Latest e-mail from Micro Mark

Good idea - thanks.

Just an opinion on digital calipers ....

Do yourself a favor and learn to use vernier calipers. Yes it is sort of like using a slide rule but ...

- you never have to replace the battery ...

- you never have to clean out the corrosion from a battery ...

and unlike even dial calipers ....

- you never have to zero it. Its zeroed all the time. A dial does make doing delta small distances easier. But then you need to remember to zero it again when you want to make an absolute measurement.

If your profession requires you to make measurements all day then maybe a vernier isn't right for you either, but if you use it like twice a year such as I do, I think its the way to go.

I bought a Japanese-made Craftsman-branded vernier caliper from Sears back around 1989 and it still works.

IC has a good point. I have a digital and vernier and dial calipers. Dials require little calibration and can be read faster than a vernier. The current digital calipers turn themselves off when idle for a few minutes so battery life is pretty long, usually more than 5 years depending on how often you use it. Digital calipers easily switch between english and metric, a big plus. For really accurate measurments I use a micrometer.

Pete

I have both digital and vernier calipers plus a micrometer. The newer of the two digital calipers gets 99% of the use. It will switch three ways between metric, inches with decimals, and inches with fractions. The fractions are surprisingly handy for figuring out what size shims, bar stock, tubing, etc. to use because sometimes it's sold in fractions and sometimes in decimals. And yes, I know how to use a conversion factor, but having a direct readout is convenient. I don't consider three bucks for a battery every few months to be a significant factor in the overall expense of the hobby. And, if your eyes are anything less than perfectly sharp at close range, a vernier caliper or a mike can be a pain to read. I've got an illuminated magnifier on my workbench for just that sort of thing but the digital readout is still a lot handier. 

Thanks, I will give it a look.

Thanks for the Micro-Mark suggestion.  Checked their website and, interestingly, it didn't appear to be on sale--perhaps I misread the website.  I did go to Amazon and ordered one that appears to be identical for $11 shipped.  We'll see.

It looks like the e-mail triggers a gateway that shows the sale prices. Note that on the e-mail it says "To get these prices, you MUST order online by clicking on this e-mail." You might have to have someone forward the e-mail, or go to the Micro-Mark website and get on their e-mail list.

Carl,

If you're on their email list you'll receive the original add. I receive their catalogs on a regular basis in my orders. On the plus side, I'm notified of special sales.

"Pappy"