Micrometer

[Airman Basic]

Some of you smart guys could help me? I'm looking to buy a micrometer for various reasons around the casting pot. Could y'all recommend one that works but doesn't break the bank?

[smokeywolf]

I would encourage you to go with a used Mitutoyo, Brown & Sharpe, Tesa or Starrett, rather than a new cheap Chinese piece of junk. I have bought three or four off of ebay with good results. Just be sure the seller has a 10 to 30 day return policy.

[cainttype]

Try to avoid the plastic types "around the casting pot". Stainless has a higher melting point and accidents DO happen. :)

[spfd1903]

I got a new Mitutoya, all metal, from Amazon for $100. Vernier scale, not digital. Very happy with it.

[Airman Basic]

My older eyes might be happier with a digital. Is there much difference?

[Tatume]

I like vernier scales, they are interesting and fun. With very little practice you will get very good at reading it.

[Dutchman]

Once I compared some different measuring instruments. Using a throat erosion gage as the "standard" the most accurate tools were:
1- Mitutoyo 0-1" 1/10,000th micrometer
2- German vernier calipers
3- cheap $20 Frankfort Arsenal (Midway) digital calipers .1234"
4- Mitutoyo 6" dial calipers

If you're going to use a standard 1/10,000th micrometer you need a couple "standards" so you can check accuracy periodically. Like a .3125", .4375", .5000".

And with a standard micrometer you need to utilize the clutch and maintain a consistent "touch" with it.

Same goes with pretty much any precision measuring tool. A different touch can produce a different measurement.

For an experiment I used the cheapie $20 digital calipers in my machine shop. Like them but you need to have spare batteries on hand. You do need calipers and a micrometer not just a micrometer.

SPI 0 to 1" x .00005" Carbide Face Electronic Digital Outside Micrometer
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SPI-0-to-1-x-00005-Carbide-Face-Electronic-Digital-Outside-Micrometer-NEW-/231022616938?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35ca05616a

SPI = Swiss Precision Instruments... only they're made in China. Enco bought this brand name a couple/few years ago. http://use-enco.com They have sales every month.

I bought one of the Chinese 0-1" electronic digital micrometer off ebay I think it was Shars (Discount Machine on ebay). Paid less than $50 as I recall. Get some spare batteries at the same time. There's nothing wrong with these Chinese micrometers. You zero them each time so they don't really require "calibration" like a standard micrometer does.

Before there was electronic digital, before there was digital, before there was dial calipers.. there was Vernier calipers. First they had 25 divisions. Then much later and now there are 50 division Vernier calipers. These are the most accurate of calipers. Do not discount this type of caliper as they are more accurate than .001" dial calipers. There is a learning curve to use them but everybody else in the world can do it... so can you.

SHARS .001"/.02MM 6" Precision Vernier Caliper $13.90 delivered
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SHARS-001-02MM-6-Precision-Vernier-Caliper-NEW-/330713083183?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d00092d2f

From Israel - Vernier Caliper . Machinist Tool. Measuring Insturment $17 delivered
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vernier-Caliper-Machinist-Tool-Measuring-Insturment-new-free-shipping-/181192080637?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a2fe3bcfd

For cast bullet measuring and even home machineshop use I'd recommend:

6" Digital Electronic Vernier Caliper Micrometer Guage - less than $12.00 BUT GET SPARE BATTERIES!!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/150mm-6-Digital-Electronic-Vernier-Caliper-Micrometer-Guage-/130847178113?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e77197d81

Digital Outside Micrometer 0-25 25-50 50-75 75-100mm Digital Micrometer $48 delivered
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Digital-Outside-Micrometer-0-25-25-50-50-75-75-100mm-Digital-Micrometer-/261244194839?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cd35e1017

I've bought direct from China maybe 10 times. Most off ebay but not all. Average transit time is 15 days. Never lost anything and never had a complaint about quality. I use a Chinese 12" lathe and Chinese milling machine, too.

Dutch

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I started out using a chinese mechanical-digital 1" Mic. I bought one online for $20, when I got it, the tiny gears inside that turned the mechanical-digital readout were't adjust correctly, an easy thing to fix, I did so, then used them for a couple years before I found a exact model in the Mitutoyo brand at a garage sale for $35. The mitutoyo has a better "feel", but for my boolit purposes, they measure the same.

They are out there, check pawn shops.
Good Luck,
Jon

[John Boy]

Airman, a micrometer or a set of calipers? Believe you want calipers.
Here's a micrometer ...
78569

[waksupi]

Micrometer for measure boolits, calipers for OAL. I think he is looking for the micrometer.

[10mmShooter]

op

Here's what I use, started out 20 years ago the Mitutoyo dial caliper(accurate to 1/1000) below paid $40 in 1993 for it. Still reads perfectly after 60,000 rounds, I later added the Browne & Sharpe digital caliper which is nice but pricely($200) (accurate to 5/10,000). Then lastly I added the Mitutoyo blade micrometer($300 new, got a good used one for $80)(accurate to 1/10,000). The blades are helpful for measuring individual bands on my cast bullets.

