Most all of us use calipers from time to time. Sportsman's budgets run the gamut but we all want as much accuracy for the dollar spent. Many on here are aware of Project Farm on YouTube, and most respect his work. Following is a series of test he completed about a month ago.

Thanks, I have been wanting a new set of calipers. Watched the video and placed and order. One thing it did not test was battery life. My old set seems like every single time I pick them up the battery is dead. So I end up using mechanical set.

I have 3 sets of the Mitutoyos on the right in the picture above. 2ea 8" sets and 1ea 6" set. The ones in my office I never turn off and batteries last a year or more. Haven't watched it yet but feel plays a major role in what I use also. I will watch and see how it plays out.

So if you watch he wipes the jaws to measure the OD of the 123 block. Then when he measures the depth it's on a table with scratches probably deeper than what some of the calipers were off by.

The groove he didn't say how he measured it to begin with. Also it would have been easier to just call out the width of the tips rather than go through each one showing that it wouldn't measure the groove. Calipers typically are good for ±.001 anyway. If I have less than ±.002 I'm grabbing my mic.

I don't know why he listed to cost of the Mituytoyos with the Mic? Curly, what pair did you order?

Mitutoyo also offers a set that has auto off and is coolant proof. A couple of my machinists have these.



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Only part worth anything IMO was accuracy and it is a caliper not a micrometer and as Instructor said it is accurate ruler. Only part of other test that matters to me is smoothness of slide.

Have had few digitals but rather have regular mechanical set. They never have dead BATTERY and unless dropped are always ready to read when need them.

Has anyone ever worried about weight of caliper?

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My old set seems like every single time I pick them up the battery is dead. So I end up using mechanical set.

I have to admit, I only have dial calipers. I refuse to play dead battery roulette in this arena. Same for battery operated drills, screw drivers, etc. I have had battery operated drills but it only reinforced my opinion on dead/obsolete batteries. I simply don't use them enough to justify dead batteries and obsolete voltage batteries. Of course those that make a living with them it's no doubt the way to go.

I once worked with a Russian and he ask me if I knew how to read his vernier calipers. I had to say no, I had long since forgotten being spoiled by dial calipers.

I just taught a couple guys how to read vernier calipers last week. They were confused even worse because these were 24" and they have a .050" instead of .025" per mark. My 24" and 40" set are both scaled like that.

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Originally posted by CURTIS REED:



I don't know why he listed to cost of the Mituytoyos with the Mic? Curly, what pair did you order?



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I bought the Nieko, I only use them for drill sizes and non critical things. I am not a machinist and never need to thousandth anyway.