digital caliper problems - The Firearms Forum

accident · 01-23-2011, 02:53 PM

My Frankford Arsenal digital caliper has served me well for the past year or so but now Its sometimes not maintaining zero.I used it today and it worked ok.I know it's not the most expensive unit out there do you think its time to upgrade?I can get a Lyman for about $50.00.I guess I should call them.I don't think it's the batteries.Has anyone else had experience with this caliper?What do ya'll suggest?I'm thinking about going with a dial type.I've got a jap made metric dial caliper thats worked for 25 years.Not as much to go bad on them but I like the ease of the digital.What do you think? Joe

woolleyworm · 01-23-2011, 03:09 PM

It could very well be the batteries. I have two brands, one is a Mitutoyo, the other is Fowler. They both work well and have never had an issue except for when the batteries are weak. If they were dropped or got damaged somehow, that may be an issue. I would replace the batteries and go from there. If you're going to buy a new set, stick with picking up a good set online. Mitutoyo or Starett are the best quality, but others are just fine too. The Fowler set that I have can be found for about $24 - 30 shipped brand new off of flEaBay. Just have to be patient and sort by "newly listed" items and you'll find one in that price range. Mitu's are going to be at least double that.

accident · 01-23-2011, 03:19 PM

Thanks Wolley.If I had read the booklet,it says when the battery gets low the reading can jump "simmultaneously" and thats kind of what it does.I'll try a battery first. Thanks Joe.

millwright · 01-23-2011, 07:02 PM

Hmmmm...All the more reason to keep on using my 'dinosaurs' - aka purely mechanical, measuring tools.......And mine will keep on truckin' even after the EMP, too !! >MW

JLA · 01-23-2011, 08:56 PM

the one woolley gave me at our last shootout is working fantastically

Thanks worm!

RustyFN · 01-24-2011, 06:45 PM

The easiest way I found to fix a digital caliper is with one of these.

Nothing wrong with a digital I just don't like dealing with batteries if I don't have to.

JLA · 01-24-2011, 08:04 PM

got me one of them too

vulcrider · 01-24-2011, 09:27 PM

Got my digital form Harbor Freight. Thought the battery was weak when the display kept jumping. Found out that ti was due to the unit getting cold in my basement. If I warmed the battery first or kept it upstairs where it was normally warm, no problems.
I found the same problem with my Frankford digital scale. Trick is to make sure everything is at room temp before using and to verify with a known item, at least for me.

gdmoody · 01-24-2011, 11:15 PM

I got mine from Harbor Freight for about $12 and it works as good as one of the $50 brand name ones.

LDBennett · 01-25-2011, 10:58 AM

The Harbor Freight Digital Caliper (I have one and my son has one) eat up batteries even if you judiciously turn them off after every use. They also change zero on their own. I would not suggest using them.

All the ones from reloading equipment suppliers are way more expensive than you can get better ones from a machinist supply house like Rutland Tool and Supply:

https://www.shoprutlandtool.com/weba...igital+caliper

I have both a set of Browne and Sharp and a set of Mitutoyo, both do metric and english measurements, both are superbly accurate, and I recommend them both. Digital calipers come in all price levels. Rutland also has some East European versions (Prestige Brand??). Based on other prestige products I use with my lathe I suspect they are good too (??).

Precision measurement, as we often have to do in reloading, are no better than the instrument used to make them. Just because they read to four decimal places does not mean they are accurate to four decimal places. Buy one good set and it will probably last a life time. The Harbor Freight ones are junk, in my opinion. I only bought them to bang around with on garage projects but even for that they are a waste of money.

LDBennett

RunningOnMT · 01-25-2011, 11:15 AM

As a former QC inspector I have owned and used a wide range of measuring tools. In my opinion the best calipers being made today (both dial and digital) are Mitutoyo. Expect to pay $100.00-$150.00 for stainless steel digitals. They are worth it and with care will last a lifetime.

Edit:

By the way, using calipers properly can greatly enhance their accuracy and life. If your calipers are stopping and then backing off .0005 or so, chances are you are tightening down on the piece being measured and springing the caliper legs. A very light touch does it. If you are checking them against a standard and getting inconsistent readings, then they are worn out.

accident · 01-26-2011, 08:31 PM

I bought my NSK jap.metric dial calipers 25-30 years ago and they still work as new.Paid about 50.00 off the MAC TOOLS truck.I worked on foriegn cars only then.I'm thinking of getting the Lyman SS dial calipers from Midway but theyre only $25.00.I wonder if theyre any good?Seems awful cheap to be of high quality.Any other recommendations?I can't afford the Starrets unfortunately. THANKS Joe

JLA · 01-26-2011, 09:48 PM

Joe, I reloaded for 5 years with a cheap 'made in china' dial caliper and it never let me down.

