Rusty recently asked about calipers on another forum

[fredvon4]

Here is my response that I hope is of interest to my CEF famly:

Hey Rusty...sorry late to post this

I have many, real good, big buck measuring tools (Mitutoyo, Starrett,) but for my hobby use-- I find the Lowe's 3" General Ultratech 1433 is my go to plastic POS caliper for every thing...

Mostly cuz it is close enough, and can do MM, Inch, as in 0.0000 , and Inch fractions, like 1/8th with simple push of button

and it is cheap enough I have three of them all over the shop.... balsa area, drill press area, engine area...They are silver and never seem to get lost in the clutter

Best thing IMO--- is you could deliberately get [bleep]..huck it across the room, find it under a bench, and it will still tell you the balsa sheet is 1/16th and not 1/64ths

And if it did break, you are only out $18+/-

BUT the real reason I have this cheap tool...is the ability to do all three conversions for me instantly with button push...most other BETTER tools only give you Inch or MM and very few have Inch fractions

I would never use this plastic tool for precise engine work or mill / lathe, metal working....but for Balsa and ply model airplanes it is a real neat bit of kit that does not need SWMBO approval to buy

https://www.lowes.com/pd/General-Tools-Instruments-Caliper/3138565?cm_mmc=SCE_PLA-_-ToolsAndHardware-_-SpecialtyHandTools-_-3138565:General_Tools_&_Instruments&CAWELAID=&kpid=3138565&CAGPSPN=pla&store_code=209&k_clickID=57efc3e0-23bc-441b-88d1-6342a108b35c&gclid=CJqI6rjNhtQCFYMCaQodRjoB8Q


The description sez 6"..... false---- it is a 3" caliper ----and can be found as low as $12 on line but around $15 is average.....find free shipping if you can....

[roddie]

I've seen those Phred.. and have been tempted. It does a lot more than my Brown & Sharpe. I like the "General" brand tools.. and have a few. Their pin-vise is one of my favorites.

I last used it with a 2-56 tap

[RknRusty]

Thanks, Fred. I replied on Stunthangar. I plan to try that one since it's in stock at my Lowes, and will use it if or until I decide I need something better. And a 3 inch caliper is all I need too.
Rusty

[Cribbs74]

Cheaper at Harbor Freight.

[RknRusty]

Cheaper at Harbor Freight.

That brand? I was thinking they sold WorkZone or something like that. I know they don't work well. That's what my grocery store set is.

[RknRusty]

Okay, I went looking for Fred's recommendation and found it. But I paid twice as much for the steel 6" model on the same rack. General Tools. Inch, Metric, and fraction. I love the fraction mode, since I always have to go look at the decimal-fractional chart taped to my table lamp. Out of the package I have tested it on known parts and it repeats exactly the same numbers every time. My other digital WorkZone caliper will not repeat. Looks like it's made from the finest Chinesium available. So far so good. Thanks Fred.

Also, a note to digital caliper users: they must have the freshest batteries. Replace at the first sign of glitches or drifting measurements.
Rusty

https://www.lowes.com/pd/General-Tools-Instruments-0-5-ft-Foam-Padded-Stainless-Steel-Long-Tape/50175967#

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