What Calipers to buy (digital)?

[T Folts]

I have a pair of Brown N Sharpe dial calipers and was thinking about getting new ones maybe digital.
Anyone have a recommendation for a good one.
Thanks

[macbow]

I don't have a brand to,suggest. I have a nice digital sitting on a shelf. Batteries go bad before I use it.
Have a,really cheap pair of calipers that I use often.
Mostly I'm not looking for a reading but comparing two spots.

[DeerBacon]

I'm saving my pennies for a Mitutoyo. The only digital I have now is a cheap Frankford Arsenal that doesn't like to hold  zero.

[Bowjunkie]

I have a Mitutoyu (sp) that works good. I don't use it for selfbows, but use it for measuring bamboo and lams for tri-lams, and lams for glass bows. Also use it to measure my riser block fadeouts and such for glass bows. Definitely plenty of uses for it in my shop.

I have a dial caliper too and use it to check the thickness taper when needed. You can smoothly run it(especially the cheap plastic ones) right down the limb and easily watch that the thickness continually lessens by watching that the dial consistantly turns counterclockwise as you slide it toward the tip of the limb.

[leftyfred]

Terry,
I have a variety in my shop, all dial calipers, no digital.  Brown and Sharpe are the elite, Starret is good, and so is Mitutoya.  Seems like the Starret is the most shock resistent.  I drop my on the concrete all the time.  MP

[bamboo]

easier to read!--no better

[Robertfishes]

How do you check your calipers for accuracy? My bows were coming out heavy, I bought a set of feeler gauges and my calipers were reading .001 to .002 less than the feeler gauges. I even tried stacking 3 of the metal feelers together, I still got 002 less every time not 006 total. So now I just add 002 for each lam and I am hitting weight more consistantly now.. I have a cheap digital caliper from Lowes. I am thinking about taking mine to a machine shop and checking them on their gauges.

[T Folts]

I havent checked them and wasnt too worried as I create my own recipe for stack. When I check glass that I order it comes in consistant most of the time. I was wanting something easier to read. I think digital would be more consistant. I gague everything I use that I make or buy. I will just out of curiosity.

[LittleBen]

I have a mitutoyo and it works well but I think they are a bit costly. Ive had it for years though and it never fails.

I use it for measuring lams and also for measuring arrow deflection on my spine tester

[wandering monk]

I use only analog ..(I think thats what you call them) digital scare me since there is not as much of am adjustment for zeroing ...at least like the regular style provides...

I have been using my reloading set for 25+ years...I have a new one that I do a check with every once in a while...but so far all is good...they are machinist quality...I bought the first pair from Hornady way back...and bought a back up a few years ago...but they hardly get used...only to do a "spot test"

when measuring tapers...I like looking at the dial...it shows the taper a bit better for me...especially if I slide them along the taper with a bit of tension on them...jmho......

[bjansen]

Probably not what you are looking for, but I have been using my harbor freight $15 digital caliper since I started making bows.  It is clearly not the standard that many of the brand names above are...but frankly I have never had any problems with it.  One of the best $15 I have spent at HF....may have even been $10

[beachbowhunter]

Originally posted by bjansen:
Probably not what you are looking for, but I have been using my harbor freight $15 digital caliper since I started making bows.  It is clearly not the standard that many of the brand names above are...but frankly I have never had any problems with it.  One of the best $15 I have spent at HF....may have even been $10

that's what I use too..

[LittleBen]

Frankly if I had to buy one I'd buy the HF one too. I only have the mitutoyo because someone gave it to me ...

[Dan Bonner]

I have built north of 50 bows with Harbor freight digitals. Some were light, some heavy but I can't blame the calipers. Usually I'm within 1.5# of intended weight. At $14.99 I'll buy another one when I break my current set.

Bonner

[kennym]

I use a Grizzly 6" set, dial. Had some digital, didn't like em tho. Probably still have em in a drawer.

I check em with feeler gauge occasionally and they stay right on til I drop em. Then I don't trust em anymore and get another outta the drawer.

[T Folts]

THanks for all the reply's everyone, I'm going to stay with the dial type, and the one I have works fine but I will be buying a back up soon.

Terry