Advice on which digital micrometer to purchase?

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MissouriBullet

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HI Guys -

I need a decent digital micrometer in the 0-1" range. I've had it with my 25 year old RCBS plastic caliper. Looking to spend up to $200.00, which ought to get a fairly good one, right?

I appreciate any advice on this front.

Thank you.

Brad
 
Starret or Mitutoyo ...

There are others but these two make some very good tools.

My Wife's uncle gave me a whole bag full of Starret and Mitutoyo tools just before he passed away. He worked with NASA for years and then Savannah River. He knew I liked good useful tools and said his kids would dump them at a yard sell for nothing, so I wound up with just about every kind of precise measuring tool you can think of. They were all Non-digital, but better than I know how to use them. I would have to sell the house to be able to buy the tools he gave me, it is good to know folks sometimes!

Either of those brands will be worth while.

Jimmy K
 
I have a set of Mitutoyo calipers and recently a set from harbor freight. I would trust the Mitutoyo more. Most of the time they would both be adequate.
I realize you are asking about micrometer not calipers, but would echo Jim Kirk on brand recommendation.

I got mine form a local machinist supply house for about half off. The sell on credit and it was a 'Repo'.
 
I have a Mitutoyo dial caliper--35 years old--The separate dial resetter finally broke.
I picked up a made in China digital caliper at harbor freight $10 on sale.
I don't trust it so I bought two....................:) I love it !!!!!!
 
MB, any particular reason you specified digital?

I have both digital and manual instruments. Nothing wrong with digital, but they are more delicate, often have shorter lives, require battery check, the display is sometimes sensitive to lighting levels and ambient temperature.

Nothing wrong with digital. Just make sure it's the tool you need.
 
ants said:
MB, any particular reason you specified digital?

I have both digital and manual instruments. Nothing wrong with digital, but they are more delicate, often have shorter lives, require battery check, the display is sometimes sensitive to lighting levels and ambient temperature.

Nothing wrong with digital. Just make sure it's the tool you need.
Click to expand...
Agree with ants. At least have one dial around. Reason became obvious to a friend of mine last week. He was in the middle of a big reloading session and the battery on his digital went dead. He called me to borrow my dial tool. Walmart didn't have the right battery.

At the least, plan better than him: buy a few batteries and keep 'em in stock.;)
 
I use Starretts, and Mitutoyu's. NONE of them are digital.

I have a Mitutoyu digi-caliper, but micrometers are simple.
 
I was wary of digital. I still have the digital Mitutoyo. My Brown & Sharpe dial calipers bit the dust.
 
Calipers? The cheapo digital Harbor Freight ones work just fine. It is a common battery. I keep extras. I use my Mitutoyo dial calipers out in the shed where my little hobby lathe is. My Starret gets used occasionally to double check the HF ones.


Micrometer? Get a good one. Mititoyo and Starret are excellent choices.
 
Personally, I would strongly advise against the purchase of a digital micrometer (or caliper). Being mechanical, the "analog" version will last FAR LONGER. And be cheaper to boot.If yo take care of it, your kids can use it as well. Try that with digital electronics
 
Not to mention an analog instrument will never give you erroneous results depending on battery condition. I've seen digital calipers from China that will wander, or just plain lie; but it's also possible that substandard electronics are to blame.
 
i have a mitutoyo digital and a cheapo digital and dial. they all measure the same and have for a good while now.
 
I have over a dozen sets of calipers vernier, dial and digital, ranging from cheap Chinese ones to the most respected manufactures. However, I view micrometers in a different light as they are much more precise instruments that calipers. All of mine say Starret, Mitutoyo or Brown and Sharp. Digital is nice but dead batteries are not, simple is better for me.
 
I have the Starret in the 6 inch digital caliper and The Mitutoyo in the 1 inch in digital for precision use down to 50 millionths of an inch (although thats an overkill) They have served me well and still do for over 20 years. just keep a supply of spare batts. Clean the jaws on a white sheet of paper before use to remove any residue from previous measurements. Digitals are faster for doing a series of measurements.
I have a Mitutoyo dial caliper that I use for everyday constant use for quick measurements. I inherited a 15" Starret vernier type caliper but I almost never use it except in some rare large measurements.
 
