BOLTR: $25 Digital Indicator | Aliexpress Chinesium Emporium

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[@AndreasSpiess]

Good review! Just a small addition: On Aliexpress, if goods were dead on arrival or did not meet the specs I never had to return them. I just opened a dispute and added a description, a picture or a video and selected that I do not want to send it back. I always got my money back. Got around 1500 orders over the years.

[@spehropefhany]

Got ripped off on some chips, and only ended up with 50% refund. IME if it's over $50 or $100 they get a lot more fussy.

[@luigiaqua2263]

Andrew, you are a Chinesium addict? Cheaper if you go there, then sit on Chinesium mountain.

[@timtaylor-medhurst9665]

Was given a Starret Automatic Centre Punch for my bday, she's a true beauty! Thanks for the review AvE, all be quite some time ago!! Fair to say my brother is back on the Christmas card list!!

[@jonjohnson102]

Which one?

[@p4_nz]

When I hear a man talking about cosine error I know I'm on the right channel.

[@jokker03]

Chineseum gauge blocks? I wouldn't be confident using them to hold paper down...

[@PurchenZuPoden]

I have exactly the same indicator. I use it for leveling the heatbed of my 3D Printer. It works well for this kind of purpose.

[@retroanium]

Love seeing new videos in my notifications, another great one, AvE!

[@Zeigren]

When I learned about the Vernier scale in school the teacher just said "I have to go over this, I hate it, you'll hate it, and God have mercy on you if ever have to actually use it"

[@Trident_Euclid]

That doesn't sound so good

[@ALovelyBunchOfDragonballz]

I live that scale on my micrometers. Everyone else in the shop has trouble reading them, but they're a quick way to get a reading below .001" However, they need to be crisp. I've seen some...budget oriented...tools were the lines for the scale looked like crayon.

[@rsitch1]

Thank you for the lichen. Being 71 and I’m about to reach in my hip National Bank. Low and behold I come to you video. I have been looking for someone who could explain to me what to look for. Even though I’m carpentry one must take pride in whatever they do. Or why bother. I enjoy your videos and you’re showmanship is over the top... Bob

[@BrewMonkey1]

Thank you for using Starrett. My great grandfather made his career there. I grew up down the street from the factory in Athol, MA. Kinda cool seeing them represented by one of my favorite KZbinrs

[@ChuckPuffe]

Timing is spot on, I was looking at one of these to make a crappy guitar neck relief gauge! Thanks Uncle Bumblefack!

[@Michael_Mears]

"Cheese 'n rice. I quit better places than this!" Yes, indeed.

[@gregnapert9231]

My guess is the errors you are getting from both the starret and the chineesium gauge is due to some flex in the support arm.

[@BoringMinecraftDude]

And honestly anybody’s who’s only got $30 to spend on an indicator most likely isn’t gonna be terribly worried about 1.5-2 thou.

[@jaykop2611]

Greg Napert That's exactly what I was thinking!

[@andrewyork3869]

@@BoringMinecraftDude yeah but is did better then expected.

[@adityanurardy6220]

Ya i thougt it too, like the chinese dial shaft not colinear with micrometer shaft

[@shurdi3]

Man....Imperial micrometers Gorier than a snuff film from the south

[@Devantejah]

At least you got the option to switch!

[@Devantejah]

Well, the more heated it gets, the longer.

[@mclam5623]

O. boys still measuring in Imperial, I pity you all. We are in the 21e century. Your satisfy one thou, we one hundredth, and still you are 2.54 les accurat

[@JaakkoF]

Yup, metric is always 25.4 times better than imperial ;)

[@AfterDark33]

Jaakko Fagerlund Except in temperature! Fahrenheit is always 1.8x more accurate than Celsius

[@Curtis-Randall]

I subscribed to your channel with in the first 45 seconds. I love the blatant honesty! Great video by the way

[@matthiastoussaint]

I bought one of these (with 1 inch travel) for something like 12€ and converted it into a dial stop for my lathe (with a 3D printed holder with magnets). I'm quite happy with that. The only thing that pisses me off is the auto off "feature" which tends to switch off the thing exactly in the moment I need it (zeroing my calibration). It was just a proof of concept for me and I probably will replace this at some point with a used Mitutoyo (which doesn't power off or loose calibration)

[@davidwernsing8795]

I wondered why the batteries in my cheap calipers were always dead.

