Thread: Fowler 24" Electronic Calipers

I need a set of calipers that can measure up to 24", I'm looking at this one at Enco:

http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?P...PMAKA=890-9822

Any thoughts, is there a better one to get or should I be looking at something else? I don't need tight tolerances, somewhere around +-.010".

Originally Posted by ranchak

I need a set of calipers that can measure up to 24", I'm looking at this one at Enco:

Enco - Guaranteed Lowest Prices on Machinery, Tools and Shop Supplies

Any thoughts, is there a better one to get or should I be looking at something else? I don't need tight tolerances, somewhere around +-.010".

There are dozens of places you can buy a 24" caliper but from the price on that particular one then it's certainly Chinese. As most will know I've nothing against buying Chinese but I know which companies make mine

If you'll not be using it on a daily basis then it looks OK. Re accuracy - if it isn't accurate to within spec it's junk.

http://www.f-m-s.dk/DIN862+863.pdf

Gordon

I bought a pr like those several yrs ago.
Althought the model number looks totally differ'nt. ???

I have been completely impressed with them!
They check out dang good on any "standard" that I grab.
Not sure that I have ever seen .001 deviation from nominal - if even that....

I actually trust them at least as much on large measurements than a set of mics in the higher end of the range.
Mics can easilly spring more than .001 once you get into the 24" range if your not really carefull. And the mics are much more awkward too.

I am fairly convinced that all of the high $ brands have this stuff made the same places and rebrand it these days, so why not buy the cheaper name?

If I thought that buying a Staret would be differ'nt - I'd buy it, but I don't need to pay someone $200 to buy this unit and put their label on it for me.


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I am Ox and I approve this h'yah post!

Thanks Ox, that's what I wanted to hear. I was going to buy the SPI brand, but the Fowler is a bit more accurate and I think there is only a $20 difference between the two. I have a pair of the SPI calipers that where the 2 for $50 set. They work great and have a really nice large display, way bigger than the Mitutoyo ones.

I considered them a few years ago, but mit's had a sale on their 24" digimatics so I got that, love it. Next choice was vernier type for their never ending reliability, and whenever I need the 24" its to check lengths so it would be plenty good for that. I did use one of the lower end 24" 's before and it was ok but my luck so far with a few chinese digitals has been not so good, as in, they have all died, well except for the 12" one fowler replaced that is still going since.

Everytime I've settled for less than Mit's, or good brand name anything, I've wished I'd have spent the extra $.

we got the exact same one and its a ok caliper when you dont use it daily. its always withint =-0.001 and its perfectly fine to fine big standart diameter and lenght of piece. good caliper for the price.

I just tried two of that model without too much success (got 'em through Travers Tool). Scale seemed to have about .005" of error (checked it every inch on my Haas cnc and it seemed to lose then gain it back in 20"), and when you observe the accuracy is +/-.003 (in Travers, but Enco is miraculously claiming +/-.001 in that big caliper!), you might as well use a tape measure

One 'feature' was the ABS/INC switch: if you press ABS, and ABS is displayed, then it is INC mode. If you press it again, ABS goes off, and then its in ABS mode. Kind of a screwy convention to get accustomed to, especially when nothing else in the shop works that way.

And the caliper didn't seem very sensitive: lock the thumb clamp, and try to move it gently along, and it would usually jump by .001" at a time, no matter how careful I was.

But get one, examine it carefully, and make a decision while in warranty. Don't assume anything about it.

Travers has sent me RMAs and I am currently going to try a 24" TTC brand, which is similar to a 40" Fowler I bought some years ago, and which has been very trouble free.

I have a pair just like those , I've had them for 4? years or so , I have been 100% happy with them .