Mini Review - Grizzly (ShopFox) Fractional Dial Caliper
 

Made in China, 6", stainless steel, dead accurate against my brass setup
bars, rack and pinion adjustment has no backlash, fit and finish is much
better than expected, very easy to read dial, marked in 1/64ths and .01, but
easy to interpolate to 128ths, and about the only con thus far is that it's
too heavily made for a top apron pocket

In short, a very nice, solidly made, 'woodworking precision' tool for $35
plus $9.25 shipping, ordered from the Grizzly website, arrived in four days
including a weekend.

I'm impressed, and would do it again.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 12/13/05

Mini Review - Grizzly (ShopFox) Fractional Dial Caliper
 

Swingman wrote:

I'm impressed, and would do it again.

I was really surprised at how accurate they really are. I use it for
all kinds of things, feeling like a real technician when I whip that
out.

One thing I have found it to be indespensible for, it telling me the
sizes of my drill bits. Can anyone really read the writing on the 1/8,
5/32, or any other of those damn things? And as the eyes get weaker, I
don't have a chance. (I still blame it on the lighting though if
anyone is around.)

I have found that instrument to be worth its weight in gold when
looking for the exact bit to drill for a tap.

Robert

Mini Review - Grizzly (ShopFox) Fractional Dial Caliper
 

Couldn't agree more. Got mine at Woodcraft, they had it on sale for
about $35 or so after christmas. Stainless, chinese, accurate, best
$35 I ever spent. Regular price was $49. Grizz likely has the same
item.

Mutt

Swingman wrote:
Made in China, 6", stainless steel, dead accurate against my brass setup
bars, rack and pinion adjustment has no backlash, fit and finish is much
better than expected, very easy to read dial, marked in 1/64ths and .01, but
easy to interpolate to 128ths, and about the only con thus far is that it's
too heavily made for a top apron pocket

In short, a very nice, solidly made, 'woodworking precision' tool for $35
plus $9.25 shipping, ordered from the Grizzly website, arrived in four days
including a weekend.

I'm impressed, and would do it again.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 12/13/05

Mini Review - Grizzly (ShopFox) Fractional Dial Caliper
 

"Pig" wrote in message

Grizz likely has the same
item.

I checked out the Woodcraft locally and on the one they had in stock the
dial was very different, but the body looks identical. I preferred the
Grizzly dial.

Sears and HF offers were not the same from hands-on inspections, and from
on-line appearances, neither is the Lee Valley.

However the one at ehardwicks.com appears _identical_ to the
Grizzly/ShopFox, is $5 cheaper, comes in two sizes, and was highly rated in
a recent article I saw.

The Grizzly and the Hardwick:

http://www.grizzly.com/products/H5711/images

http://www.ehardwicks.com/product_li...-B-26_zoom.htm


--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 12/13/05

Mini Review - Grizzly (ShopFox) Fractional Dial Caliper
 

In article . com,
wrote:

(I still blame it on the lighting though if
anyone is around.)

My barber tells me that his lighting is the best---- it shown no grey.

I have found that instrument to be worth its weight in gold when
looking for the exact bit to drill for a tap.

I'm old school. I always had a vernier caliper in my tool box.
Good quality Japanese stainless construction, now 25 years old and flawless.
I use it all the time for everything... setting depth, small settings on the
table saw..etc. Between that and my 12" stainless RULE, I'm all set.

None of this fancy-pants dial stuff for me, that stuff breaks.

I bought a low cost digital caliper a few years back. The replacement odd-ball
battery cost more than the whole unit itself.... me no happy.

r

Mini Review - Grizzly (ShopFox) Fractional Dial Caliper
 

"Robatoy" wrote in message

I'm old school. I always had a vernier caliper in my tool box.
Good quality Japanese stainless construction, now 25 years old and
flawless.
I use it all the time for everything... setting depth, small settings on
the
table saw..etc. Between that and my 12" stainless RULE, I'm all set.

None of this fancy-pants dial stuff for me, that stuff breaks.

I bought a low cost digital caliper a few years back. The replacement
odd-ball
battery cost more than the whole unit itself.... me no happy.

I'm just trying to keep up with Leon.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 12/13/05

Mini Review - Grizzly (ShopFox) Fractional Dial Caliper
 

wrote in message
ups.com...
One thing I have found it to be indespensible for, it telling me the
sizes of my drill bits. Can anyone really read the writing on the 1/8,
5/32, or any other of those damn things? And as the eyes get weaker, I
don't have a chance. (I still blame it on the lighting though if
anyone is around.)