[@Steve211Ucdhihifvshi]

David Wernsing just keep the plastic circle or flip the battery when not in use.

[@ozzody]

Hi, what is the battery used for this equipment?

[@spikeydapikey1483]

Seems good enough for the girls I go out with. Cheers Uncle Bumble!

[@mon3333]

^ How is this comment 6 days old?? Answer me that.

[@halfshark101]

Christian Eckelkamp $2 patrons get access to new videos first then a week later go public

[@ManofCulture]

Christian Eckelkamp time machine

[@spikeydapikey1483]

I'm a wizard!!

[@mon3333]

That you are sir.

[@Fifury161]

I get such a buzz from watching these videos - I can even follow the speak! Keep up the good work!

[@lesto12321]

beatiful video, super nice review, especially the warning about the burnout and the temperature compensation.

[@Hyperjer]

Fun fluke trick. On most fluke meters you can switch to ohms and use the positive probe to check the ameter fuses. Top part of the connector is the fuse the bottom is the wrong probe noise connection

[@noahagnew6517]

6:48 that's why you solder a c battery to the input and hot glue it to the back of the calipers. I have a nice set of calipers for myself but the cheap ones are good to lend out.

[@raymondmucklow3793]

AvE makes the day, now all I need is a little bigclive and day is complete.

[@Strife40k]

Wish I could up vote this more. I'll never use the device. But, my God the level of detail going into the analysis... It will save some bastard some time I hope! Nice one ave!

[@d-railed3917]

Toilet bowl warrior here, thanks for the Vijeo.

[@ALAPINO]

"Buy the best tool you can afford." As a middle-aged, mid-life-crisis-er, trying to turn a life of hobby mechanical ability into a profession as an apprentice in a high-end tool room... I think I'll be looking at inexpensive alternatives for the short term future. Thanks, Uncle Humblef*ck! I can always count on you to tell me what's what!

[@Garganzuul]

I like the digi-caliper I got from a Chinese outfit called Shahe. Paid a little more for it than the cheapest on the market, but it agrees with gauge blocks. Getting one of their mics next.

[@adampetten1009]

I have this one, seems to be ok, I just got it for working on my snowmobile and dirt bike, no high precision machining.

[@messageobliquespe100]

Ahhh. That’s why I remove the battery when I’m not using - learnt that as the thing wouldn’t work between uses. 👍

[@OmegaGamingNetwork]

Hey thanks for this! I was looking for one of these I could throw in the box for unimportant stuff. Tough to beat sub $30 and it be reasonably accurate. I'll just keep the battery popped out.

[@sunppaa]

Mag base/arm is deflecting a bit when the indicator tip is pushed in?

[@attackhelicopter2473]

That Wilhelm joke was one of the smartest jokes I’ve heard in awhile

[@vinnykapschock1842]

Two meters; one for checkin’ voltage one for double checkin’ ;)

[@Kageitenshi]

Luckily found a used Mitutoyo digimatic absolute indicator with 2-5 micron resolution for a sixth of the original price a few months back and haven't looked back. If only I could find their calipers as well and finally build an adjustable stand for these.

[@aserta]

IF battery life is an issue, just add on of those ultra thin battery separator contacts and when you use it, turn it on, when you don't turn it off. ALTERNATIVELY, make one out of copper tape and paper. Seriously, it's baby level easy. As for reading, i think there might be schmoo in the reader head. Always check them, even on brand ones i found particulates. They are supposed to be so clean you can lick em off.

[@nadronnocojr]

The words, the phrases you have on tap is insane , I find myself laughing out loud thank you, Rodney dangerfireld would like you

[@ryanmg92]

It's always worth checking amazon just because of the returns, if it's say an extra 10 to 20 percent to buy on amazon, it's worth it just to ensure if it's fucked or doesn't turn up, they just send you a new one, had a couple of things when broken that they just send a replacement next day, don't even ask for the old one back

[@MattsAwesomeStuff]

When you said you'd misplaced your gauge blocks and then started unwrapping that gold paper, I thought it was a stick of butter. They say the strongest fear is that of the unknown, but what terrified me were all the thoughts of what you were about to do with it.

