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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Ballina N.S.W.
    Posts
    644

    Default Chinese Caliper problems

    My original set of these cheap calipers lasted for years even digesting coolant on a few occasions. When they finally died I brought two replacement sets, these have proven to be untrustworthy. They have not had any coolant on them and I have changed batterys several times and ensured that the terminals were clean and making good contact.Both sets would not maintain zero,very anoying having to set zero before each measurement, one set would on occasions give wild readings. Any one else experienced these problems?
    My solution was to buy a better quality set of dial calipers, although not as versatile as the digital ones they should be reliable. One disadvantage is the lack of both metric and imperial but I can live with that. I do have another larger set of Etalon vernier calipers.
    Bob

  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Lower Lakes SA
    Age
    58
    Posts
    2,607

    Default

    The chinese ones are a lottery. I bought 2 at the same time. One has been great, the other a bit iffy. They do need dismantling and cleaning to get the grinding grit out.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Ballina N.S.W.
    Posts
    644

    Default Chinese caliper problems

    Bryan
    You are right about them being a bit of a lottery, I did clean all of the calipers when I receved them, one was a bit dirty the other was pretty good.After they started playing up I disembled all three sets and swaped bits around, I found that the tolerance on the depth gauge bar length is wild and had to limit my swaping options. I did get one set working reliably so far but I do not trust them longterm.
    Good luck with yours.

  4. #4
    Dave J Guest

    Default

    If your having problems with digital, I think the way to go is dial.
    I bought digital pairs years ago and have had all the problems you and Bryan have spoke about with them, but the last 2 I bought from Dick Smiths have worked flawlessly for 2 years so far. I have been waiting for them to go, but they just keep working. They are the type with auto off and they only have them in the 150mm ones..
    They had them on special for $20 so only a little more than ebay. I would recommend these as they seem better than the ebay ones.

    Dave

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Armidale NSW
    Age
    52
    Posts
    915

    Default

    I have a cheap chinese pair that will occasionally jump/offset by 5mm ... it's always the same 5mm jump, but there appears to be NO creep or gradual change.

    I always thought is was just from moving them too quickly, but I might try pulling them apart and cleaning them.
    Cheers.

    Vernon.
    __________________________________________________
    Bite off more than you can chew and then chew like crazy.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Perth WA
    Age
    71
    Posts
    6,458

    Default Dial Up.

    I bought my metric dial vernier, new, back in 1982. On the occasion that grit moves the gears out of whack, the little copper wedge facilitates realignment. I had a Mitutoyo Absolute digital vernier for about a year before something in it's innards let go. I liked it. I liked the way you could set zero anywhere in it's travel and the ability to swap from metric to imperial. I haven't replaced it.

    That Etalon vernier should outlast my Japanese ones.

    BT

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Ballina N.S.W.
    Posts
    644

    Default

    Anorak Bob,
    That is a nice colletion of calipers/verniers that you have,Mitutoyo did/do make good quality tools. I have a mate that has an old 6" imperial dial caliper that I have used and it is a treat to use, I had intended to buy one but unfortunatly the dial imperial versions are no longer made in Japan- now Brazil and the quality has suffered.My 12"Etalon verniers have served me well for fourty years and as you know still made by the Swiss. After a good look at my latest set I feel the Swiss standard is still good but it too has lowered over the years.
    Bob

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Perth WA
    Age
    71
    Posts
    6,458

    Default

    Bob, I was looking longingly at a new, old stock TESA metric dial vernier on Ebay on the weekend and I resisted temptation. $89 "buy it now" but the Mitutoyo has proven to be a durable workhorse for nearly three decades and I don't need two 150mm verniers.

    I reckon my Etalon 300mm/12" vernier might date from the 70's. That's in another league as you can attest.

    BT

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Ballina N.S.W.
    Posts
    644

    Default

    Bob,
    That is a good price, around half of the current retail in USA and being of old stock it probably would be a bit better made than the current ones. I paid just on $152-00 Aust for mine including $32-00 for Express mail, it only took six days to arrive which is the quickest arrival I have had. You are right though you only need one good 6" caliper as you cannot wear them out. I just received an email from Amazon.com with some more calipers on special-strange people that lot, they send out emails but will not accept orders from Australia. They must have bean counters running the business.
    Bob

  10. #10
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    tasmania
    Posts
    96

    Default Me too

    I have an old (20y) Chinese caliper that has worked perfectly until this week. I have the exact prob that you describe. I will try pulling it apart for a clean

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    9,088

    Default

    I have two metric Mitutoyo dial calipers. I think the imp dail calipers would be easier to use than the metric ones. I've used vernier calipers for years so can read them with a quick look but always thought the dail calipers would be easier. The 300mm one is 2mm a turn, the 100mm one is 1mm a turn, so it makes reading them even slower. Maybe with more practice I'll get used to them.
    Stuart

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Deloraine Tasmania
    Age
    59
    Posts
    75

    Default

    i've found digital calipers to chew thru their batteries so damn fast. I think next time i will invest in a dial caliper instead. Tho having an electronic background i find digital formats as natural as breathing. I have digital guages on my table saw & router boss tho with those units i can easily pop out the battery when not in use to extend their life.

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