy! WOOHOO!

[Plays_with_Toys]

Just picked it up from harbor freight today:

up to 6" digital read out in metric or standard. Has an outside size, inner size and depth reading. $45 out the door. These things make designing so much easier.

 

[BENDER]

Nice, definitly key for making mods and designing. The fact you can switch from standard to metric is the coolest thing about digitals.

 

[boohoo583]

Digital calipers arent that great. I have one that i got from my dad because he had 2 and they are very touchy and sometimes annoying.

 

[BENDER]

Depends on brand you buy. You have to keep them CLEAN. I still love my dial calipers too.

 

[WRMorrison]

That's not a bad caliper, especially for what it will be used for. However, if you're going to use it for really precision measurement, get a good dial caliper. Digitals are very touchy. As a machinist by trade, I've got 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 18 inch calipers and what I've found out is this. Buy quality. You definitely get what you pay for. If someone is interested in quality measuring tools, consider these brands:

Starrett (a little pricey, but extremely reliable)
Brown & Sharpe (moderately priced, my personal favorite for up to 6")
Mitutoyo (more economical, and my choice for 12" and up)

One of the best places I've found to buy these and every other type of measuring tool (and thousands of other items) is:

http://www.use-enco.com

They've got everything from the tools listed above, to tool boxes, raw material, machinery, you name it. Lots of great stuff, it's definitely worth a look.

Just my two cents worth

 

[XFactorNMud]

hey, Plays_with_toys, i just got my harbor freight mag in the mail the other day and saw this exact same caliper, hows it work, i'm really thinking about getting it...aint it like $35.95 or somn...then shipping...i guess i need some money first...lol

 

[Plays_with_Toys]

What do you guys recommend for keeping it clean?

As for how it works, not really sure. I'll measure some stuff of mine that I have taken measurements from before and see how they compare. I'll be designing a VMG tube frame/ dual motor tranny coming up, and wanted the calipers to help me measure, since the measuring tape was getting annoying.

 

[BENDER]

As far keeping them clean, it's more of an issue of not letting them get dirty. I've worked in shops where guys let chips and coolant splash on them while they are machining. :roll:

You would not be disappointed w/ any of the suggestions of WRMorrison. I own 6" starret dial caliper, 6" mitutoyo digitals, and 12" dial mitutoyo. All are quality tools. I haven't had trouble w/ any of them.

Digitals are pressure sensitive, depending how much force is used when measuring. Just use light touch consistently.

 

[CustomCrawler]

What do you guys recommend for keeping it clean?

Keeping in it the case (assuming it came with one) when you don't need it is the best way. Also, when its out of the case, keep it away from anything that makes chips.

 

[AdamF]

$45??????????????? I picked mine up on sale for like $15 or $20 8O

Its on sale for $15.99!!

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=47257


I'd make a trip back to HF for a price adjustment!

 

[Plays_with_Toys]

What the crap? $16??? That figures. I'll have to head back there then, but I'm sure they'll pull something like "the website is obviously going to be cheaper and we can't doing anything about it." :evil:

 

[AdamF]

Actually, if you print out the page showing the price, they will match it. They do at my store.

If the still refuse, just return it at the store, and buy it online.

 

[WRMorrison]

They will adjust the difference, it's also the in-store price as well (sale going on).