[@thomasdickson35]

It's apparently cold enough he could've stuck it in the clapped-out Bridgeport, milled it out for the vidgeo and then had some hot fare. If it'd been peanut butter however...

[@JuliansRandomProject]

"Fruke to the rescue!" - Run what you brung boys!

[@teemumyyrylainen9247]

there are some vendors that have agreed on partial repay even if you dont return the "broken" item , you will need to photo and descripe the issues with it tho.. Only lessens the sting of bad deal, but better than the option to pay more than the thing is worth of postal office for returning or not getting anything .

[@TheBreaded]

Speaking of lathe DRO, I'm working on using a 6" and 12" cheap digital caliper on my 7x14 lathe for a poor mans DRO! They're a little crusty, but when mounted to a lathe they're not t-bag.

[@ThePinkoe]

My friend is of the oriental variety and he always gets the good stuff for free

[@briant2828]

Would be a cool and cheap substitute for a sensor on a plasma cutter for the touch and go.

[@stanburton6224]

I noted that the PCB that the quadrature array was printed on was standard FR-4. Or its chinesium equivalant. That stuff moves like a snake. A high quality design would use a ceramic PCB material or even borosilicate "gorilla" glass for its substrate.

[@nslouma]

Would be interesting to see what it is spitting out on the serial port

[@jimzivny1554]

Two lessons I knew already, 1; don't buy cheap crap 2; always use lube so your shaft doesn't squeak!

[@henrylamprell9673]

I've always used the term safety squint..I'm Gunna have to get the shirt in the description

[@ASKARIwest]

'nice beaver, nice box'- it's nice doos.

[@holdendp]

Love this review, very thorough. Did you ever try the RS-232 port?

[@demofilm]

My wife loves the small metal thingys in her socks

[@victorreppeto7050]

USPS or UPS (i forget which site I checked) has a $14 flat rate box for small items up to 4 lbs to china from the US.

[@DIYTAO]

Hi.. I just wondered if the problem is at Inch/thou display. If you can, check it again in metric mode. It may well be that the Indicator is well calibrated with metric/mm and makes conversion error at the µController?

[@zmonchamp]

I just wanted to post that my fancy Princess Otter ProPoint digital is thick like the Starett and the Mitu, was a bit of a cheese off when it wouldn't fit a cheap bore gauge... But it's backlit and it's a heavy thing.

[@johno9507]

Anyone that uses such salty language deserves to be an honorary Australian! You'd fit right in! 😊

[@warw]

When I receive broken parts from aliexpress the sellers are usually pretty good about not having me return the part. They typically just ask for a video of it not working or pictures of the damage and then they refund the money back to my account. Some suppliers are pretty cool but you might not be as lucky.

[@neilhuband995]

I have a pair of those exact mitutoyo calipers. They're coolant proof as well. Fucking good ones, they are. Shittier calipers will crap out when you get coolant on them, which is quite annoying when you're a CNC machinist and your hands are regularly covered in the shit.

[@hendrix923]

I got a $29 digi caliper (iGAGE EZ CAL AMAZON) and its held up, use it all the time for home tool making with steel. Battery cover is trash but for the price its legit.

[@kwakamonkey]

digital calipers were called verinears when i worked in engine recons .

[@Garganzuul]

'Vernier' means 'vernier scale', which about is the same thing you have on a slide rule. Some people call all calipers "Mauser".

[@colinedward3147]

Looks just like a Snap on doofer I got of the fool truck a while and I’m still paying ten English pounds a week for haha.

[@msdesignru]

Got one too

[@x9x9x9x9x9]

These cheap ones are good enough for me and 3d printing.

[@ArcAiN6]

Could it be that the 0.0025 discrepancy showing at time-code 11:30 could possibly be due to cosine error? Never-mind, looks like you addressed it :D

[@Beltfed45]

I can hear Oxtool's head expload!

