Digital calipers..... [Archive] - Sawmill Creek Woodworking Community

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Tony Falotico

09-19-2005, 9:58 PM

Glenn Clabo

09-20-2005, 7:26 AM

I've been hunting a digital caliper, everything I've found reads both metric and English, both in decimals. You need a conversion chart to go from decimal inches to fractions. Anyone know of a source for a reasonably priced digital caliper that reads out in fractions? They do it on the Wixey digital for planers ( http://www.wixey.com/ ) , so I know it can be done (and to me the Wixey is reasonably priced!).

Check out Amazon...

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Tony Falotico

09-20-2005, 7:47 AM

all those read out decimal inches (ie 1.500" , 1.7508") . I'm looking for one that reads out in fractions like the Wixey planner gage 1.5000 1/2" 1.7500 3/4"

Glenn Clabo

09-20-2005, 9:20 AM

all those read out decimal inches (ie 1.500" , 1.7508") . I'm looking for one that reads out in fractions like the Wixey planner gage 1.5000 1/2" 1.7500 3/4"

OPPS!too quick on th etrigger..try this one...
Avenger Products MCDF00006 6" Stainless Steel Dial Calipers (English)
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Features:
<LI class=small>Accuracy .001" over 6" travel <LI class=small>Continuous dial reads 0 - 100 with a scale of 0 - 1" marked in 1/64" increments <LI class=small>Direct reading .001" <LI class=small>Positive lever lock
4 way measurement: Inside, Outside, Depth and Step

Jim Becker

09-20-2005, 9:49 AM

I've yet to find a digital caliper that reads in fractions. (I have an "analog" dial unit like Glenn shows from Lee Valley that I use instead)

Tony Falotico

09-20-2005, 12:45 PM

I've yet to find a digital caliper that reads in fractions.

That's what I thought :( , but you never know if you don't ask. Guess I'll just go with the dial type.

Anybody from WIXEY a member here ?? Hint..Hint...

Thanks Glenn & Jim for the replys.

Don Baer

09-20-2005, 1:06 PM

Actualy Barry Wixey is a member here and posted a on the general forum a few days ago. He also has a planer list under the clasified adds. here is a link.

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=24190&highlight=wixey

Dennis Peacock

09-20-2005, 1:40 PM

That's what I thought :( , but you never know if you don't ask. Guess I'll just go with the dial type.

Anybody from WIXEY a member here ?? Hint..Hint...

Thanks Glenn & Jim for the replys.

Tony,

I've fought this fight and in a matter of a few days? You'll know what the decimal equiv's are. I've gotten pretty good at it. ;)

.0312 is 1/32"
.0625 is 1/16"
.125 is 1/8"
.1875 is 3/16"
.250 is 1/4"
.3125 is 5/16"
.375 is 3/8"
.4375 is 7/16"
.500 is 1/2"
etc, etc, etc......
Standard dial calipers are both decimal and fractional. Maybe Wixey will make some calipers that are digital AND fractional. ;)

My CAD program is in decimal as well.....so my drawings and my calipers match. :D

Barry Wixey

09-20-2005, 3:21 PM

Hey Tony;

You are not the first one looking for these. I was hesitating to reply to this thread becasue I don't want to be advertising here, just exchanging information and getting good feedback for product design. So on that note, there will be Wixey brand digital calipers with fractions available soon. They will use the same logic as in our planer kits. Actually they should have been here this summer but are a bit behind schedule.

It's good to know there is a need for this type of product!

Barry

Tony Falotico

09-20-2005, 5:58 PM

I knew if you did it on the planer it could be done......... I'll be anxiously awaiting their arrival, But do keep 'em reasonably priced please !! :D :D

Thanks again for responding Barry.

Dennis -- A buddy at work and I developed a chart of decimal / fractional equivalents, well actually two charts -- one to 32's and one to 64th's. Made 'em with color bands so they are easier to read. I'm in need a good caliper, so I figured as long as I'm getting one might as well make it as easy for myself as possible. Been suffering from CRS lately (Can't Remember Stuff).