Then I was pilfering through my dads old pattern making tools and found 2 old dial calipers, 1 of which I took. It too was made in china but read to .0001" instead of .001". Both have served me well over the years.

A few weeks ago wooleyworm gave me a fowler digital that reads to the .0005" and it by far is my favorite now. Of course I keep the dials for backup but I dont need 2. If you need 1 ill send you one, no charge

accident · 01-26-2011, 10:22 PM

Thanks for the offer JLA.Hang on to them until my next reloading session I'll know by then if the new batteries in my Frankforts will fix them.If they work ok for me then I think I'll be ok.Very generous offer and I'll let you know if they don't work out.They worked fine until recently and I like the ease of the digital readout.I really appreciate the offer and I'll let you know if I need them.Can't beat the price! THANKS Joe

JLA · 01-27-2011, 08:42 AM

yup.. they aint goin nowhere, theyll be here if you do need one...

01-23-2011, 02:53 PM	#1
accident V.I.P. Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: middle GA Posts: 364	digital caliper problems My Frankford Arsenal digital caliper has served me well for the past year or so but now Its sometimes not maintaining zero.I used it today and it worked ok.I know it's not the most expensive unit out there do you think its time to upgrade?I can get a Lyman for about $50.00.I guess I should call them.I don't think it's the batteries.Has anyone else had experience with this caliper?What do ya'll suggest?I'm thinking about going with a dial type.I've got a jap made metric dial caliper thats worked for 25 years.Not as much to go bad on them but I like the ease of the digital.What do you think? Joe __________________ "The strongest reason for the people to retain the Right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in Government." Thomas Jefferson -->

01-23-2011, 03:09 PM	#2
woolleyworm TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: SW Fort Worth Contributor Posts: 4,883	Re: digital caliper problems It could very well be the batteries. I have two brands, one is a Mitutoyo, the other is Fowler. They both work well and have never had an issue except for when the batteries are weak. If they were dropped or got damaged somehow, that may be an issue. I would replace the batteries and go from there. If you're going to buy a new set, stick with picking up a good set online. Mitutoyo or Starett are the best quality, but others are just fine too. The Fowler set that I have can be found for about $24 - 30 shipped brand new off of flEaBay. Just have to be patient and sort by "newly listed" items and you'll find one in that price range. Mitu's are going to be at least double that. __________________ . What are you gonna do, talk the alien to death? -- (on Sigourney Weaver's worry about Guns in Aliens) "Safety is something that happens between your ears, not something you hold in your hands." "I carry a small gun to compensate for my huge Blue press." .

01-23-2011, 03:19 PM	#3
accident V.I.P. Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: middle GA Posts: 364	Re: digital caliper problems Thanks Wolley.If I had read the booklet,it says when the battery gets low the reading can jump "simmultaneously" and thats kind of what it does.I'll try a battery first. Thanks Joe. __________________ "The strongest reason for the people to retain the Right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in Government." Thomas Jefferson

01-23-2011, 07:02 PM	#4
millwright Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,436	Re: digital caliper problems Hmmmm...All the more reason to keep on using my 'dinosaurs' - aka purely mechanical, measuring tools.......And mine will keep on truckin' even after the EMP, too !! >MW

01-23-2011, 08:56 PM	#5
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,315	Re: digital caliper problems the one woolley gave me at our last shootout is working fantastically Thanks worm! __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

01-24-2011, 06:45 PM	#6
RustyFN Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: West Virginia Posts: 592	Re: digital caliper problems The easiest way I found to fix a digital caliper is with one of these. Nothing wrong with a digital I just don't like dealing with batteries if I don't have to.

01-24-2011, 08:04 PM	#7
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,315	Re: digital caliper problems got me one of them too __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

01-24-2011, 09:27 PM	#8
vulcrider V.I.P. Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 72	Re: digital caliper problems Got my digital form Harbor Freight. Thought the battery was weak when the display kept jumping. Found out that ti was due to the unit getting cold in my basement. If I warmed the battery first or kept it upstairs where it was normally warm, no problems. I found the same problem with my Frankford digital scale. Trick is to make sure everything is at room temp before using and to verify with a known item, at least for me.