You will see I also have a Starett .75000(accurate to 4 micro-inches) gage block to check accuracy and the .308 bullet there is also used to check as its exactly .3080

.....just a footnote...the $40 pair of Mitutoyo calipers is plenty accurate for our reloading needs accurate to 1/1000th of inch is plenty. The more expensive calipers and mics will be more accurate over time and the gear/threads will hold up better over time and will be more consistant. It critical to routinely check them for accuracy the same way you use check weights to calibrate you scales.

78601

[Mal Paso]

Buy the best you can but for the money the mechanical Harbor Freight Micrometers are hard to beat. They are pushing the digital junk now but every so often you can get 3 Micrometers and 2 Standards for $30. and measure up to 3". I've checked the 1 inch micrometer of the set at 0, 1 inch, and a bunch of pin gauges in between and can't find a thing wrong with it.

[Victor N TN]

Having worked with machines and such almost all my life I have a whole roll around chest full of specialty tools. My experience has taught me to buy the best you can afford. You'll never be sorry. But something else my experience has taught me. If you lay an accurate measuring instrument down then knock it onto a concrete floor, it becomes an expensive paper weight.

[Catshooter]

Airman,

If it's a micrometer you're looking for, I have an older Starrett 0 to 1 inch that I'll send to you for $28. I can post a pic if you'd like. I've gone over it, cleaned it up. It works well and is accurate.


Cat

[MaryB]

I have the Harbor Freight LCD digital micrometer. Checked against a friends $100+ one and it is accurate. Think it was $25+ shipping on ebay

[257]

last winter i sold 8 starrett o-1 od mics new in box carbide faces no body wanted them i wound up getting 10.00 apeice for them i gave 4 to people that wanted one go figure huh

[Bzcraig]

My older eyes might be happier with a digital. Is there much difference?

Because of 'old eyes' I installed a lighted magnifying glass on my work bench. Once I lock the measurement on my vernier mic, I raise it to the magnifier for easy reading.

[303Guy]

I have a real fancy digital Mitutoyo which I've mounted on a stand for measuring boolits or anything else that's small enough. It is so accurate I can measure the thermal expansion. Talk about overkill! What's great about it though is the gentle clutch and small anvils. It doesn't crush soft alloys.

[w5pv]

I started out over 50 yrs ago with Starrett mikes and 6 inch caliper both have served me well and minor adjustments is all that was ever required.These were used daily.The only problem they seem to find a way of walking off. Out of a set of mikes 0-1,1-2,2-3,3-4,4-5,5-6,I have a 0-1 and 5-6 left.The others walked.

[Airman Basic]

Another dumb question: what's the best size mic to get for general reloading duties?

[gmsharps]

a 0-1in Micrometer and a 6in caliper

gmsharps

[Mal Paso]

The one Inch Micrometer is the most used.

A 6 inch caliper is second.

They all work better with a 5" Lighted Magnifier mounted to the bench.

[theperfessor]

Totally agree with a 0-1" outside micrometer and a 6" caliper. I prefer non-electronic versions of each. Seems as if I always have dead batteries and no spares just when I need to use them. A lot of folks like digital tools, its just a personal preference. Use what you're comfy with.

I also keep a Starrett steel scale that has both inches (0-6") and mms (0-150mm) on it near the loading bench. Comes in handy sometimes.

[w5pv]

Starrett use to make a 0-6" set that would serve you well.The set had different anvils that you changed for the different sizes you needed.Not a fancy set by any means but accurate enough for reloading.

[MtGun44]

0 to 1".

If you are on a budget, Fowler is a good quality unit a really affordable prices. No question the Mitotoyo and older
Starrett and B&S are wonderful, high quality and if you find a used one in good condition for cheap - jump at it.
New they are very pricey, unfortunately.

Take a look here, save some bucks:

http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?PARTPG=INLMKD&PMPXNO=5284468&PMAKA=890-9844

This is a good deal. Here is another. I have no connection to Fowler or Enco other than as satisfied
customer.

http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?PMAKA=890-9373&PMPXNO=4617819&PARTPG=INLMK32

Bill

[bangerjim]

I have several 4, 6, and 12 inch HF digital indicating cals in my engineering company. Along with Mit and Starret hi precision ones with digital outputs also.

I have checked the accuracy of the HF stuff against the NIST tracable spacer blocks we have and they are pretty darn accurate. They are 6+ years old....... and I cannot attest to the quality HF supplies today.

But you are not doing 0.00005 accuracy as my good stuff does. The HF stuff is a good start for what we do here with brass and boolits. Unless your "money tree" is healthy in this Obummer economy!

bangerjim

[Airman Basic]

Catshooter, how can we get together on your deal. I bought this: http://www.harborfreight.com/0-to-1-inch-range-digital-micrometer-895.html but I'd like to check yours out and see how they compare.

[country gent]

When I started in the tool and die trade I bought a set of Brown and sharpe slant line mics 0"-6" 35 years later they are a s accurate as the day they were new. In the tool rooms I worked measuring tools had to be certified every year as to accuracy and repeatability. Mikes were checked at starting size then + .006 .0125 and .018 these last measure 1/4 revolution and will show an anvil out of square. 0-1 are .106 .1125 .118. This requires a set of accurate gage blocks. For calipers I have mitoyo 6" and 12" brown and sharpes along with some older ones. I also have a set of mitoyo gage blocks. The mikes all came with the appropriate standards.Good mikes have a collet adjustable thread to set end play and accuracy of the thread.