New tools you've bought recently?

[Roert42]

I have a nice set of Starrett calipers I like a lot. Also a cheap HF dial caliper I use only scribing/ transferring lines. Also a pair of cheap Verner calipers for quick rough measurements (what size is this round stock? type stuff).

Honestly, I wouldn't really consider calipers a precision instrument. If you need true precision, go straight to the Mic.

 

[sgtsandman]

All my calipers have been mechanical or with a dial indicator. But much of what I do doesn’t require more than that (outside of a set of reading glasses).

As far as new tools, I picked up a hoe for creating rows for planting. I’m in the middle of the process of treating the handle with boiled linseed oil right now.

 

[Curious Hound]

I have almost completely given up on electronic calipers. Always need a new battery when ai want to use them. I have a decent dial caliper, a really good vernier caliper and several odd low budget dial calipers. My battery set stays in the box. Too irritating.

same thing at work. Somebody will always leave the battery in and then it’s dead when you need it. Problem is, I can’t get them to order a dial indicator. Everybody thinks the electronic ones are better. I tend to think a working dial caliper is always better than a dead digital caliper.

 

[bilbo]

I have almost completely given up on electronic calipers. Always need a new battery when ai want to use them. I have a decent dial caliper, a really good vernier caliper and several odd low budget dial calipers. My battery set stays in the box. Too irritating.

same thing at work. Somebody will always leave the battery in and then it’s dead when you need it. Problem is, I can’t get them to order a dial indicator. Everybody thinks the electronic ones are better. I tend to think a working dial caliper is always better than a dead digital caliper.

I like my vernier for that reason, bare minimum moving parts. My battery calipers are also all in the boxes with dead batteries. Dial calipers are ok, but every one I've ever owned and used seems to somehow skip a tooth, and then the needle isn't at 12 o'clock when the caliper is closed. I know I can just rotate the scale but it still annoys the crap out of me. I don't even know how it happens; I think Elves visit my home at night and do things like this.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I haven't used my digital calipers in a couple decades. My go to is a dial caliper... it's close enough for most of what I use them for. I have a set of micrometers for the really important stuff.

 

[oldgeek]

I have almost completely given up on electronic calipers. Always need a new battery when ai want to use them. I have a decent dial caliper, a really good vernier caliper and several odd low budget dial calipers. My battery set stays in the box. Too irritating.

same thing at work. Somebody will always leave the battery in and then it’s dead when you need it. Problem is, I can’t get them to order a dial indicator. Everybody thinks the electronic ones are better. I tend to think a working dial caliper is always better than a dead digital caliper.

I just found out that these new Mitutoyos automatically shut off. That's nice.

 

[oldgeek]

Anger management comes to mind. This time when you read the measurement and it's not within specs, don't throw the caliper.

t's not their fault the rotors can't be turned again...

Oh no. Just keep measuring until the numbers you need come up!

One of my biggest problems is that I have gotten so much more klutzy as I get older. I have no idea how many times I drop things. Important things. Guess the trembling hands don't help.

 

[Curious Hound]

I just found out that these new Mitutoyos automatically shut off. That's nice.

Most of them do. If I used calipers on a daily basis, it would be worth keeping up with the battery. But for my own home use, it’s just annoying to me. And that’s just me. I’m not putting anyone down for using digital calipers. It just isn’t a good fit for me.

 

[oldgeek]

Most of them do. If I used calipers on a daily basis, it would be worth keeping up with the battery. But for my own home use, it’s just annoying to me. And that’s just me. I’m not putting anyone down for using digital calipers. It just isn’t a good fit for me.

As using them on a daily basis, even the ones that I never shut off, the battery lasts a couple years or more. So running to the store to get a battery is nothing big.

 

[oldgeek]

I have a set of micrometers for the really important stuff.

Yeah, one needs a c-clamp from time to time.

 

[Roert42]

Even the cheapo digital ones I've had in the past auto shut off. Batteries seems to last close to 10 years, that I've noticed. The Starrett ones I have, I put a battery in them three years ago, still fine.

If anything I have the caliper break from being bouncing around in a road box or getting wet before they need a new battery.


I work with a lot of metric and Std, so it's nice to be able to quickly switch back and forth between, metric, fractional std, and decimal std.

 

[bilbo]

I just found out that these new Mitutoyos automatically shut off. That's nice.

Mine did that too, but it would also automatically turn on if it moved

Even the cheapo digital ones I've had in the past auto shut off. Batteries seems to last close to 10 years, that I've noticed. The Starrett ones I have, I put a battery in them three years ago, still fine.

If anything I have the caliper break from being bouncing around in a road box or getting wet before they need a new battery.


I work with a lot of metric and Std, so it's nice to be able to quickly switch back and forth between, metric, fractional std, and decimal std.

Mine would shut off automatically, but also would turn on automatically if the jaws moved even the slightest bit. When I'd open the drawer it was in and open the case I'd usually find them already on. Also, they needed to work in my unheated garage, which killed batteries pretty quickly.

 

[Shran]

Interesting. I have two electronic calipers from Menards, Tool Shop brand, that cost me about $10 each new and I've had them both for probably 10 years. Never have needed to replace the battery.

I agree that a micrometer is the way to go for some things - but calipers are pretty handy too........

 

[Uncle Gump]

I just did some Christmas shopping for my wife. She said she wanted one of those "nail shooter thingys". HD had the Ryobi air-strike Brad nailer on sale... perfect.

I couldn't help but look at their Black Friday Milwaukee deals. They had a couple good ones... but Santa got me a M12 fuel right angle die grinder with a big 6ah battery.

 

[Blmpkn]

Gots myself a FREE 80 gallon IR compressor from work. The compressor head is blown up.. or the motor doesn't work.. nobody can seem to remember. The motor is on the pallet the compressor is sitting on.

Gonna give it a diagnosis at some point and take it from there. I think my plan is gonna be to run it off a gas motor for simplicities sake.