Dennis Peacock

09-20-2005, 7:07 PM

I hear ya Tony......My head hurts sometimes when trying to convert some funky decimal number to a fractional measurement. :( :rolleyes: So I guess close and move on. I guess I'll await the Digital Fractional Calipers as well.

Thanks Barry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

glenn bradley

12-11-2006, 6:32 PM

Only down to 64th's but,

http://www.highlandwoodworking.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=7690

M Toupin

12-11-2006, 7:34 PM

Tony,

Can't help with the fractional calipers, but here's a decent decimal/fraction chart. IMO, it's actually easier to use decimals once you get used to it and memorize the basic siezes down to about 1/8". Much easier to add .3250 & .0156 in your head than 3/8" & 1/64" IMO, or maybe it's just the machinest in me:). Even fractions on the 64th (.0156) range are still fairly large when you consider the average human finger can feel .005" variations with little difficulty.

Just my .02 cents

Mike

52343

Robert Mickley

12-11-2006, 7:49 PM

I saw somewhere else too, Lee Vally maybe. hard to say there are so many catologs in the "library"

Or you can print out this XLS spread sheet

Got beat to it!!!

Jeff Pilcher

12-12-2006, 9:36 AM

Someone else beat me to it, but here is a couple more ...

http://www.progresstool.com/pd_digital_caliper.cfm#

Here is another one that goes down to 1/128"

http://www.hartvilletool.com/product/12270

J D Thomas

12-12-2006, 11:14 AM

How about this:

6" Digital Caliper w/ Fractional Display (http://www.thecraftsmangallery.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?page=W/PROD/L/30-145)

$38

Scott Loven

12-12-2006, 11:29 AM

I have some 6 inch SS ones like this coming in later this month.
Scott
http://www.vmtw.com/bigpic/fractioninchcaliper.jpg

Cliff Rohrabacher

12-12-2006, 1:40 PM

Changing Decimals to Fractions

It is easy to convert decimals to fractions. Look at the number 0.27, or twenty-seven hundredths. The hundredths tells you the denominator is 100. The numerator will be the numeral to the right of the decimal point, which is 27 in this case. Do not write the decimal point in the fraction.
http://algebra-tutoring.com/decimal-numbers-fractions-1-gifs/decima19.gif
You must look for fractions that can be reduced. For example, look at the number 0.32, or thirty-two hundredths. Write the fraction and then reduce it to lowest terms.
http://algebra-tutoring.com/decimal-numbers-fractions-1-gifs/decima20.gif

Al Willits

12-12-2006, 2:22 PM

Ideally I'd like to find one that went from millimeters to thousandths to fractions, that would be one nice caliper.

Al

edit...
appears there is one, sent this and picked up the Am Woodworker mag in the advertising, there she be..hummm
Seems its sold by someone named chipsfly.com, not sure of quaility but its under $40 fwiw

Charles McKinley

12-12-2006, 9:20 PM

If you go dial type I like the dial on the Starrett best. Fine Woodworking (dec 06, #187 p. 28) has a review of the Hartville Tool, Starrett, and Woodcraft fractional dial type. I was disapointed to see that they were all made in China. I don't know why they didn't include the one posted above because I think they advertise in FW classified section.

everett lowell

12-17-2006, 2:51 PM

Try www.craftsmangallery.com

Dave Richards

12-17-2006, 2:56 PM

Good on you, Everett. I just saw this thread and was going to suggest the same place. I have four of the digital calipers from there and they seem to be very accurate. Actually, only one of them is a real caliper. The others are the digital scales for the Rat. Very handy addition there, too.

Al, the one that the Craftsman Gallery sells does fractional inches, decimal inches and millimeters.

Tony Falotico

12-17-2006, 5:58 PM

You're right, that's what I've been looking for,
THANKS, I'll be ordering a set shortly ------

Tony

Charles McKinley

12-17-2006, 9:52 PM

Hi Tony,

My latest Rockler email has a set for $30. if you have a rockler near you.

Dave Richards

12-18-2006, 7:04 AM

AL, I just read your edit. Chipsfly is The Craftsman Gallery. Excellent quality digital caliper. You saw several of them when you were in my shop. Two of them were on the Rat. Come to think of it, you could add in the WoodRat while you're ordering. You'd be all set. :D