Technical Anyone still using Dial Calipers?

Yeah, the ones with a dial.

 

We did in class yesterday
Checking drill bits for tap size.

 

Never needs batteries, other than the mental ones.

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Yes, often.

 

Yes, batteries never go dead

 

I've got a Brown & Sharpe that I bought in 1965.

 

Yes, all the time. The electronic one is in the drawer next to it with dead batteries.

 

I use mine every day, however I must say that those Starretts pictured are the most dissapointing dial calipers that I have ever owned. I have 2 of them and they both went to hell after a short period of use. I have 4 Brown and Sharp's and they are pretty much bullet proof!

 

I do mine is about 40 years old . Digital stuff don't last long in this climate.

 

Every day either at work or home.

 

Well you guys read my mind. I use calipers infrequently and every time with the digitals I'm hunting for a battery. Thanks, glad I'm not alone.

 

One of the most important tools I have. Dial type is the best.

No digital for me

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I don't use mine very often so I need a battery almost every time!

 

I use my dial caliper all the time, never needs battery's

 

I use mine a lot more often than the digital ones I have around. Unless I'm working on OT bikes... they're metric.

 

I use both dial and digital. Digital is nice when you need to also do metric

I like using dial especially if I'm slowly cutting something (like on a lathe), for some reason seeing the dial makes it easier for me to know about how far off I am.

Same thing with looking at a clock, I find it easier to just quickly glance at an analog clock rather than a digital clock where the numbers change. For some reason seeing 4:42 on a digital clock takes longer for my brain to register how long it is until 5:00, versus seeing it on an analog clock with hands.

 

Did you ever think to remove the battery when not in use?

 

Use them often. I have two dial and one digital. Hardly ever use the digital ones. Extremely handy tool to have

 

Every dang day

 

I read an article by an engineer. He compared the accuracy of the cheap Harbor Freight dial calipers & digital calipers with the accuracy of expensive calipers such as Starrett or Brown& Sharp. He said accuracy was equal but the action was smoother on the high dollar calipers. Greg

 

All the time, I'd be lost without mine.

You mean there are ones that take batteries ?? Lol

 

I use my dial calipers often. I hardly ever use my Vernier calipers anymore

 

I don’t have any digital calipers, I use my dial calipers in the shop. But in my road bag I keep my Vernier calipers, they are a whole lot more durable. But are getting harder for me so see any more!








Bones

 

These will be 44 years old in March, magnifying glass in now an option. Bob

 

Do you think there is a battery drain when they are off?

 

I use my 6" dial caliper a lot. It is the most used measuring tool right after a tape measure. It's great and works every time. I have a 12" digital caliper. I hate it. I never trust the measurements until I've checked it 5 or 6 times. I just have an innate distrust of digital gauges. Everything else, all my mics and bore gauges, etc. are analog. I'm a skeptical old bastard.

 

The dial calipers allow you to interpolate between the lines. With digital calipers all you know is what the display shows. You don't know if the measurement is exactly what it says or is barely what it says. Tool and Die makers, the top of the machinist food chain, use dial calipers. Digital calipers are considered accurate to plus/minus .001 (a .002 spread) Dial caliper are considered accurate to .001. With practice you can hold a tolerance to .0005 with a dial caliper.

 

Don't have one of those, but if i did I'd use them. I have vernier & digital calipers and use both.

As eaglebeak suggests, if you don't use the digital ones often, take the battery out, there's usually a spot for it (and/or spares) in the box. My first digital set went through batteries quickly, when they broke I got a new one of the same model, obviously improved as the battery lasts much longer.

 

Real Men use vernier calipers. At least until their eye-bones start failing them.

 

yes