I have two cheap digitals which I tested and are accurate. They do go through the batteries so I buy 20 LR44 from Amazon for a fiver which are good for a couple of years. I often find using the calipers easier than putting on my glasses to read a steel rule so they are always to hand when I am working. My father left me several vernier / dial calipers but too much fuss for me!
Cheap digital, or quality dial ?
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TomGW
Established Member
I’m on my third set of cheapo digital. The first died, the second cannot be found and the third is approx a year in use now. However, all three ate/eat batteries at a serious rate. As far as accuracy is concerned I don’t have any issue. The current one needed to have the face of the jaws dressed to remove burrs, but otherwise all is good.
Do the higher end digital models need a constant supply of batteries too, or is it just a feature of the cheap & cheerful models?
Do the higher end digital models need a constant supply of batteries too, or is it just a feature of the cheap & cheerful models?
MorrisWoodman12
Established Member
I lost my steel Mitatoyu (can't spell it & they're down in the cold workshop on this snowy day) verniers for three or four weeks until I succumbed to buying a new pair. I never got on with a dial gauge on the few occasions I tried to use them so bought digital for about £16. Original pair turned up a week later of course.
My pros and cons are:
Verniers:
Pros - always 'in' calibration, batteries never run out, no buttons to press.
Cons - more difficult to read especially with 'old' eyesight
Digital:
Pros - you can zero at some random point & measure with reference to there, big display, don't have to interpret scales.
Cons - have to check zero otherwise it can be off, buttons to press, batteries of course
Have fun
My pros and cons are:
Verniers:
Pros - always 'in' calibration, batteries never run out, no buttons to press.
Cons - more difficult to read especially with 'old' eyesight
Digital:
Pros - you can zero at some random point & measure with reference to there, big display, don't have to interpret scales.
Cons - have to check zero otherwise it can be off, buttons to press, batteries of course
Have fun
At least for you guys who like the digital stuff, you can get the coin cell batteries direct. Watch and coin cell batteries used to be distributed only through mainstream channels here under typical highly advertised brands, and a triple of LR44s would cost something like $10.
They're so cheap now that the two sizes that we use a lot here (2032 and 2025) tend to go stale before we get through the huge packs of them.
They're so cheap now that the two sizes that we use a lot here (2032 and 2025) tend to go stale before we get through the huge packs of them.
David C
In Memorium
I love the carbon/plastic dial calipers, and have used them for more than 20 years.
Digital gives too much information and makes my brain hurt !
David
Digital gives too much information and makes my brain hurt !
David
Terrytpot
Established Member
With my aging eyes its a no brainer for me. I stem from an engineering background but reading the graduations on a micrometer or vernier scale are way beyond my unassisted vision and borderline with specs on. The nice clear big numbers that a digital display offer are far superior ,imho, as long as you use good practice that takes into account the foibles of digital equipment like ensuring the zero its currently using is correct.
rafezetter
Troll Hunter
Bought a pair of these for erikthevikings xmas pressie, this last xmas and he's extremely happy with them "and they do fractions!", I've been thinking I should have got a pair for myself.
