FINALLY! Calipers made for woodworkers!

[@jtlong8383]

Metric woodworkers are not just overseas; we are here in the US too. Doing math in tens is so much easier than dealing with fractions. I get it if you are already invested in lots of imperial tools, but if you are in the US you can do metric, and I’m attempting to set up my shop that way. For instance, when I bought my SawStop, I ordered a metric tape to replace the imperial that came with the saw. Clinging to the imperial system is doing the US wood-working community a disservice, since the US is the only industrialized country in the world still on the system, and most all large US manufacturers went metric years ago. By the way, I LOVE your channel and have learned so much from you! You should think about converting some tools to metric as you replace them! ;)

[@MnktoDave]

I bought a moderately priced 12" digital caliper a few years ago, to use on one specific job. I thought I'd only use it somewhat occasionally after that, but ever since I've had it, I've found tons of uses for it, and it's been a really handy tool to have around the shop! I'm so glad I made that purchase, and highly recommend getting one. It was money well spent, and I've never regretted it.

[@andrewbrimmer1797]

Thanks James once again you come to our aid through your videos

[@VitalityMassage]

Ok! I just bought the dial style. Thanks.

[@markbryan9989]

Being the son of a former machinist and having spent some time in the metal working industry myself, I am comfortable with decimals. But it is still easier to work in fractions most of the time. I had never heard of a caliper that rounds down. That is a great idea! I may get one. Thanks James!

[@animalgriff3149]

I’ve been checking out calipers for a week or so, and you just demonstrated everything I wanted to see. You put a lot of thought into these videos and it shows. I’m sold on the $30 one. Unless you’re calibrating equipment or something lifesaving, I couldn’t justify $100.

[@donaldguilbault7433]

I grew up when in the 70's the US decided to try metric and it went over like a lead balloon. Now we suffer with both systems and it costs me double because of router bits, drill bits, wrenches etc. being in both scales. I have learned to love the metric system because of building cabinets using it. The metric cabinet is so simple and standardized. I use the Festool LR32 system frequently which makes errors much less likely because it registers on both ends of the panel so no matter which end is up or down it's the same if you build using the 32mm standard. I like that it is a little more accurate without using 32nd's in fractional scales which always confuse me. Try dividing cabinets parts into several equal sections using fractions...mind numbing even with a construction calc. My Saw Stop has metric scales so I love to use it. I wish we had gone thru the conversion. The excuse was no one understood it and it would cost too much to retool our factories etc.

[@charlemagnesclock]

I like working in both systems, and both have their issues. For fans of metric who claim it's easier, take a look at thread and tap drill specifications for metric. While yes, our use of fractions, lettered, and numbered drills is a bit confusing to someone who is new to it, it is a whole lot easier than the fractional metric sizes. The only thing that comes close in our system is the difference in wire gauges for ferrous metals versus those for electrical wire. Most of my projects combine woodworking and metalworking technologies, so working with them all is necessary. Frankly, I don't see any significant usability difference at all. If there was one area where I think American standards could use a total rework, it would be with pipe threads, which are based on the 19th century standard wall thicknesses of galvanized pipe. Also, the tapered threads are nice until you need a nut for a piece of pipe with an extended set of threads - then it's good luck finding something that works. Finally, for those who claim we didn't change - we did, just selectively as determined by consumer behavior.

[@asbrand]

Cracks me up listening to a UK woodworker video, where they talk about a 4x8 sheet of 20mm plywood. ;-)

[@mauricecasey5556]

That's true but we would always say 8x4 and 18 mm instead of 3/4 inch and 2x4s are 4x2s. and as for rabbits - lets not go there!

[@stephenribchester2185]

We say 8x4 because that is the dimension it is sold in. Nobody is going to say "can I have a 2440mmx1220mm sheet of ply". Plaster board is sold as 2400mmx1200m but you ask for 8x4. But 4x3 plasterboard is 4"x 900mm.

[@mauricecasey5556]

@@stephenribchester2185 True but it's invoiced in metric and made to the mm.

[@HiltonRalphs]

@@stephenribchester2185 The plonkers here in South Africa don't know it as 8x4. Or even what a right handed door means. Or even that an Allen key is a brand name.

[@dibblethwaite]

Yup. We're polymensurate over here.

[@timberrecycling]

brother, you're blowing my mind with that fractional dial caliper! you deserve an extra-cold cold one for turning me on to that tool

[@hkbondar]

Excellent piece of content, Jim. I just bought your favorite digital caliper on the strength of your review -- the ability to resolve only down to 1/32" and the ability for the device to "remember" where it was when you turn it off and on again. Both of those features will save me a lot of time. Thank you for all you've done to educate the woodworking community throughout the years -- you are a treasure.