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Don't waste your money

All you really need for reloading measurement is a good dial caliper. I have worked as a machinist/toolmaker for over 20 years and my suggestion would be either a Starret or Mitutoyo. No caliper whether vernier, dial or electronic is TRULY capable of accuracy better than .001, and in general that is more than needed for what you are doing. You don't need to spend 200.00 to get a caliper that will, if given reasonable care, last longer than you will! LOL

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/items/4LA83?Pid=search

Check the link above, its all the caliper (and more) you will need, you can spend more on a Starret, but it will most likely be double, but it will not be any more accurate or longer lasting.

Joe
 
Digital Micrometer

Just as a point of information;
A digital micrometer can also be read analog as the spindle is graduated.

And if the digital has a friction thimble, can be much more accurate than .001 inch.
A digital has direct .0001 readings without searching around the spindle for the last digit (.0001) as necessary with an analog.

A digital can also be zeroed at any point.
An example would be measuring a bullet that is nominal and "zeroing" the digital and every bullet measured after that would read plus or minus of that "zero".
And if you are "old school" and don't trust this digital reading you can read the spindle in analog as a double check.

Another advantage of a digital micrometer is the short learning curve needed for someone not experienced in reading a analog micrometer and the friction thimble avoids newbies from "C" clamping the micrometer to get the "correct" reading.
These features alone could pay for a digital in the time saved training employees, like if you were making bullets or something:D
 
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I need a decent digital micrometer in the 0-1" range. I've had it with my 25 year old RCBS plastic caliper. Looking to spend up to $200.00, which ought to get a fairly good one, right?

I appreciate any advice on this front.
Click to expand...


In my experience the 2 most respected names in precision measuring tools are Starrett and Brown & Sharpe. I have the B&S mics I started out with in 1980 and they are still as good now as they were then. I also have some old Lufkin mics that are probably antiques now but they are good too.

Mitutoyo, as mentioned, has also made a name for themselves. I remember when you could buy their top of the line 6" dial calipers for $19.99.

If you will stay with these name brands you will be fine, digital or otherwise.

ST

:)
 
One small point of information:

Any measuring device is only as accurate as it is made to be, regardless of how many digits on its display.

Your digital instrument may have an LCD display that shows 8 digits past the decimal. But the instrument itself is limited, both in accuracy and precision. Read the instructions or specifications to learn finest accuracy, and don't count on it to do any better.

Be careful of reliance on readings beyond the specification of any instrument.
 
2popfire said:
All you really need for reloading measurement is a good dial caliper. I have worked as a machinist/toolmaker for over 20 years and my suggestion would be either a Starret or Mitutoyo. No caliper whether vernier, dial or electronic is TRULY capable of accuracy better than .001, and in general that is more than needed for what you are doing. You don't need to spend 200.00 to get a caliper that will, if given reasonable care, last longer than you will! LOL

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/items/4LA83?Pid=search

Check the link above, its all the caliper (and more) you will need, you can spend more on a Starret, but it will most likely be double, but it will not be any more accurate or longer lasting.

Joe
Click to expand...
^ What he said.

Reading a caliper is not rocket science. I have a Dillon that has served me well for the better part of a decade......never worry about a battery.

Mvc-005f.jpg
 
I have a Mitutoyo inside mic, an ancient but awesome Lufkin mic with patents on it from the 20's and a generic no name set of digital calipers

They all agree virtually 100% of the time
 
My response is cheap and retro, buy a Brown & Sharpe, Starret, Mitutoyo, or Etalon (thats Swiss) used off evilbay, I collect Slantline B&S micrometers though I prefer the handeling of the Mitutoyos spindle lock. These fine old tools last a long time and could be bought for 20-30 bucks, I've never gotten a lemon if the pic looked good.

An added bonus is the people selling old precision tools are the best I ever delt with and I delt with a lot of diffrent types, can't get a feed back of over 1000 with out running into some real jerks. Only reason I stopped is evilbay made it bout impossible to use USPS money orders.

I prefer how the Mitutoyo vernier calipers work as well but if you find a Etalon vernier grab it, sometimes people don't know how good they are so they go dirt cheap. Also look for Brown & Sharp as well as Brown and Sharpe, a sellers misspelling can save you a bundle as well,Starret gets misspelled and I have seen Mitutoyo butchered in many ways.
 
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