Umm that is what a drill index is for. Once the bit slips in the chuck "NO
ONE" can read the size on the bit. LOL

I almost exclusively use mine to measure the thickness of the wood coming
out of my planer.

Mini Review - Grizzly (ShopFox) Fractional Dial Caliper
 

"Swingman" wrote in message
...

http://www.grizzly.com/products/H5711/images


Mine looks exactly like the Grizzly. I got it from A and I Supply March of
last year $30.95 delivered.

Mini Review - Grizzly (ShopFox) Fractional Dial Caliper
 

"B a r r y" wrote in message
om...


If it's from Canada or upstate NY, I have the same tool, with the same
experiences. A very useful tool.


A & I Supply

Mini Review - Grizzly (ShopFox) Fractional Dial Caliper
 

Leon wrote:
"B a r r y" wrote in message
om...

If it's from Canada or upstate NY, I have the same tool, with the same
experiences. A very useful tool.


A & I Supply



Oh, mine came from a guy named Rob...

Mini Review - Grizzly (ShopFox) Fractional Dial Caliper
 

Swingman said:

Made in China, 6", stainless steel, dead accurate against my brass setup
bars, rack and pinion adjustment has no backlash, fit and finish is much
better than expected, very easy to read dial, marked in 1/64ths and .01, but
easy to interpolate to 128ths, and about the only con thus far is that it's
too heavily made for a top apron pocket

In short, a very nice, solidly made, 'woodworking precision' tool for $35
plus $9.25 shipping, ordered from the Grizzly website, arrived in four days
including a weekend.

I'm impressed, and would do it again.

Got mine, some years ago, from Highland Hardware for $29.95 - no
shipping. The larger, outer portion of the of the dial is marked in
fractions, the smaller, inner dial in decimal. At the time, all the
others I looked at were marked in decimal on the outer ring.
As of this Tuesday, it remains priced at $29.95.

http://www.tools-for-woodworking.com...OD&ProdID=1047

It has held up well, although it too was made in China. Stainless
steel, fairly smooth, precise rack/gear mechanism, came in a plastic
case with a sheet of rust retardant. It is probably the most used
measuring tool in my shop, but as you point out, a little too heavy to
stay in a vest height pocket.

They probably _all_ come from the same sweat shop in China...

I have an old Made in USA Hempe nylon dial caliper for that I use for
things that don't require as much precision. (The nylon has warped
and deformed slightly at the tip, but hey, I picked it up for $5 over
5 years ago.) I used it far more than expected, and was the
motivation for acquiring a newer, metal replacement.

I use it primarily for adjusting mortise depths (sliding rod extends
from the rear), planer settings, and small, precision offsets on trim
and dados. I also use it for precise measurements when cutting
segments for segmented woodturnings that have to line up "just right".

http://webpages.charter.net/videodoc...tedBowl05l.jpg

I am surprised however, that you of all people, waited this long to
acquire one! ;-)

FWIW,


Greg G.

Mini Review - Grizzly (ShopFox) Fractional Dial Caliper
 

I've got to say, after hearing all this talk about people using dial/digital
calipers in the shop, I really wonder why. I have several around but they
never get out of the tool box.

"Swingman" wrote in message
...
Made in China, 6", stainless steel, dead accurate against my brass setup
bars, rack and pinion adjustment has no backlash, fit and finish is much
better than expected, very easy to read dial, marked in 1/64ths and .01,
but
easy to interpolate to 128ths, and about the only con thus far is that
it's
too heavily made for a top apron pocket

In short, a very nice, solidly made, 'woodworking precision' tool for $35
plus $9.25 shipping, ordered from the Grizzly website, arrived in four
days
including a weekend.

I'm impressed, and would do it again.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 12/13/05

Mini Review - Grizzly (ShopFox) Fractional Dial Caliper
 

"CW" wrote in message
I've got to say, after hearing all this talk about people using
dial/digital
calipers in the shop, I really wonder why.

Before, or after, you obtained several?

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 12/13/05

Mini Review - Grizzly (ShopFox) Fractional Dial Caliper
 

I'm a professional machinist.

"Swingman" wrote in message
...
"CW" wrote in message
I've got to say, after hearing all this talk about people using
dial/digital
calipers in the shop, I really wonder why.

Before, or after, you obtained several?

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 12/13/05