[@mkeyser]

The cheapo digital stuff also forgets where you set it when you power off. The good stuff will display where it was set even if you turn it off then back on again. I don't mind battery drain, but if it goes back to zero when it shuts itself off, that becomes a real annoyance.

[@andrewyork3869]

Curious if it could be made using a strain gauges over capacitors....

[@amundsen575]

the starrett dial indicator stem is .375" and the import is probably 8mm

[@erik61801]

how about the analog one at HF thats everywhere silkscreened with other names..i had to sand something ever so slightly to get it to "zero out" it seems nice....

[@peetiegonzalez1845]

It looks like your indicator isn't lined up dead true with the micrometer you're pushing it with. cos-1(397.5/400) would suggest you're 6.4 dungarees off. Assuming the indicator is accurate. *edit* I should have watched to the end. I see you addressed the cos error!

[@johnhardin8530]

On aliexpress, They have just given me the money and did not have me ship it back. I think that I have seen Thomas Sanladerer give an affiliate link for aliexpress.

[@shobboxx]

Zeroing out the michrometer on the wrong line, you did it consistently so your results were fine. Just throwing it in here for future reference.

[@DrakkarCalethiel]

What the fuck KZbin gave me an ad of a "tool review" channel. You can imagine how "honest and non biased" they are...

[@TABRO284]

Uncle bumblefart SPI make (rebrand) one thats identical.

[@Guust_Flater]

@11:37 frank howarth video ending!? 😁😁👍

[@gragreiser1501]

Glad I didn't need to mention the cosine error...

[@syrophenikan]

First View! As AvE says, "TIME!"

[@raddypex]

In reference to the traces at 2:08. Could it be said the number of traces here per inch correlate to the accuracy of the device in which a greater number would indicate a higher degree of accuracy?

[@BDR920]

I added an external fuse holder on my meter that takes a flat blade automotive fuse

[@phogelbice]

The arm on the magnetic stand will flex some I think thats why you are a couple of thousands short.

[@jeremyjedmichaelhall2890]

actually this device compares resistance values vcc along the operational travel between 'hardcoded intervals' which serve two masters as they beguile you into a comfortable assertion of ye old coinpurse as salvageable. we all know that its ajoke but yeah...metroloscopy ...right?

[@ftt2757]

You can get link for aliexpress and get 5-8%

[@TitoTheGeek]

Yeah, on some products it's even higher : portals.aliexpress.com

[@Norweeg]

I love his digs at people like Wranglerstar. Never fails to make me laugh. I have reported Wranglerstar's pinned comments with his Amazon referrals as unwanted spam.

[@TurkishLoserInc]

Hey AvE, I buy chinsy crap from Ali all the time, the few times that I've had a dud, I've documented the hell out of the failure, and typically get all my money back on it. I'd say the failure rate is 1/10 or so, and it is fairly hassle free. It probably helps that I've spent over 300-400 dollars through Ali and leave reviews on all the crap I buy, also spent 2000 on Alibaba for some ESP-12E's.

[@darek4488]

Make a mechanical switch for the battery and you're golden.

[@PBMS123]

Most of them are really good, if you message them. Most of them won't ask for it back unless it real expensive, and will just send a new one, or give you a refund. Just gotta be firm. Gotten plenty of replacements and refunds through aliexpress.

[@barharborbasher249]

🍻 from DOWNEAST Maine AvE🥇

[@jeremywhitmore8118]

BarharborBasher Washington county here.

[@barharborbasher249]

Jeremy Whitmore I knew a Jeremy Whitmore from Sumner

[@jeremywhitmore8118]

BarharborBasher I'm the only one I know of that went there.

[@barharborbasher249]

Jeremy Whitmore check out my channel lol 🍺 JScott

[@willhyland4361]

Kittery me

[@peetiegonzalez1845]

Alright if your actuator and your measuring device are off by a few degrees, you're gonna get a COS error. Your measuror will move less than your input actuator. but what if you reversed roles? what if the measuring device pushed your actuator and it measured its travel. would it be more or less? -- this is a good question, you should think about it.

