Operating your dial calipers

[warf73]

Third generation machinist been doing the machining gig since age 22 (running a 6 axis machine as I type this) and the best piece of advice about using a caliper. Calipers are reference ONLY nothing more, you want exact pull out the mic.
Depending on a caliper for exact measurements is like using your bathroom scale to measure out powder charges.

[geargnasher]

Third generation machinist been doing the machining gig since age 22 (running a 6 axis machine as I type this) and the best piece of advice about using a caliper. Calipers are reference ONLY nothing more, you want exact pull out the mic.
Depending on a caliper for exact measurements is like using your bathroom scale to measure out powder charges.

Perzactly.

I don't know why anyone would fuss over tenths of grains when charging powder, but not fuss over at least a verified, calibrated, ACCURATE thousandth or possibly even two-tenths of that. You dang well ain't gonna get close with calipers unless you use a lifetime of accumulated Zen.

When I have a gun that won't chamber .4532" boolits, but leads with .4528" and under boolits, I need to know just exactly how big my sizer is making them.

Gear

[JIMinPHX]

Depending on a caliper for exact measurements is like using your bathroom scale to measure out powder charges.

Might work OK for a cannon...

[markinalpine]

Might work OK for a cannon...

CHARGE FOUR! GREEN BAG!! I SEE RED!!!
Old Cannon Cocker lingo, there.
Some of the Field Artiller charges for the 8" SP Howitzer were quite a handful.
Mark

[GeneT]

Third generation machinist been doing the machining gig since age 22 (running a 6 axis machine as I type this) and the best piece of advice about using a caliper. Calipers are reference ONLY nothing more, you want exact pull out the mic.
Depending on a caliper for exact measurements is like using your bathroom scale to measure out powder charges.

Machining for a long time, own a complete shop. I agree almost completely with Warf73. Calipers aren't quite that bad. To put numbers around it - if it needs to be more precise than 0.002", use a mic. And don't confuse accuracy and repeatability, nor ignore either.

GsT

[JIMinPHX]

Joking aside, in the shop I used to work at, we used to call verniers "very nears". That kind of sums it up in my opinion.

[No_1]

In our shop we call them "Precision C-clamps". All joking aside, they have their place and for 99% of our stuff they do good but nothing replaces a good set of micrometers.

R.

[mike in co]

its a tool...a precision tool
it will never be better than the operator.

they work...if you can work them......


i do own outside mic's up to 9 inches, and up to 100mm.....and a dial indicator with a 4 inch movement.........
but a 6" dial/digital caliper works well for a lot of stuff.........

and if you think they are c clamps...go look at what some of them cost....


mike in co

[stephen perry]

For reloading purposes a 6" dial caliper .001 does does it all. I only use my mics .0001 to measure bullets I make. Now I have a couple Chinese 12" calipers I use one with my Davidson comparator and the other one for general purpose measurements where .001 is fine which is about 99% of the time for a reloader.

[454redhawk]

All of my equipment goes through an Air Force PMEL Lab for calibration

Thats me!! 14 years.

[Mal Paso]

The opportunity for incorrect readings comes when you vary the thumbwheel pressure as you close down on a bullet (or whatever). Roll just a little harder than 'just right' and you start to get low readings. When you do that with the jaws closed together, you can get the needle to deflect below zero.

CM

I don't have that problem, I have a Genuine Harbor Freight Caliper, Not some cheap knockoff.

[stephen perry]

Yesterday on the way back from our maintenance chore at Angeles Range I took my unpaid White laborers to Harbor Freight to look around. My Social Security dependant worker wanted to look at the electonic caliper for sale for $10. It was metal and read to .0005 so I bought one to, like I need one. But mine are all dial so spelled numbers are quick. I use a caliper for general measurements use my mics for closer stuff.

Stephen Perry
Angeles BR

[atr]

a Starrett dial micrometerr....and a Lufkin mic.....plus a couple of "joe-blocks" for checking against...is all you need
that and a good touch !

[stephen perry]

Only got two hands how many cases can one measure at the same time.

Stephen Perry
Angeles BR

[reloader62]

a friend of mine who was a Tool and Die guy said" It aint a C-Clamp"

That said it all .!