Hello all,

Are the Enco $14 calipers worth having? They have a 12 inch for under
$30! The Fowler prices are less attractive, but strike me as a lot more
realistic. Recommendations??

Given how dependent I have become on my current calipers, it occurs to
me that I might want to have a spare, and I might buy something bigger
than 6 inches if the price isn't too scary.

One bit of good news is that I finally have a steel rule marked in
tenths, etc.

Bill

Bill Schwab wrote:
Hello all,

Are the Enco $14 calipers worth having? They have a 12 inch for under
$30! The Fowler prices are less attractive, but strike me as a lot more
realistic. Recommendations??

Given how dependent I have become on my current calipers, it occurs to
me that I might want to have a spare, and I might buy something bigger
than 6 inches if the price isn't too scary.

One bit of good news is that I finally have a steel rule marked in
tenths, etc.

I have one that's served me well for several
years. Unfortunately, I can't guarantee that
the ones they sell today are the same as mine...

In article pYpqf.9063$nm.154
@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.net,
says...
Hello all,

Are the Enco $14 calipers worth having? They have a 12 inch for under
$30! The Fowler prices are less attractive, but strike me as a lot more
realistic. Recommendations??


I've had the Fowler digital calipers for a few a few years,
and while they're accurate, I find them a little flimsy. I
finally broke down and bought the Mitutoyo Digimatics on
sale at Enco, around $85 IIRC - they're much more
satisfying to use. Personally, I'd either take a chance on
the $14 Encos or spring for the Mitutoyos.

If your eyesight is good and you don't mind adding in your
head, it's hard to beat the Starrett 123 verniers for
quality and reliability. With a little patience you can
pick up a like-new 6" 123 on ebay for less than $50. As my
eyesight slides downhill I use my 6" 123s less and less,
but have couple longer that I use regularly and don't plan
on replacing.

Ned Simmons

My HF cheapo checks out flat on with the gage blocks. It's a lot easier
to use with my old eyes than my 40+ year old Mauser vernier that has
served me well.
Bugs

There are a lot of digital calipers out there for much cheaper. I think it
is easier to make a digital caliper than a dial today.

BTW. I keep seeing this offering on eBay for a digital caliper with a
starting bid of $.75 and no reserve. When the bidding closes there is no one
bidding. Reason, they are charging ~$17.00 shipping and handling. I only
followed on bid/offering, but wonder how many get suckered in since they
have dozens of these cheap import calipers going everyday. Same caliper
available at HF for about $6.

--
My experience and opinion, FWIW

Steve

Bill Schwab wrote:
Hello all,

Are the Enco $14 calipers worth having? They have a 12 inch for under
$30! The Fowler prices are less attractive, but strike me as a lot more
realistic. Recommendations??

Given how dependent I have become on my current calipers, it occurs to
me that I might want to have a spare, and I might buy something bigger
than 6 inches if the price isn't too scary.

One bit of good news is that I finally have a steel rule marked in
tenths, etc.

Bill
I am amazed at how well the cheap calipers work these days. I even
bought a digital one for 14 bucks from Harbor Freight. Seems to work
fine, as do my cheap dial ones.

I have several of the $14 dial calipers laying around. I consider them
disposable. Accurate to around .001", seem to work fine. I do need to
get a better one for working around my lathe but a cheapr riding in the
truck to go to the steel yard is a good deal.

I also use some of the cheaper ($15 to $25) digital calipers. On the
plus side they have a built in inch/metric capability, VERY nice. But I
find them to be a bit more fragile than the dial versions.

Bill Schwab wrote:

Hello all,

Are the Enco $14 calipers worth having? They have a 12 inch for under
$30! The Fowler prices are less attractive, but strike me as a lot more
realistic. Recommendations??

Given how dependent I have become on my current calipers, it occurs to
me that I might want to have a spare, and I might buy something bigger
than 6 inches if the price isn't too scary.

One bit of good news is that I finally have a steel rule marked in
tenths, etc.

Bill

Bill Schwab wrote:

Hello all,

Are the Enco $14 calipers worth having? They have a 12 inch for under
$30! The Fowler prices are less attractive, but strike me as a lot
more realistic. Recommendations??

Given how dependent I have become on my current calipers, it occurs to
me that I might want to have a spare, and I might buy something bigger
than 6 inches if the price isn't too scary.

One bit of good news is that I finally have a steel rule marked in
tenths, etc.

Bill

They're great for rough and tumble measuring on the fly. I find that
..001 is reasonable if you're VERY careful about making sure the dial
hasn't rotated and the rack doesn't jum anywhere but I'd not normally
expect them to do better than about .002-.004. Keep a good brand around
for when it counts and use the cheap ones for banging around the shop
when you need to get close. They especally shine when you are using
them instead of a tape measure to quick measure smaller items to a
sixteenth (is that bar 3 or 3+?)

I even use them as a setting bar in rough jigs..I have a particular jig
where I have to rotate a part for a second op...I just set the caliper
to length, tighten the screw, and use a shoulder as a stop block similar
to a small "story pole". Doesn't bug me if I bang it a little because I
save the ones I've dropped and stepped on a few times for this.

koz

You take one lousy week off to join Thorax at the Elvis concert, and this
is what happens: Koz writes on Thu, 22
Dec 2005 11:43:52 -0800 in rec.crafts.metalworking :

Given how dependent I have become on my current calipers, it occurs to
me that I might want to have a spare, and I might buy something bigger
than 6 inches if the price isn't too scary.

They're great for rough and tumble measuring on the fly. I find that
.001 is reasonable if you're VERY careful about making sure the dial
hasn't rotated and the rack doesn't jum anywhere but I'd not normally
expect them to do better than about .002-.004.

I had a pair of cheap dial calipers which had that problem. Mentioned
it to Carlin (my tool guru). So he comes round at lunch and tightens the
gibs. I didn't know they had those! Now they're accurate, and even
certified (went through the official process last week, at the company).

Keep a good brand around
for when it counts and use the cheap ones for banging around the shop
when you need to get close.

That too.

Now I have a 6 & 8 inch Mitatoyo, and the 6 inch "Red Dragon Machine
Tool and Noodle Factory" ones.

They especally shine when you are using
them instead of a tape measure to quick measure smaller items to a
sixteenth (is that bar 3 or 3+?)

I even use them as a setting bar in rough jigs..I have a particular jig
where I have to rotate a part for a second op...I just set the caliper
to length, tighten the screw, and use a shoulder as a stop block similar
to a small "story pole". Doesn't bug me if I bang it a little because I
save the ones I've dropped and stepped on a few times for this.

If it looks stupid but it works, it isn't stupid.
--
pyotr filipivich.
as an explaination for the decline in the US's tech edge, James
Niccol wrote "It used to be that the USA was pretty good at
producing stuff teenaged boys could lose a finger or two playing with."