[@richardsolomon5375]

I absolutely love my mitutoyo absolute digital calipers! They are accurate and repeatable.

[@consig1iere294]

Yea but I would have to sell a kidney to afford one of those.

[@Robyrob7771]

I bought my Mitutoyo at work (payroll deduction). How does the saying go? I owe my soul to the...

[@allenwc]

Well, I did not know that fractional calipers existed. I have been using my dial caliper since I bought it in school in 1980. One makes assumptions and learns to deal. Now I have purchased a brand new fractional dial caliper thanks to you. I can’t wait to stop doing thousandths to fractions in my head!

[@pattyofurniture100]

One reason I'm glad I worked as a QC inspector in a machine shop before I got into woodworking. I love using my calipers to get the most precise dimensions possible

[@TrevorDennis100]

LOL! I came to wood working only three years ago after 40 years as a toolmaker, and it still frustrates me that I can't make wood comply to the same tolerances I was used to with metal. And when you do get it close, a few weeks later it has changed all by itself! Rob Cosman has great tips for minimising the effects of wood expanding and contracting according to moisture content.

[@ofar4452]

One add to your testing of the calipers for accuracy at the end of your video. I am an engineer and one thing that is just as important in gauges is not just accuracy, but repeatability. Some more expensive gauges have tolerances for repeatability so that if you measure the same dimension repeatedly the measurement is consistently accurate. In woodworking it is not as overly critical, but is important in quality control situations in industry. We measure both accuracy and repeatability using a statistical technique called a Gauge R & R. Anyway love your videos!!!

[@Richard-wk9le]

As in GO, No Go gauging ?

[@jscotcha]

I was a machinist for a while and our CNC's worked in decimal inches to the nearest 1/10000 of an inch. Our end mills and drills were in inches and it didn't take long to learn that .0156 was 1/64th or that .3125 was 5/16th etc. when we used our calipers that read in decimal inches.

[@arianadiego3709]

^^^exactly... 😁👍

[@Bolinbowls]

its ok for us engineers i was a capstan/ctr lathe turner for 45 years also CNC so working in metric and inches and converting is no problem it comes automatically. in England its just came naturally when the conversion turned from inches to metric so now i am retired and now a wood turner i still use a lot of my metal work measuring tools verniers and the like.

[@BedsitBob]

1/64th is .015625 to be precise.

[@quickdiy8127]

@@BedsitBob haas vertical Mills only do 4 decimals. If you don't sometimes you get an error saying out of precision

[@BB-wj8dv]

I love all my machinist gadgets in my woodworking shop. Being ultra precise prevents a lot of errors that would otherwise slow down production. Granted my shop centers around a CNC machine. The right combination of understanding wood movement and pre-planning your projects down to .005" has made my shop life so much simpler.

[@HDEFMAN1]

I had no idea that there were so many different versions of calipers. As an amateur woodworker these need to be investigated. Thanks James

[@timthomas9105]

I'm glad you did this video. I bought a new one from Harbor Freight and Amazon after my old one failed. One had moisture inside of it and the other one the scale kept jumping around. I waited 2 months and watched a bunch of videos before I settled on an iGaging 6 inch 0 reference, Bluetooth model. I also purchased a set of Precision Machinists bars around the same time for overhauling my equipment. The iGaging caliper was accurate for every bar I tested. Since then my ARCH caliper went down as well. I used it to set router and saw height. So, I set the caliper to the height I want. Use the square ruler and set it to the caliper. Now I have a stable, flat surface to place above blade and bit to stop against. Even with the Incra T-ruler there's a comparison from one to the other. Using the square I just bring them up to meet.

[@havsum206]

As a newer woodworker, your channel is always a first-stop, great-resource, well-crafted, and entertaining channel. Thank you!!

[@stevehood10]

In Aus, when we changed from imperial to metric, tape measures with both scales were (and still are) common, one guy came back from site with a markup with dimensions like one thousand two hundred and seven sixteenths because “it just worked” still makes me smile 45 years later. I would imagine that most American who measure stuff are able to use metric as needed? I avoid the battery type tools as they’re always flat when I need them, I’ll now start taking the battery out. Thanks for the tip.

[@TrevorDennis100]

I have three digital calipers in my toolbox including a Mitutoyo from the late 1980s. I replace batteries maybe once every two or three years, but they all use the same battery so it is no problem keeping a spare in the toolbox. I use the cheaper (Fuller I think) for marking out metal. Maybe once a year I sharpen the tip with a diamond stone (from the back of course).

[@nfix09]

(michigan) most schooling focuses on using metric, give any random person here either kind of tape measure, or ruler, and the biggest issue that would come up is them not knowing what the fractions smaller than 1/4 on the imperial scale are.

