Recommendations for some decent calipers...

I have my expensive measuring tools out in my toolbox in my shed but for in the house I just use a cheap pair.I paid $40 for those about 15 years ago. And they’re digital also.Yeah your good ones are going to be at least $150.At least that’s What they was the last time I checked.I wouldn’t use the cheap stuff at work and always bought the best.Back when I started machining Mitutoyo Were junk But in the mid 90s they started making pretty good measuring tools and then I started buying some of them. But at first it was only Brown&Sharpe and then Starret. The cheaper ones are usually OK for occasional use and I actually seen some of the young apprentices use some of them every day with no problems.I actually don’t know which ones are better as far as the cheaper ones though.

 I just went on Amazon and seen they had some Fowler Calipers for $40. I can remember a few people at work that used that brand and they weren’t the best but they were pretty good. I think you would be OK with that brand.

I dont have a specific one to recommend, but if your budget is cheap I recommend getting a manual dial caliper. The digital ones are ok but often dont return to zero and at some point will fail.

I regularly watch a machinist channel on YouTube. MrPete222. He tested a bunch of calipers, cheap and expensive, dial and digital. They all measured correctly. I have some cheap ones. They work just fine..

I'm a machinist and always purchased premium tools. When my calipers in the garage pooped out I replaced them with a set from Harbor Frieght. They had 2 sets, one for $18 and one for $19. Both were 6" digital calipers. I bought the 18 dollar set because they have longer jaws. Not near as smooth as a set of Mitutoyos but perform very well. Auto off, inch or metric can zero anywhere you want. All in all there pretty good and at 18 bucks I was happy.

I bought these and they work well 

I'm a machinist and always purchased premium tools. When my calipers in the garage pooped out I replaced them with a set from Harbor Frieght. They had 2 sets, one for $18 and one for $19. Both were 6" digital calipers. I bought the 18 dollar set because they have longer jaws. Not near as smooth as a set of Mitutoyos but perform very well. Auto off, inch or metric can zero anywhere you want. All in all there pretty good and at 18 bucks I was happy.

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I have the same one , good enough for government work lol. Just don't press on the case to hard or you will turn it on and end up with a dead battery the next time you use it . (Pittsburg) tool .

I’ve been using the same digital harbor freight ones I bought over 8 years ago on sale. I’m not a machinist just do stuff in the garage and they have been great. I do take out the battery each time.

Tony P

I have this 4" model and really like them good quality, $39.95 and free shipping, shipped from California

https://www.ebay.com/itm/iGaging-Electronic-Caliper-ABSOLUTE-ORIGIN-4-Digital-IP54-Extreme-Accuracy/371064941392?epid=2255779178&hash=item566531ab50:g:i2UAAOxyedRTeEue

here is a larger list of this brand

https://www.ebay.com/str/anytimetools2?_bkw=digital+calipers

I also have a 6" Anytime tool dial caliper, again, I am pleased with them and a 0-1" mic to 0.0001"

here is anytime list of machinist's tools

https://www.ebay.com/str/anytimetools2?_pgn=3

I've used a Frankford Arsenal caliper for many years-not expensive and works great.

After seeing all these recommendations, you are going to be rolling the dice with some of these newer offbrand calipers. That’s why I was saying Fowler Has been around for a long time and I would trust that brand for cheaper calipers before I would some of these off brand calipers. 32 years of machining taught me what tools to buy and what not to buy. We had a bunch of machine tool catalogs at work and you never seen those off brand tools in those catalogs.

I dont have a specific one to recommend, but if your budget is cheap I recommend getting a manual dial caliper. The digital ones are ok but often dont return to zero and at some point will fail.

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What normally causes that is oil or dirt on the calipers. And it is hard to keep the calipers clean with constant use. I have seen that happen what you mentioned but have never had it happen to me though.Yes dial calipers are more consistent but I think he wants something that will measure in metric and English. Anything that is electronic can Be problematic eventually.

I have two inexpensive sets. One is the SS model, digital, for measuring parts inside of an air rifle(regulator, spacers, tube I.D. Dimensions, etc.) 

Then I also have a digital all plastic version, for measuring parts on the outside of the gun, so the calipers don’t scratch the anodizing of metal parts or accidentally gouge a wood stock. Like anytime I have to look for scope covers and I measure the objective and ocular end of a scope for sure metal calipers would’ve scratched the scope. 

I also use the plastic set for finding o ring sizes, o ring groove depths, and around any brass parts.

I dont have a specific one to recommend, but if your budget is cheap I recommend getting a manual dial caliper. The digital ones are ok but often dont return to zero and at some point will fail.

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This I had digital calipers. They failed, went to dial calipers. Just as precise, easy to re-zero, no batteries required. I use mine at work many times during a given week.

I prefer dial calipers myself. And that’s all I ever used for 25 years and even after I got a Digital Caliper I still used my dial calipers the most.No caliper is for real accurate measurements anyway. Plus or minus .005 .Although if they are brand new and are made good you can trust them for a little tighter tolerances than that.And even though it’s easy to convert metric to English, it is a pain in the butt to do all the time.Also if you do you end up getting dial calipers, make sure you keep the Rail with the teeth on it clean. I used to blow mine out with an air nozzle at least once a week.

Just one more reply and I’ll shut up. I just didn’t want to see you get something that would break before too long. But honestly Fowler Is the only brand that I noticed on Amazon that were well known In that price range that you mentioned. Besides machining for many years I also ran the tool crib at one of the companies I worked for and had to order supplies from these industrial stores and never seen those offbrand tools in their catalogs . I’m not saying they won’t work but Personally I wouldn’t trust them for longevity.

I had Starrett 6" dial calipers and 0-1" mic in my workplace tool box for 20 years and the tool crib had Fowler for 6" and under for micrometers

the Anytime brand is Fowler quality and looks like Fowler in it's mics line . I have purchase several cheapie calipers since I retired and started PCP habit, they are all CHEAPIE quality. The calipers that I linked you too are very good quality for the price. I still have my $20 cheapies only because I am a hoarder and have trouble throwing things away. 

I steer people away from Amazon when ever possible and do NOT support them. The Fowler line recommend by Ripper are good quality for our use and the Anytime tools are equal in quality. Support the seller you like and you will be happy with either of the above. Stay away from the bottom shelf cheapies in the big box stores. Unless you like CHEAP

compare cheap, mid price , high price

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdZYo5OtNPo