Dial Caliper For Measuring. Which one?????
 

I’m looking for a set of dial calipers to measure, mainly, rotors and pads. I’m no engineer but I also don’t like wasting money on crap. Look at these two 6” calipers. Is it worth the extra $110 bucks? Am I missing something? What kind of calipers would you recommend?

http://www.sears.com/sr/product/summary/productsummary.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@0301593041.105 8454422@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccidadcilglgjhicehgcemgdff mdflh.0&vertical=SEARS&pid=00940165000&sid=I005730 0010000100085

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=40926

Thanks

R

For calipers/pads, etc... I'd go with the $20 calipers from HF.

I didn't look at the sites, all I need to do is see the words Harbor Freight. Dreck. Made in China, almost all of it. I buy from them if I need something really cheap that I'll only use once or twice.

Stephan

I didn't look at the ad, either. However, here is my story.

I bought some $20 stainless steel 6" calipers from a local tool shop, Performance Tool, over a year ago. I brought them to work and the ISO guy put them up to his measuring blocks and they were actually more accurate over the range than my friend's $100+ Mitutoyo's. They still are in great shape and I use them probably every third day. IMHO, I think the $20 set works just great.

Consider a digital set. Push a button, measures in inch & metric, and converts. You should be able to find a decent digital for under $80.

To measure pads and rotors buy a $5.99 plastic one. They are suprisingly accurate. Won't rust and you don't have to keep it clean. Anything else, for your application, is overkill.

on the same subject what would you use for more acurate readings such as cylinders, crankshafts and the like? Does a vernier caliper have enough accuracy?

I would not spend $130 on a Starrett caliper. The steel is too soft, and they will go out of calibration fairly quick. How about a nice digi-caliper? Most aren't much more $$ (if any) than the Starrett, but they are much easier to read, and are inch/metric switch-able. Do an internet search for: Brown & Sharpe, Fowler, & Mitutoyo "digital caliper".

I actually have an extra Brown & Sharpe (the "Porsche" of measurement tools) 6" digital caliper for sale if anyone's interested.

You need a good micrometer (or a set of micrometers) for OD measurements and a bore gage tool for ID's. A vernier is not good enough for most of those measurements.

I bought this from e-Bay. Best you can get with good price.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2539895340&category=25 269&rd=1