Where is the best place to buy a good set of calipers that will measure, MM, inch and fractions? I have bought 1 in the past and it was not very good. My shaft was about 12.8mm but the caliper was measuring like 13.1mm. I dont want to spend a ton of money but at the same time i want to know that they are working correctly when i measure something. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks Michael 828 713 9032 Feel free to text me.
WTB: Calipers
- Thread starter mikes94cobra
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calipers
Fowler makes some good sets, and some do not break the bank. I have a set of mics from fowler 0-1,1-2, 2-3" and a set of dial calipers for less than $200. shop around, some good names can have some really good prices from week to week.
Fowler makes some good sets, and some do not break the bank. I have a set of mics from fowler 0-1,1-2, 2-3" and a set of dial calipers for less than $200. shop around, some good names can have some really good prices from week to week.
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WTB: Calipers
Measuring pressure is a variable. Consistency takes time for some. When done right,you can use calipers or a micrometer and be within .001 of each other.
As far as calipers,it all depends on how much you want to spend really.
However,there IS a set I'd recommend,but they aren't the absolute cheapest available.
The ones I'd buy if I needed another pair is the one offered by Stewart-McDonald Guitar Shop Supply. The ones I've been exposed to might as well have been rebranded Mitutoyo,in build quality,accuracy,and feel. Tommy D.
Measuring pressure is a variable. Consistency takes time for some. When done right,you can use calipers or a micrometer and be within .001 of each other.
As far as calipers,it all depends on how much you want to spend really.
However,there IS a set I'd recommend,but they aren't the absolute cheapest available.
The ones I'd buy if I needed another pair is the one offered by Stewart-McDonald Guitar Shop Supply. The ones I've been exposed to might as well have been rebranded Mitutoyo,in build quality,accuracy,and feel. Tommy D.
I was going to say Mitutoyo also - you can find some good used ones on eBay. Admittedly eBay's a hit or miss kind of thing. But I'm happy with the ones I have gotten.
Gary
I know some on here will fry me for this, but I have approx. 6 digital calipers in the shop and 3 more as backups in the box still, from Harbor Freight and they all measure within .001 Maxx of each other. They can be had for about $10-$16 with coupons or just a normal sale. The only problem I've had is that they eat batteries quickly at times, but ebay has bunches of those for a really good price also.
For cue work, they are more than enough...if building the space shuttle...not good enough. No one needs nor can quantify the need to spend $100-$200 for one set of calipers to build cues, IMHO. I have six loose around the shop because I can never find them when I need them...try that at $100 per set....
Dave
For cue work, they are more than enough...if building the space shuttle...not good enough. No one needs nor can quantify the need to spend $100-$200 for one set of calipers to build cues, IMHO. I have six loose around the shop because I can never find them when I need them...try that at $100 per set....
Dave
Dave is right. For calipers Harbor Frieght is the way to go.
Using micrometers is a better way to go if you want to be super accurate but honestly when I take a 15.00 caliper and put it on my ground mandrel it reads .850 spot on. So when you read wood stuff the pressure and squareing up is a factor you have to get a feel for.
When I am boring holes in my cue making procedures, I have made plug gauges and insert them into the hole as I sneak up on the ID. Reading an inside dimension can be difficult. My plug gauge has the glue interference gap annulus built into the equation. Saves a lot of time and give me repeatability.
JMO,
Rick
Using micrometers is a better way to go if you want to be super accurate but honestly when I take a 15.00 caliper and put it on my ground mandrel it reads .850 spot on. So when you read wood stuff the pressure and squareing up is a factor you have to get a feel for.
When I am boring holes in my cue making procedures, I have made plug gauges and insert them into the hole as I sneak up on the ID. Reading an inside dimension can be difficult. My plug gauge has the glue interference gap annulus built into the equation. Saves a lot of time and give me repeatability.
JMO,
Rick
I appreciate the feedback. U guys are really a great help for someone like me with little knowledge getting into the cue world. It will be years before I build cues but doing tips and possibly starting ferrules soon u guys have been a great help. I wish someone lived close to Asheville NC and could give some pointers in person while using the lathe. Seeing is much easier for me than just talking about it right now.
John Day Company sells a nice caliper. "General" Ultra tech. It can convert measurements to fractions.
“Measurement is the first step that leads to control and eventually to improvement. If you can’t measure something, you can’t understand it. If you can’t understand it, you can’t control it. If you can’t control it, you can’t improve it.”
― H. James Harrington
If you want digital it's Mitutoyo is the best bang for your buck
― H. James Harrington
If you want digital it's Mitutoyo is the best bang for your buck
The problem I've had with Harbor Freight and some other cheap ones is repeatability. You measure the same piece once with an HF and then with a Mit, +/- .001" difference - not a big deal. Then measure that same piece 4 more times with the HF and in between, open up the jaws pretty wide and then close them back down. If you're still holding +/-.001" then your good.
My 2 cents,
Gary
My 2 cents,
Gary
They look really good to me.Never thought about luthers and the like for measuring gear. I just brought an expensive solar caliper from Mitutoyo, it is really well built, but not for everyone.
Dave, no one is going to fry you. Like all things,there is good batches and bad. You must have got some from a good batch. I have a few HF calipers the shorter 4 inch ones, maybe the 6 inch ones are better. But mine are not very repeatable at all. I have checked them against gauge blocks and against my ring gauge set. You can make it measure what you want it to be. However, there can be some very good cheap calipers out there, as the bell curve of production will show. Mine must have been in the lower 10% not the upper 10%.
Digital callipers are popular for the ease of reading them that is for sure.
For me, I prefer to use measuring equipment that will give me the correct dimension the 1st time . Each time you measure something, is time you are not making something, or progressing the job. Time soon runs away that is for sure.
Some like the cheap ones as for what it is doing ,is good enough for the job at hand. My 4 inch callipers have been really handy for measuring parts for model plane building, if I get it within 0.1 mm that is plenty good enough.
Just my thoughts.