caliper replacement

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JBarry

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Joined
Dec 19, 2024
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28
Location
NC
I have to replace my "SWISS MADE" six inch caliper. Any suggestions for needed/useful features are welcomed. Thank you.
 
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For cheap, but effective for 95% of penturning stuff, harbor freight has decent 6" digital calipers.

Digital is nice because you have an easy to read display, but I personally prefer the old dial face on my nice machining Mitutoyo calipers. Those were pricier, but you know they are exact.
 
What is your budget?
I have a nice Starrett dial caliper and a Mitutoyo digital caliper from my days working in a Machine Shop and Factory Quality Departments. These are complete overkill for wood working, IMO.
I bought a General Tools digital caliper from HF, Lowes or Home Depot (cant remember which, it's been 5 years or so) and i think I paid less than $30. Nice feature is the MODE button that will toggle between Metric/Fraction/Inch and will do the conversion on the fly.
If you want a step up from that, iGaging has some nice relatively inexpensive calipers. Available from Amazon.
 
I have one of the Harbor Freight units, and as Kevin (@NJturner) notes, it eats batteries. You will spend the difference in batteries.

I have both Neiko and an iGaging digital 6" calipers and they have both good. The Neiko turns on automatically when you move the slide and turns off automatically after some period of time. The iGaging does not turn on or off automatically, but it is still more efficient with batteries than any of my other calipers.
 
They do eat batteries don't they...but it not just the calipers, I have a bunch of digital tools, for flat work and they do the same, but you can buy a pack 10 batteries from Amazon for 12.00... so that doesn't hurt too bad.
 
I've gone through a few. I have been using the iGaging, and really like it. Great price, reliable, and seems accurate.
 
I have a Swiss made Brown and Sharp dial caliper I have had since the early 70s, still going strong. I recently bought a Starrett dial caliper from a CL ad for $50, including a Starrett 1" micrometer. The dial caliper is in above average shape, not beat up but needs cleaning. Haven't got around to doing that yet. I also bought a 12" Vinca Digital, NIB from CL ad for $25. It is nice because it gives you an instant inch to mm or mm to inch conversion with the push of a button.
Point is, check CL too.

Mike
 
I have been using the Wixey calipers from WoodCraft for many years. I really like them in the shop because they not only display metric or sae, but they also display both the fraction and the decimal at the same time. I have found that their resolution (0.001") and accuracy (+/- 0.001") is more than adequate for woodworking. The maximum measuring length is 6" and they use a standard CR2032 coin cell. I think I paid about $50. - Dave
 
Very helpful replies. Thank you.
The iGaging was not on my radar. (I was scratching my head pondering what "CL" meant until a careful re-reading disclosed the answer.)
 
JBarry said:
Very helpful replies. Thank you.
The iGaging was not on my radar. (I was scratching my head pondering what "CL" meant until a careful re-reading disclosed the answer.)
Click to expand...
Sorry, seems like there are acronyms and abbreviations for everything these days. I have bought and sold a lot of "stuff" on craigslist and never had any issues. I check the Albuquerque CL tools section 2-3 times a week. Some really good finds for cheap.

Mike
 
My take on calipers is somewhat different. Almost any is good enough since I am not interested in the exact measurement. I put the caliper on the fitting and press the zero button. Put the caliper on the blank. If it says +.050, need to remove 50 thousandths of an inch. Now I have a target to shoot for. I turn the blank to match the fitting size plus or minus the sanding and finish.

But do stay away from the calipers that use the small button cell (LR-----) they do eat the batteries.
 
I have dial calipers from a gunsmith company. Had them for years and they are good...no batteries obviously. Thought about digital calipers but this thread talked me out of it unless I can use 312 hearing aid batteries. Have lots of 'em.
 
I highly highly suggest go to Amazon and get the $25 one. It is accurate and comes with a case and extra batteries and screwdriver to take cover off. The screwdriver case are so much better than the slide on covers 1000%. All stainless steel. No plastic. It is by Louisware store. When I bought mine they were $20 but see they have gone up. I have 2 and are well worth the money. Digital is the way to go. They use the LR44 batteries. Easy to get. Measures metric SAE and fraction also.
 
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