Harbor Frieght 6" Digital Caliper - $9.99
 

I've had mine for over 6 years and it's only required 1 battery and I use it a lot.
I'm on their email list...so this may be only for that.
Here's some data:
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Harbor Frieght 6" Digital Caliper - $9.99

Accurately measure within +/- 0.001 in. or 0.03mm.
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Only $9.99 with coupon 32714977
Add item to cart to redeem coupon
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I think I've had mine since they were something like $6.99 or $7.99. One of the things I seem to use two or three times a week. Mine seems to eat batteries faster than yours. Maybe I just use it more.

'Think I paid about $6 or $7 also.
Great deal and I like the instrument.
Normally $30.

BTW, valid through 10/31/14...if you want to get on their email list.
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Trying to post the coupon here but the bar code won't show.

I recently bought the (US made) Starrett equivalent for about $200.

Are they that much better than a cheap Chinese one? Not really but they work brilliantly and are well made.
And I've never had any issues getting anything made by Starrett tested and certified for accuracy.
I'm happy to pay the extra but I do wonder how much longer some of the traditional tool makers will be around for.

"Are they that much better than a cheap Chinese one?"
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I can appreciate fine instruments, but I just use this one for garden variety stuff.
Like today, matched a drill bit for a screw hole...for brads.
Nothing needing major accuracy.
I've got a couple of Starrett instruments. Good stuff!

Been using mine from Harbor Freight since forever. Never changed the batteries. Every once in a while, you happen on a deal.

And every once in a while, HF makes a decent tool instead of a POS :).

I've gone through like 4 or 5 of their plastic welders - they break at the set screw hole after a couple of uses. And their snap ring pliers have pins that are too fat to fit into snap ring holes - I had to grind mine down to be able to use them. And their lights seem to quit working for me after a couple of uses....

But yeah, the digital caliper is good - I've had one for a couple years now and it's still working. And their breaker bars seem to be good also - use them regularly and they haven't broken yet....

I cleaned and organized a neighbor's garage recently and her late husband had a brand new Starrett digital caliper. I took it as partial payment for the work.

There are a lot of things I buy at HF, and a lot I wouldn't buy. Usually with a precision instrument, I'll spend the extra money to buy quality...but you can't tell me a $4.99 hammer at HF is worth less than half of the same sized one at Home Depot, as I recently found. For gods sake, I hit $hit with it!

My $9.99 HF caliper won't zero... I'm not building the space shuttle but .00 is not .09

Exactly. If its a non precision tool, or something I rarely use, HF is just fine. I have one of the calipers, and for the few times I need to know a size its just fine. Hell I even have HF wrenches and sockets and they are just fine too!

I reckon I go to HF way more than I should, but at least my caliper is a Mitutoyo!!

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1414533847.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1414533859.jpg

Its nice to have some cheap ones for "dirty" environments where precision isn't needed, and its also nice to have some super precise instruments for a clean environment only.

Sometimes, a cloth tape measure is the ticket to.

Good advice.

This is my $200 calliper. :rolleyes:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1414536897.jpg

Thanks for posting this guys.
I was thinking about purchasing that HF caliper.
I also saw a General Tool model at Home depot for about $30. if I recall correctly.

I've always tried to be the anti-snob, but when it comes to this stuff I get uppity.

I've got LOTS of HF tools in my garage. No precision measuring tools from them tho.
Not that i have anything agin' them, but I already had plenty of those tools before HF came on the scene.
I don't have anything digital tho. I hate the idea of having a battery go dead on me, my dial calipers never go dead.

I have a really old vernier 6" caliper I used to keep with me on the job always, but my eyes aren't good enough to use it down to the thousandth anymore.

I have a cheapo ($20) dial caliper for regular stuff, but when I need to measure 'zact (or impress my co-workers) I break out my 60's vintage brown and sharpe micrometers or calipers (made in north Kingston R.I.).
Bought it all from a millwright who retired in the early 80's and have babied it ever since.

talk about a swiss watch, they put starrett and mitutoyo to shame. Smooth, great feel, repeatable as all get out.
Unfortunately they don't make this stuff no mo.
I've been offered $400 for my zero to 1 brown and sharpe, I said no way.
Gonna keep it til they bury me.

Iffn you ever get a chance to snag some real made in the USA brown and sharpe micrometers, especially those dating back to WWII, grab em. Good as gold.

No wait, they're no good, Total junk, and iffn you have any you need to unload .....

Note that most of my dial indicators are starrett and mitutoyo. Gud stuff too just not quite as special as my B&S equip.

I'm pretty sure that's the orighinal cardboard box the zero to one came in, if it is it's nearly 50 years old.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1414539469.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1414539481.jpg

LOL, I just bought another one :)

When I rebuilt the DB4 I used to have, I need 3/4-1.25 thou clearance on the main bearings. I used Starrett.