01-24-2011, 11:15 PM	#9
gdmoody Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northeast Georgia Contributor Posts: 6,324	Re: digital caliper problems I got mine from Harbor Freight for about $12 and it works as good as one of the $50 brand name ones. __________________ NRA Endowment Member GeorgiaCarry.Org Member Retired US Army Postal Worker Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take an ass whoopin'.....author unknown (but obviously brilliant)

01-25-2011, 10:58 AM	#10
LDBennett Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Hesperia, CA Posts: 5,712	Re: digital caliper problems The Harbor Freight Digital Caliper (I have one and my son has one) eat up batteries even if you judiciously turn them off after every use. They also change zero on their own. I would not suggest using them. All the ones from reloading equipment suppliers are way more expensive than you can get better ones from a machinist supply house like Rutland Tool and Supply: https://www.shoprutlandtool.com/weba...igital+caliper I have both a set of Browne and Sharp and a set of Mitutoyo, both do metric and english measurements, both are superbly accurate, and I recommend them both. Digital calipers come in all price levels. Rutland also has some East European versions (Prestige Brand??). Based on other prestige products I use with my lathe I suspect they are good too (??). Precision measurement, as we often have to do in reloading, are no better than the instrument used to make them. Just because they read to four decimal places does not mean they are accurate to four decimal places. Buy one good set and it will probably last a life time. The Harbor Freight ones are junk, in my opinion. I only bought them to bang around with on garage projects but even for that they are a waste of money. LDBennett

01-25-2011, 11:15 AM	#11
RunningOnMT Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Akron, Ohio Contributor Posts: 4,720	Re: digital caliper problems As a former QC inspector I have owned and used a wide range of measuring tools. In my opinion the best calipers being made today (both dial and digital) are Mitutoyo. Expect to pay $100.00-$150.00 for stainless steel digitals. They are worth it and with care will last a lifetime. Edit: By the way, using calipers properly can greatly enhance their accuracy and life. If your calipers are stopping and then backing off .0005 or so, chances are you are tightening down on the piece being measured and springing the caliper legs. A very light touch does it. If you are checking them against a standard and getting inconsistent readings, then they are worn out. __________________ "Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!" Last edited by RunningOnMT; 01-25-2011 at 11:27 AM..

01-26-2011, 08:31 PM	#12
accident V.I.P. Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: middle GA Posts: 364	Re: digital caliper problems I bought my NSK jap.metric dial calipers 25-30 years ago and they still work as new.Paid about 50.00 off the MAC TOOLS truck.I worked on foriegn cars only then.I'm thinking of getting the Lyman SS dial calipers from Midway but theyre only $25.00.I wonder if theyre any good?Seems awful cheap to be of high quality.Any other recommendations?I can't afford the Starrets unfortunately. THANKS Joe __________________ "The strongest reason for the people to retain the Right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in Government." Thomas Jefferson

01-26-2011, 09:48 PM	#13
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,315	Re: digital caliper problems Joe, I reloaded for 5 years with a cheap 'made in china' dial caliper and it never let me down. Then I was pilfering through my dads old pattern making tools and found 2 old dial calipers, 1 of which I took. It too was made in china but read to .0001" instead of .001". Both have served me well over the years. A few weeks ago wooleyworm gave me a fowler digital that reads to the .0005" and it by far is my favorite now. Of course I keep the dials for backup but I dont need 2. If you need 1 ill send you one, no charge __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

01-26-2011, 10:22 PM	#14
accident V.I.P. Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: middle GA Posts: 364	Re: digital caliper problems Thanks for the offer JLA.Hang on to them until my next reloading session I'll know by then if the new batteries in my Frankforts will fix them.If they work ok for me then I think I'll be ok.Very generous offer and I'll let you know if they don't work out.They worked fine until recently and I like the ease of the digital readout.I really appreciate the offer and I'll let you know if I need them.Can't beat the price! THANKS Joe __________________ "The strongest reason for the people to retain the Right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in Government." Thomas Jefferson

01-27-2011, 08:42 AM	#15
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,315	Re: digital caliper problems yup.. they aint goin nowhere, theyll be here if you do need one... __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!