Any recommendations for a good digital vernier caliper?

[Iciclehead]

Still collecting stuff, but need to get a good vernier caliper...has to be digital as I am dyslexic and make a huge amount of errors with the conventional calipers, the digital readout helps immensely.

I have been looking at Mitotoyu and Starrett, both fine brands but get confused as to exactly which one will do the job...the prices vary from $200 or so to $1000....

Any make/model recommendations you guys might have?

Amazon has a lot of stuff, but not sure if they sell the el cheapo versions as I got a 1/4" Snap On torque wrench through them (Snap On's cheap line - CDI) and it arrived with the head missing a screw and not functional - returned it of course.

Any recommendations?

Dennis

[Raceboy]

Have used Mitutoyo for ages in my workplace and personal things, never regretted...

[HawgRyder]

McMaster-Carr has some economy calipers in the below $100 range.
I have a couple of them...seem to work nicely...even come in a case with an extra battery.
Bob

[gtc]

I'd skip the HF calipers if you expect to be using them often. I picked up a pair, and while it works, it just feels cheap.

+1 for Mitutoyo.

[rwest]

Mitutoyo is my choice as well, I have 4 of them in strategic spots- including the coffee table by the laptop for designing in CAD or checking a bolt on the way out the door for the hardware store.

I buy a lot of nice woodworking tools from Bridge City Tools in Oregon and they designed an angle measuring tool and where planning on including a cheap caliper along with it, so they bought a bunch and tested them- cheap ones were junk and also "ate" batteries. Here's the blog post about their test.

Digital Calipers Surprise: You Get What You Pay For... - John's Blog

[Flieger]

I've never seen calipers that have both a vernier scale and a digital readout but that would be really cool for when the batteries run out. Where can I get some?

[Iciclehead]

Guys, thanks for the good advice...Mitutoyo on order.

Dennis

[billybek]

Keep an eye on Kijiji for measuring tools.
I watch just to see what is selling and the price the tools are fetching.
Most are from retiring mechanics and the measuring tools didn't get much use or abuse anyway.
Mitutoyo is good stuff too. I have a few of those in my shop at work.
I do have a cheap Chinese digital caliper in the garage for quick checks. It is surprisingly accurate but wouldn't trust it for fine work.

[304065]

I have an expensive Mahr (made in China not Germany) and a few inexpensive ones from harbor freight (Mae in China). They work the same, they feel the same.

Digital calipers are for convenience measurements- when a measurement is critical you use a mic, a bore gage, a go-no-go gage, a comparator, etc.

As such I would buy a few for ten bucks at harbor freight and call it cool.

[Spenny_b]

Agree with John, Digi vernier is a convenience tool and perfectly good for *most* measurements the avg Joe needs to make whilst tinkering.

Mitutoyo for me as well; had it donkeys years (well, probably 16-18) and only just replaced the battery it came with, late last year...must've left it on at some point. Not one of their upper range items, if i remember correctly, prob no more than £50/$80 back then.

Has been perfect. It's never been drowned in cooling suds but often splashed when taking measurements on a piece I'm machining...the only thing I'd like it to do is have an auto-off function after something like an hour.