Sometimes convenience trumps micron-level precision, and for those times plastic vernier calipers rule. Their shape makes measuring inside, outside, and depth dimensions simple — much easier than with a standard tape measure and about as accurate — but I’m loathe to carry my quality dial calipers where they might get damaged, lost, or stolen. That’s why I keep a set of cheap-ass plastic vernier capliers in every toolbox.
We found a few sets from a place called “Widget Supply” (and from Amazon) for around $2 each — cheap enough to dunk underwater to measure a broken pipe fitting or to throw in the truck glovebox “just in case.” Compare that $2 to a minimum of $20 for even a crappy set of “accurate” calipers, and you see our point.
How to read a Vernier caliper [Maryland Metric]
Plastic Vernier Calipers [Widget Supply]
Lots of Sources [Google]
Via Amazon
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9 Responses to Cheap-Ass Tools: Plastic Vernier Calipers
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Verniers are OK, but I sure like dials better. Digital are cool too, but I still don’t think they beat a dial caliper. I wouldn’t put my dial (or digital) underwater though. Just so folks know, here’s a website with a Java applet that shows how to read a vernier scale.
http://members.shaw.ca/ron.blond/Vern.APPLET/index.html
And here’s a better one:
http://www.upscale.utoronto.ca/PVB/Harrison/Vernier/Vernier.html
I’ve always used cheap stainless steel calipers, available for about $8 from Enco. They’re pretty accurate, far better than plastic, but tough and cheap enough to use as a scribe.
Be sure to get the ones that will lock at one measurement with a thumbscrew.
I’ve had bad experiences with clones of these before, but to be fair – a $2 caliper will suit many purposes. I wouldn’t use these in high accuracy applications, but they could be good to have around.
Widget Supply also has a steel one for $13, a digital for $20, and a dial one for $25.
Eh, if I was going to spend $25, I’d opt for an “economic caliper” from McMaster Carr’s selection.
If anyone gets these, make sure not to bend the sliding metal rod. Even if you don’t see a visible bend, any slight deviation in its trueness will make the calipers a major pain to use.
Randy, thanks for the ‘how to read’ sites. I’ve never really used venier calipers before. Never really thought about it before, but that was well explained.
Yeah I got one of these from the local Canadian tire for a buck a while back, they definitely have many uses, after all its a real pain to measure round stuff with a ruler.
Just a heads up.
Harbor Freight has 2 cheap-o calipers in their coupons this week. $6 for the digital, $1 for the plastic
http://www.harborfreightusa.com/html/usa_cpnsave.html
We used these in high school.
Hey if it works, it works. Cheaper is better.
These cheap little calipers are handy for use on wood measurements -not terribly accurate, but really tight as far as wood is concerned.