Caliper (Vernier or dial) (what is good brand / model for the money??

[whistlepig]

My goodness. I didn't know that there were people still living that could read Vernier scale! I have a Mitutoya 6" dial caliper in my toolbox that I have had for 36 years. Its been beat around and dropped a few times but still works like new. Starrett is the finest of all premium measuring tools. With a premium price. Starrett is not something to be dropped on the floor or bumped around in a toolbox.

 

[JB4310]

Like I mentioned I have all kinds of old machinists tools, which I really have no business owning, since I don't do any precision work. I even have a small granite plate that they use for measuring, plus all kinds of blocks and dial indicators.

I worked for an old timer that did the machine "scraping" I guess that is pretty much a lost art. He was telling me the tolerances he had to work with, with a bunch of old tools that looked like they belonged to a caveman.
Using dyed inks to get things true?

That digi HF caliper with the thumb wheel is handy though. even for rough work like drilling holes. Set to fractions, measure what the minimum size you need, then just turn the wheel a tad more to the next common fraction size drill bit.

JB

 

[Travelover]

Like I mentioned I have all kinds of old machinists tools, which I really have no business owning, since I don't do any precision work.............JB

You might be surprised at how easy it is to sell these for cash on EBay, if they are extra.

Then you can buy a nice toy for yourself, guilt free. :laughing:

 

[RoyJackson]

I worked for an old timer that did the machine "scraping" I guess that is pretty much a lost art. He was telling me the tolerances he had to work with, with a bunch of old tools that looked like they belonged to a caveman.
Using dyed inks to get things true?

JB

"Bluing" surfaces (The bluing is layout dye...sometimes referred to as "Dykem" since that is a pretty popular layout dye) was pretty common when I first got into the Quality field. A good machinist can hold tenths (.0001").
Layout dye is still used for some types of work...sheet metal layout, setting backlash in gears and even turning and grinding.
I haven't done layout work in quite a few years...doesn't mean I forgot how to do it though.

 

[RoyJackson]

My goodness. I didn't know that there were people still living that could read Vernier scale!

I'm one of them...it's actually easier to get a more precise "feel" with a vernier caliper then a digital or dial caliper (due to the fine adjustment scale on veniers...which are not on the digital or dial calipers that I've seen or used).

 

[foggy1111]

I'm one of them...it's actually easier to get a more precise "feel" with a vernier caliper then a digital or dial caliper (due to the fine adjustment scale on veniers...which are not on the digital or dial calipers that I've seen or used).

That was my point about the Brown & Sharp Dial Caliper: Nice Feel with the slide mechanism. If you get a chance, compare them to others. Pretty slick for fine work.

Still....a caliper isnt designed to be the "end-all" in measuring devices.