The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

Adam,
I think the ones you had may have been supplied with a dodgy battery. We use Mitutoyo digital callipers in the inspection dept at work and they regularly last 2+ years with some fairly heavy usage. Mine at home still have the original battery in from when I brought them in 2011 although my weapon of choice is still my Moore & Wright dial caliper.

I replaced the batteries few time before I finally chucked it. I thought firstly that it was just the batteries but sadly no.

Thanks for the suggestions gents. My calipers `might` be OK, but I have nothing to cross reference them with. Unless anyone pipes up with a better alternative, then I guess Mitutoyo have just bagged another customer.

A vernier is fine for everyday use however as stated before they are far from being truly accurate. I use Mitutoyo digital and have a variety of sets for different purposes. Interestingly the Viking uses a fivers worth of Lidle own brand things for measuring the thickness of things being posted out, we tested all of my sets and hers against a set of calibrated slips and hers were at least as accurate as mine. Down side is hers turn off after a few minutes so any measurement or reference is lost whereas mine stay on until switched off.

As far as battery life goes my Mitutoyo seem to last for around a year before needing a battery replacement.

On the subject of accuracy dependant on which machine I am on I will use a combination of Vernier to confirm approximate dimensions, I use the DRO which is good to 5 microns or better, yet for true accuracy I always resort to a micrometer, often a digital Mitutoyo (Calibrated) which measures to .00001" if needed however such accuracy is only for my own piece of mind as popping a machined part in your pocket for half an hour will be enough to make a significant difference to any measurements made.

Back to verniers, my view is the Mitutoyo are superb however according to my slips the Lidle own is every bit as accurate.

+1 for they'll be good enough.

if you're that worried, buy a cheap set of slip gauges / gauge blocks like these and check them
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/engineers-pre ... 9978&rt=nc

or buy a cheap micrometer and use that on the precise measurements, as that will still most likely be more precise than a similar cheap digital caliper

Halodin, check them against a set of these, cheaper than a new £70-80 vernier and ultimately it is better practice than relying blindly on a vernier read out of any unchecked gauge.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/engineers-pre ... 27d4d5bf20

Edit - beaten to it by bradderz

Mitutoyu dial calipers can be had reasonably on ebay. Both mine (metric and imperial) were under £20. No batteries party2

knewmans wrote: No batteries party2

:goodjob: too.

Thanks for all the replies. Yes I agree I need some slip gauges, good idea. Well I found a set of Mitutoyo calipers for £50 inc. P&P so I'm happy with that, even if they are only as good as the pair I already have...

Thanks!

Mitutoyo (Calibrated) are the only game in Town as far as I am concerned I use them every day. We buy a lot of them they are our standard issue at work.