Which digital caliper?

[radhak]

I have had the 6" digital caliper from HarborFreight for many years - it showed mm and inches, but not fractions. I found it accurate, and not flimsy like you'd expect for something that cost just over $10.

Now after a long time of not checking it, last week I found it non-functioning, and thought it needed replacement cells. But even with new button cells (battery) it did not work, and I see that the cell slot in it has some stuff on it, like maybe the cells leaked.

So this is the opportunity for me to buy another caliper, this time one that shows fractions. The choices are this from HF, or this from Amazon. (I have prime, so shipping is free).

So, is that $6 difference for superior quality, or just big-store-price? I was happy with the HF caliper, but that leaked battery has me worried - was it the caliper or the battery that caused it?

Of course, there's yet another choice : this offers some more hi-features that I may or may not use.

Or does anybody think the calipers from Lee Valley are better?

[Bill in Buena Park]

I've had the HF version for a couple years now, has worked fine for my needs. I also use the HF LR44 batteries in it, also fine for my needs.

You'll often see coupons for these at $12-14 in the mags, and for that price, if it ever dies, I'll get another.

[tfischer]

I had the old one from HF, and it's gotten harder and harder to move over the years. Not sure why... doesn't seem to be bent, and nothing got on it. But I picked up the fractional one to replace it last time I was at HF a month or so ago. I haven't used it enough to fully bless it, but it seems fine.

[Stytooner]

I have several from HF. Only had one go bad. It seems they cannot take a 2 lb hammer being thrown on top of it. Not me! Glass is out of it, but it actually still works.

I picked up the fraction type a year or two ago and it works great.

I have only had one bad one and it was a 4" type. It flickered on and off, so I returned it and checked the replacement. It was as it should be.

[cwsmith]

I have the HF "fractional" caliper (Item 68304) which I purchased a year or so ago. First thing I learned was, don't leave the battery in when not in use. I've noticed that about a few digital tools, they never seem to totally shut off, or whatever, and it doesn't take long for the battery to drain while in storage. (I have a Lee-Valley-purchase digital protractor which does the same thing.)

Other than that, it would be hard to beat the price and the delivered accuracy, as my HF caliper works quite nice.

I've checked the accuracy with both micrometers and my rather ancient ancient vernier caliper. I still would prefer the latter, but my eyes are nearly what they once were!

CWS

[cork58]

Check out General line.

[durango dude]

Here's a great digital caliper:

http://www.garrettwade.com/combination-fractional-display-digital-calipers/p/96T01.06/

[radhak]

Hey Dude! That's a better caliper for cheaper! I will try it out this time, even though I have had no complaints with the HF one!

CWS, that might be good advice to file away. I use it rarely enough...

[JimD]

I've given up on using digital dial calipers. My shop time is infrequent and I seem to always find their batteries dead. The older design which is purely mechanical works better for me.

[radhak]

I've given up on using digital dial calipers. My shop time is infrequent and I seem to always find their batteries dead. The older design which is purely mechanical works better for me.

Interesting point - just yesterday, I was ruing the fact that I have given away my mechanical calipers to a friend, because now i have to wait for this new one to reach me. I use it pretty infrequently too, so the inconvenience of having to peer and squint to get the values is really not that bad.

Ah well, I've placed the order; so might as well try to manage the batteries now.

[tfischer]

I have the HF "fractional" caliper (Item 68304) which I purchased a year or so ago. First thing I learned was, don't leave the battery in when not in use.

Bummer. My old HF one always did that. For years I thought it was getting turned on in the case (I even hollowed out the foam over the power button to make sure). I was hoping it was just a fluke with that unit. I hate taking the battery in and out of things. To the point where I'd like to try to rig up a 'real' power switch if my new one does the same thing.

[LCHIEN]

That's the one thing, the batteries don't seem to last too long in the HF. OTOH, I buy the LR44 cells 20 at a time on eBay for about 10 cents each including shipping for all my electronics so I don't regret 10 cents for it.

As for the caliper material I have some poly calipers and I still have them after many years, the first pair I bought in about 1992 or so... I still use them but the plastic is soft and gets scratched so I don't know that the jaws are flat anymore affecting accuracy, plus the jaw tips aren't hard enough to mark anything wood or aluminum (see my tutorial on using calipers). Plus they are loose and the head slides too easily. I highly recommend spening a few bucks more for the stainless steel ones.

[radhak]

For those of you who find the LR44 don't last long enough, you are not crazy; looks like LR44 are inferior to SR44 cells, and your experience is as predicted.

Check this piece out : http://www.truetex.com/buttons.htm.

[LCHIEN]

SR44 are expensive and hard to find ( I seem to remember $3.50 each several years ago). I buy 2 cards of 10 LR44 for a buck to a buck and a half each card including free shipping (usually from china and it takes a couple of weeks) and don't worry about the cost anymore. Alkalines should have fairly good shelf life in general (several years) due to low self discharge so don't worry about keeping the extras around.

Sometimes at Michaels or Hobby Lobby you can also find them in bulk. Used in a lot of toys, advertising buttons, novelties and gizmos with LEDs etc.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1311.R1.TR11.TRC1.A0.H1.XLR44&_nkw=lr44+battery&_sacat=0

quantities from lots of 5 to 100.

[Burg53]

I was in my local Harbor Freight today and picked up some silver oxide SR44 batteries, item # 40127. They were yellow-tagged (clearance) at 37 cents each. Tried one in my HF caliper and it seems to work just fine. I don't know if this price is everywhere but it seems worth looking into.

Les