Digital caliper

[Steel Butcher]

I was thinking of getting one of these to record my link lengths (so I don't have to reinvent the wheel after a crash):

Good idea or is this a POS? http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=47256

I guess it only needs to stay accurate enough to a half turn..

[DavidH]

Yes the one above will work great. Get the 6 inch caliper for the same price.

Then get some of these to go on the calipers and your all set.

http://www.ronlund.com/Merchant2/mer..._Code=VAR11_86

David

[Skiddz]

IMO, you'd be better served by the 12" model, especially if you're going to get into the larger helis.. Some of the links on my 600 look to be a tick over 3" and a 4" caliper will be difficult to use at that extreme end of it's range.

I got a good quality 4-button dig-cal on Flea-Bay for $50.. Been using it almost daily at work and here at home with no issues whatsoever for nearly 4 years. Still on it's 1st battery too! Sorry dunno the brand name, but the logo is a jet flying through a small circle..

[BarracudaHockey]

Those Vario pushrod nubs make short work of sizing pushrods.

What we do doesnt really require machinist quality tools just consistenency. The Harbor Freight stuff works just fine.

[Steel Butcher]

Thanks, that's great. I am going to stop by Hapless Freight after work.

[z11355]

get at least the 6" ones.

the calipers also make short work of equalizing the length of flybar but for 60-90 class machines,
the 6" caliper is a bit too short to do that.

yes, the Vario nubs are good (Rick's)

[Pinecone]

Only problem I have found with mine is battery life tends to be somewhat low. And at Radio Shack, they aren't cheap.

But a bit of time with Google and I found a place selling a strip of 5 batteries for less than one at RS.

[peterob]

I use a normal vernier caliper, works just as well and no batteries.

[shovell68]

I would opt for dial calipers rather than digital for the same reason peterob.
Mark

[flyinfool]

I just got batteries at Walgreens, a 3 pack was less than a single cell from radioscrap and no shipping charges.

I agree to get at least the 6" caliper. If setting flybar and paddles on a 90, it will require a 12" model even my 8" is to short for this.

[Pinecone]

Big advantage of digital over analog in this case is you can switch the digital between English and metric units. Very handy at times.

For many uses, I agree dial analog is more than good.

[Ivan]

I can tell you from experience the ones in teh original post don't work worth a hoot after you drop them in coolant.

I now have a pair made by TESA, who makes the same thing for Brown and sharpe, with a different label, and they are IP68 (coolant proof) and are probably one of the best sets of calipers I have ever owned. Even after a submersion in coolant. :mrgreen:

[z11355]

the battery on my Mitutoyo has lasted a loooooong time but RatShack would be the last place to
get a battery unless you like getting raped.

[Ace Dude]

I like my Mitutoyo. The other advantage with digital is that you an zero them at any point. Not sure if you can do that with analog. My battery has lasted quite a while, but it really doesn't get that much use.

[Pinecone]

Hmm, I never dropped mine in coolant.