[technicaltom]

I hope this is the correct place to post this question, What are opinions on digital micrometer also digital calipers in comparison to older stuff,I am researching before buying ,and I know i only get what I pay for,One other element is the ease of use with Digital readout , but how accurate are the budget/possibly offshore items??I am presently assembling a fairly standard 350 SBC.and am finding main bearing and rod clearences are varying a bit because of my lack of " feel " using my old Starrit Micrometer.

[johnsongrass1]

FWIW, my best friends is a machinist in the military and he doesn't like digital ones. I'm not real sure why though I guess I didn't ask him that part. Accuracy? I've seen good ones off a little bit and bad ones both on and off but it's mostly the durability and ability to repeat for most time the actual size means less than that comparisons between sizes. Cheap ones tend to grow a lot while holding them while good ones do grow but it seems at a slower rate. Perhaps it's the steel they are made from vrs cast or fully machined from billets.

It's ok to buy cheap and have them checked by good ones for occasional use on non critical stuff but if a life matters because of the part except nothing less but the best.

[techinspector1]

I had one digital caliper in my life and every time I took it out of the box to use it, the batteries were dead. Like I said, I only had ONE. Now, I use a Starrett 0-6 dial caliper and a Mitutoyo 0-12 dial caliper. I also have a full set of Brown & Sharpe micrometers, 1" through 6" and a Starrett dial indicator, among other measuring tools.

I only buy Starrett, Brown & Sharpe and Mitutoyo because my dad was a tool & die maker and that's all he bought. I wouldn't be averse to buying other brands made in Japan, but would not buy Chinese yet. They will be as sophisicated as Japan one day, but they have a long way to go. Today, they make crap because someone is always willing to buy crap.

I view quality precision tools as an investment that you will use for decades to come. Most of my stuff in going on 40 years old.

[68NovaSS]

Same as Tech, I have one Vernier digital, with dead batteries, but a full drawer of Starretts, from baby steps to 12 inch, inside and outside. Learn to read and calibrate them you can't go wrong.

[technicaltom]

Originally Posted by techinspector1

I had one digital caliper in my life and every time I took it out of the box to use it, the batteries were dead. Like I said, I only had ONE. Now, I use a Starrett 0-6 dial caliper and a Mitutoyo 0-12 dial caliper. I also have a full set of Brown & Sharpe micrometers, 1" through 6" and a Starrett dial indicator, among other measuring tools.

I only buy Starrett, Brown & Sharpe and Mitutoyo because my dad was a tool & die maker and that's all he bought. I wouldn't be averse to buying other brands made in Japan, but would not buy Chinese yet. They will be as sophisicated as Japan one day, but they have a long way to go. Today, they make crap because someone is always willing to buy crap.

I view quality precision tools as an investment that you will use for decades to come. Most of my stuff in going on 40 years old.

Great " Food for thought" I have Googled the above named items + a search of E Bay.So I now have a few bids on used measuring things of interest, and decided to buy a new Mitutoyo,
I kinda thought this was the wrong place to post , but its been worthwhile, many thanks for the input. I have just noticed the "New" tools garage equiptment section.

[JohnnyK81]

Plastigage.

[sqzbox]

Originally Posted by JohnnyK81

Plastigage.

You got digital plastigauge?

[technicaltom]

Originally Posted by JohnnyK81

Plastigage.

Just a note regards Platigage, I bought some from E Bay UK, And the price with postage from the UK to Cork Ireland was 6.40 Euros.(nearly 10 Dollars) The same quantity from E Bay USA is 1 US Dollar nett. ,That to me is a good incentive to invest in some good measuring equiptment!!