Are cheap calipers worth using?

[01Foreman400]

My iGaging have worked fine for years.

 

[TheCoyote]

Get a couple different sizes of calibration bars or blocks, then you can see if they are off or inconsistent. https://a.co/d/hcOBeDl

That makes a lot of sense! I ordered the 25mm and 75mm.
Thank you!

 

[Luked]

Have a set I bought from Hornaday and they work fine.
I have used the high end ones in the past for jobs. But never bought any myself.

 

[Elkslut]

Being a machinist I can say yes there is a huge difference in calipers.
However if you have calipers with metal jaws and learn to have a good consistent feel, not mongo grip and squeeze. You should be fine for what you are doing. Slightly rotate the brass to let things settle while measuring you will get the hang of it.
Digitals are better in some ways, you can set a relative zero and measure discrepancies, and go back to true zero. Dial calipers can't do that. Keep them clean no matter what brand or style you have.
Make sure you use them properly also. Measure at the proper place on the jaws, not the recess area (seen that a few times).
Expecting calipers to hold a 1 thou (.001 or third digit ) tolerance consistently will lead you a stray. If you need that tight of tolerance use micrometers.
Also you can check the calipers with a known size part or block. Checking with a precise part (gauge block, 1-2-3 block ect) can help with the feel you need for consistency and checking your tool also.

 

[TheCoyote]

I bought some from Creedmoor sports. They were $50. They are light years better that the Frankfort Arsenal ones I own. Better material, smoother operation.

 

[TaperPin]

It’s amazing how much bang for the buck a cheap dial caliper can be, but as many of the very experienced guys who measure things for a living have said getting an accurate block or micrometer standard in the 2” to 3” range gives you a better idea of how close your numbers are. Good quality micrometer standards are $20 on fleeBay. I’ve had relatively inexpensive dial calipers since the years when Trump was a Democrat and they have been beat up, jammed up with metal chips, the tips have been used extensively to scribe layout lines on metal, yet the majority of the jaw surface still reads better than it should.

The cheapest digital models, like the $20 Harbor Freight, go through batteries like crazy. There’s a parasitic drain on the batteries that’s just part of the cheap electronics design and the hassle of replacing batteries every 6 months isn’t worth it. Move up to better mid range model, like a $70 Shars digital and that goes away. I can’t say what’s good between $20 and $70, but some probably are. I resisted digitals but they are so handy it’s hard to not grab them first. When checking if all 270 bullets are actually .277” and a 7mm bullet hasn’t snuck in the box, the ability to zero is really nice.

If you’re buying used or new gear online beware of the large amount of counterfeit Mitutoyo stuff. The Chinese con artists really like their designs for some reason. Buy new from a reputable dealer, and avoid used unless the price reflects you might be getting screwed.

 

[roadsterguy]

This coming from a Journeymen Tool Maker with 40 + years experience.

YES... THE CHEAP CALIPERS WORK.

The difference is (mostly) in how long they last.

The dial type with the rack and pinion are the best to use in all cases.

Digitals can miss but it's normally SO obvious, it's not a problem. Usually the scale or reader is dirty and it will be fine after a cleaning and reset to zero.

The other exception to the general rule (mechanical dial is best) is when you set zero to a standard of some sort rather than the closed jaws. For instance, you might want to check variation OR minimum OR maximun- like trim length, COL or something else very quickly.

If you really need to measure something, anything, ACCURATELY- Micrometers and just about anything else is better than any caliper.

IF YOU ARE NOT A TOOL MAKER, MACHINIST OR INSPECTOR- Starrett, Brown & Sharpe, Mitutoyo, are absolutely NOT NECESSARY if you don't use them multiple times a day, every day to make a living.

PS.. Same goes with dial indicators.

But I find it interesting a person that's looking at half a thou and using a plastic caliper, I agree with your thought, what I have found are a few retired machinest that would sell me some of their measuring tools, they were checked and in great shape, their is a difference in the handling of any quality tool, tradesman for 40yrs.