[@PeregrineBF]

I store the batteries for my cheap calipers outside the caliper, but in the case. It even has little slots in the foam for batteries! Rat Shack are out of business but the same crappy Chinese calipers are made and re-branded by plenty of other companies. If I need an accurate reading I use the vernier calipers, digital adds too many sources of error.

[@matthewcaspers5463]

The mitutoyo absolute digimatic do not have brown out either.

[@petepeeff5807]

my answer to battery life on the cheap chinesum measuring crap..... Graft a cheep chinesum AAA battery holder on the back with a little silicone. no more over priced coin cells to buy at Wally world and even with the parisitic drain a AAA lasts years.

[@VictorGarciaR]

Or remove the battery when you finish for that day and leave the shop. Next time pop the battery in and off you go

[@vgamesx1]

Someone on another video (maybe the caliper video from ave?) said they added an on/off switch to theirs, I like that idea the best.

[@Steve211Ucdhihifvshi]

Just flip the battery after use,

[@63256325N]

Get what ya pay for, buy dirt, get dirt....thanks for the video.

[@bigpapi3636]

Digital bites, analog rules!

[@edwardharoldbutler6288]

Could you use it on a CNC machine with the data port?

[@Mnemica15]

As per battery life, correct me if im wrong but... LR44 battery typically 150mAh. Thats drawing 21.6 uA so 0.0216mA, giving us a battery life of 289 days? That sounds great to me for the price, we can seem to get that exact one shipped to the UK for £10

[@nathanwest2304]

I did manage to get some discounts off aliexpress, also a free impact gun for false advertisement it's really good for the money I didn't pay :D

[@toasty4000000]

I had to make a return (to an amazon seller, not specifically amazon though) one time, because the thing (whatever it was) was DOA. And they told me they could refund it if I shipped it back. And I -bluntly- politely told them that I wouldn't have to ship the thing back if they didn't send me a broken -POS- product, and that -they were going to pay for shipping or else- I expected a refund either way, and they just refunded me. They told me to throw the -junk- item away because they honestly don't care if it's broken or not. If they want to do some -BS- legally binding contract that makes the buyer pay shipping if they get the thing back and it isn't actually broken, fine, but if they send me -shite- broken stuff, it shouldn't be on me. And that whole thing, again, they don't care if it is broken or not. If you shipped it back they would just throw it away, or sell it to another -sucker- customer.

[@oscar.gonzalez]

The box is missing the chineseium insect.

[@billnickless]

“You need two meters, one for voltage and one for current.” Have you seen the Mooshimeter? It has no display. Instead you use a smartphone app via Bluetooth. It has two channels, so you can simultaneously measure voltage and current. Even comes with three probe leads for that very purpose.

[@billnickless]

Should say I have nothing to do with the maker except I bought one.

[@WeighedWilson]

Does the app need undue permissions? seems like they always want your contacts or location without reasonable need.

[@billnickless]

On my LG G3 phone, the mooshimeter app has these permissions: Read SD card, modify/delete contents of SD card, pair with bluetooth devices, access bluetooth settings, full network access, and control vibration.

[@robert5]

Your videos are always f'king entertaining. This drop gauge thing is junk. I do like the chinese-eum digital calipers though, they are usually accurate within .001 and if I accidentally drop the sumbitch, oh well, pull out another one and keep makin chips. I had a manual caliper chinese-eum and the sumbitch lasted 15 yrs, just finally crapped out and that was only due to chip incursion so it started skipping. Took er apart to fix and that went south. So bought a bunch of quality used ones, rebuilt them and now got to many. Oh well, they'l make good toys for the grand kids some day. ~

[@perculti]

So would these guesstimeters work on motor couplers?

[@SixSpeed5]

Funny I didn't see AvE on KZbin Rewind this year! I guess MAYBE he could have disqualified himself. :D

[@WAVETUBE84]

When are you gonna BOLTR the bicycle "Switch-Kit"? It looks like a badass product! Amticipatig yer scull-fkg that gig. Hey, it might be kool-skoochage!

[@bobbob8229]

your ind.holder bends more as spring pressure increases. moderndaytinker