Dial Vernier Caliper Recommendation

[restorer]

Hi all,

Can anyone recommend a dial vernier caliper as I'm not familiar with makes or brands? It'll be mostly used for wood work/turning, so super-duper accuracy is not critically important. I need one with inside and outside jaws. And with a depth gauge rod if possible. I'm not so keen on battery digital ones, but will consider any you think I might want to take a look at. (I steer from battery tools because they need batteries )

My budget is £50 but will nudge up if it's just a matter of a few quids. 12" (300 mm) ideally. Doesn't need to be top of the range quality. Good enough will do.

Thanks in advance.

 

[brightspark]

Hi all,

Can anyone recommend a dial vernier caliper as I'm not familiar with makes or brands? It'll be mostly used for wood work/turning, so super-duper accuracy is not critically important. I need one with inside and outside jaws. And with a depth gauge rod if possible. I'm not so keen on battery digital ones, but will consider any you think I might want to take a look at. (I steer from battery tools because they need batteries )

My budget is £50 but will nudge up if it's just a matter of a few quids. 12" (300 mm) ideally. Doesn't need to be top of the range quality. Good enough will do.

Thanks in advance.

a 12 inch will be expensive as most are 6 inch.try eblag for a good second hand one mitutoyo are one of the best for dial but beggars cant be choosers. heres an unknown one http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12-Imperi...UK_Measuring_Tools_Levels&hash=item35d13407f3

 

[Hitch]

The batteries in my mitutoyo one and my moore and wright digital one lasts years at a time...

 

[Old Dog]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dial-Calipe...-2&keywords=300mm+dial+vernier#productDetails

 

[hotrodder]

Dunno if this'll translate directly to dial calipers but when it comes to digital flavours resolution and precision (on paper!) out of the box doesn't really change with price. More expensive ones are better made/finished... my Mitutoyo for example is like drawing a silk scarf over the freshly oiled thigh of a handmaiden while a Lidl cheapy is like rubbing two bastard files together! In real life this means the accuracy and repeatability of the Mitotoyo is gonna be better. As Hitch batteries last forever because when you turn them off they are actually off unlike the cheapies which just switch off the display and continue to eat the battery

 

[Rocketman]

I used to use Mitutoyo digital callipers and they were very good. Battery lasted a long time and accuracy.

But since leaving that place of work I just bought some cheap Halfords ones. They are OK for the price, bit rough finish compared with the fine grinding on the Mitutoyo and also use batteries a lot quicker.

 

[Fazerruss]

Rdg tools do a range of Moore n Wright for reasonable money

 

[scott0031]

Dial may not be the way to for wood, they use a rack and pinion to produce rotary motion from linear. This may be an issue as there are mechanical moving parts, racks and pinions do not like the ingress of foreign bodies and wood dust will get everywhere. I would suggest you do look again at digital, Its more suitable for what you want in my opinion.


Kind regards,


Scott

 

[brightspark]

if your eyesights good just buy a vernier caliper and dust isnt a problem

 

[Lawnmowerboy]

I think with wood dust you will have a problem with the rack and pinion that drives the dial making it skip. IMO mitutoyo are the best and are nearly all we use vernier and shadowgraph wise. Moore and Wright for ever thing else

 

[MattF]

If you're not concerned with absolute accuracy and it's just for basic measuring, I'd go with the old tap leg style calipers. Just set them and work to the setting. You can pick those up cheaply enough second hand, so you could have several set for different sizes, and there's nothing which can go wrong with them or get clogged. Depth gauge wise, just get an old depth gauge or two.

 

[restorer]

Thanks for the replies, I use leg calipers for most measuring needs but once in while better accuracy is needed.

I don't know why I thought a dial was necessary? (it's been years since I used one in anger) My initial investigations returned that option in most instances. Following Brightspark's and others' input, I've decided on a basic 8" Moore and Wright model This one in fact.

Should fit the bill nicely. And reasonably priced. Thanks.

 

[MattF]

I don't know why I thought a dial was necessary?

Not at all. I have several dial calipers which literally sit in their boxes unused. I'll merrily admit that my daily use caliper is one of the old sliding type, which you just read as a ruler. I've not ballsed owt up yet using just that. Unless you're into an area which requires seriously precise work, you don't really need owt else, and if you need to make two parts fit precisely, I prefer to use the parts themselves as the final measure devices.

 

[Wallace]

An eye loupe upgrade brings the Mk1 eyeball up to V1.1 and helps to read the vernier scale.

 

[Pete.]

Thanks for the replies, I use leg calipers for most measuring needs but once in while better accuracy is needed.

I don't know why I thought a dial was necessary? (it's been years since I used one in anger) My initial investigations returned that option in most instances. Following Brightspark's and others' input, I've decided on a basic 8" Moore and Wright model This one in fact.

Should fit the bill nicely. And reasonably priced. Thanks.

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

I just came here to tell you I found a 12" mitutoyo dial caliper for £40

 

[bob13bob]

had the same question, this guys does an excellent video on the difference between $15 poor quality calipers and this excellent $25 one. He ran through variance tests on both sides, etc.
Amazon.com: Cre8er's review of iGaging IP54 Electronic Digital Caliper 0-...