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Calipers
SavannahLion:
I'm rebuilding the controls and I need to order some of the "standard" parts online, such as the pots. (My local electronics shop doesn't carry 5k pots). The choices in dimensions are kind of awkward and I want to avoid ordering the wrong sizes.
So I got to thinking I should buy a caliper to make more accurate measurements of those odd shapes.
I've never used calipers but I have read about their usage in machinists books. Not too difficult a tool to use I figure.
I kind of don't want to spend a lot of money though.
HF sells a bare bones basic caliper for less than $2.00. But then they sell Digital Calipers for $10 (batteries, ugh) and dial calipers for $19 as well as a basic technical set for $10.
I figure I can buy the cheapest then once I have a better idea of what I need/want, I can splurge on a much better measuring tool. But on the flip side, I'm a familiar with the, "this is a crap tool and hard to use. I'll never buy anything like it again," syndrome.
Anyone who use calipers have any suggestions for what I should buy?
MonMotha:
Pretty much any dial caliper is going to be reasonably easy to use, and they'll probably be accurate enough for any needs you may have.
I'm mostly with you on the digital ones, but they do usually offer a metric/inch option, which can be handy. Sometimes you need a measurement in one unit or the other (especially for connectors), and not having to convert is handy.
As far as other stuff you may need, I find a nice metal ruler about 8" long with fractional as well as decimal inches and decimal mm to be very useful.
I have a set with a machinist's square, dial caliper, ruler (as described above), and a micrometer. I don't use the micrometer too often, but the other stuff all gets used. I think the set was a christmas gift, but I don't think it was particularly expensive, either.
Silas (son of Silas):
I was taught how to use a 'proper' vernier caliper like the one in your link when I was a kid in school. I also used to spend my summer breaks working in my father's precision engineering company learning how to use various tools and machines.
As an adult I have used dial/vernier and digital vernier calipers. To be honest, I know that using a straight vernier caliper can take some getting used to/learning, but I prefer them. They are quick, accurate and cheap and unlike batteries they don't fail.
Unfortunately we live in a world where actually learning how to use and look after tools properly seems to be unfashionable, so we dumb down and either get someone else to make it (not the case with most of us on here I am pleased to say), we use tools incorrectly, or we buy Chinese plastic crap pseudo-tools from 'we sell everything' grocery stores and still use them incorrectly.
Hands up who knows someone who owns any of the following but they don't know how to use it, or when they do use it the results are more often than not less than they hoped for:
Vernier caliper
Micrometer
Digital Multimeter (wow, what do all those symbols mean?)
Soldering Iron (that's a little messier than I thought it was going to be and now I have a hole in my PCB :banghead:)
Wet stone (I actually happen to prefer my chisels to have that funny angle )
Wheel type pipe cutter (Nice corkscrew patterns on the end of your copper pipes anyone?)
Welding equipment (any type, MIG, gas, TIG etc. Using bird mess to adjoin 2 pieces of metal was never a good idea)
Any woodworking tool (I'll just use my belt/orbital sander to fix that later ::) ) - Sadly I see that on here from time to time
I think one of the things I like about this forum is the fact that it pulls together folks from all walks of life who share a common interest in arcade machines and more importantly are willing to turn their hand to a bit of DIY, learn from others wisdom/experience/their past mistakes and who are willing to have a go at learning manual skills that sadly seem less and less important these days.
My personal preference would be to buy a regular vernier or a dial caliper.
Franco B:
--- Quote from: Silas (son of Silas) on June 26, 2010, 04:09:19 am ---My personal preference would be to buy a regular vernier or a dial caliper.
--- End quote ---
I completely disagree.
Get the cheap digital calipers without a doubt.
Turn them on, set the outside legs against an external diameter to measure, or the inside legs to measure an internal diameter and simply read the measurement from the digital readout. Easy as that.
You wont have any difficulty reading dials or scales and your much less likely to make an incorrect reading.
I use digital verniers every day and I can only remember changing a battery once in the 10+ years I have been using them.
As MonMotha said they tend to have an imperial/metric button so you can quickly convert dimensions or change between the two measuring systems.
Silas (son of Silas):
I understand why so many prefer the digi calipers. Like I said It's just a personal preference.
I own a Draper digital caliper and it's easy to use, accurate and hasn't needed a battery change since I bought it a couple of years ago, I still prefer my old vernier calipers.
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