[@JohnCran]

The change to metric the year after I started high school so I started using Imperial and ended using metric. I remember there was a period (my head has 15yrs embedded) where all rulers had to be metric only and then you could get both. I was on Bunnings the other day looking for a steel rule with both but my local didn't have one.

[@davidwood3751]

Im the opposite john. I keep getting frustrated that thevtapes i want to get are always both. My job means i have to be able to read from different sides depending on where im working, so i need a metric only and the buggers charge more for them. Fpr steel rules, try art supply stores like eckersleys. They will probably carry a wider range as they do tech drawing supplys

[@johnmanning4577]

@@davidwood3751 ...or Fast Cap. They have a wide range of tapes with right-to-left/left-to-right metric tapes....

[@greghetzler9266]

Great review. Agree with your choice #1 and #2 selection. Will need to buy choice two #2. Fractions are great! All are based on binary system, only two numbers, 1 & 2, no need to leave my toes out to count.

[@randallrun]

I'm blown away by your incredibly clear, concise and easy to understand talks. I subscribe to a number of very intelligent teachers on KZbin, but I think you may be the best. At least in woodworking. Thanks for doing it.

[@williba24]

From the UK. I was brought up on Imperial but the UK changed to decimal. When working in wood I build to what ever the size is quoted or measured, that is if the job needs a 4ft piece or a 1200mm board then it is cut to that size. It is amazing how quick the brain responds to what is needed. We also always quote wood the correct way ie 4X2 3x2 etc. not the other wrong way round.

[@bigbass421]

GREAT video! I'm a Luthier and guitar repairman, I also repair upright basses. My digital caliper works fine, but it does that frustrating 128ths. thing, and I really liked that fastener cal caliper with the 64th.s feature you demonstrated. I just ordered one! I watch your vids, and am now subscribed.

[@trunyan5080]

I have one of the digital calipers and since I'm an engineer and a former math teacher I have little trouble converting decimals to fractions. But your comments on determining what the 16th fraction is nearest to a reading of a 128th fraction is one I've experienced many times. Yes I can do the calculations but it takes time from what I'm doing. Thank you for the tip on the Fastener-cal caliper, I just ordered one.

[@wordwyrd]

As a toolmaker, I always get a chuckle when people talk about calipers being precise. 😎

[@dscrive]

you chuckle until a woodworker borrows your tiny c clamp without asking ;) fortunately precision is relative, it'd be a little ridiculous to lay out a rafter with a sine bar on a surface plate :P

[@turningpoint6643]

@@dscrive Rafters yes I'd agree, but I've used my sine bar and gauge blocks to set up and rotary plane walnut on my mill for my 1/6th scale civil war cannon project where a match between the wood and metal angle cuts had to be exact. Milling wood with a power feed and dro is almost like cheating. :-)

[@dscrive]

@@turningpoint6643 haha, I wonder how the "CNC isn't real woodworking" crowd would react to that. out of curiosity, is that cannon functional? some of the fancier planers have digital readouts, and there are power feed devices for use in the wood shop. I haven't used either, but they seem pretty sweet.

[@mikecurtin9831]

Once you get used to machinist tolerances, it changes your world with regard to what's possible. And, as William Ng shows, it's not that hard and often worthwhile to machine wood that accurately.

[@David-hm9ic]

The need for varying degrees of precision is relative. A framing carpenter has no need to measure more precisely than 1/16”. When I measure a copper jacketed .44 caliber bullet it measures .430” whether I’m using a cheap digital caliper or a Starrett micrometer. It’s hard to cut wood as precisely as we have the ability to measure it so any further precision is not beneficial. Calipers are quite precise for woodworking even if they aren’t accurate enough for toolmaking. I build both RC airplanes and bolt action rifles with .001” measuring tools and have been quite successful at both pursuits. Without a tool room lathe measuring to tenths isn’t that useful.

[@joeframer9642]

Nice find for the fractional calipers....

[@bills9963]

Because I am both a hobby woodworker and a hobby jeweler I have calipers coming out my ears. But I was unaware of some of the features you showed. In New Zealand we work in metric, but my father was English and an engineer so he trained me in both metric and imperial - best of both worlds. Most software will happily work in both, changing back and forth as required.

[@flatlander523]

Just ordered the digital caliper with fractions. I guess my conversion calculator will go on a vacation. Love your Journal. Keep em coming

[@kurtc9687]

Thank you, this video really explained calipers well. Not yet in my wood working career to where I know where I should be using them but I'll be ready.

[@justplanebob105]

Timely, James. I have both a dial and digital caliper that I gave up on. I'll give them another try now. Thanks.

[@joeleonetti8976]

I bought a pair of digital calipers about three years ago. It's surprising how much I use them. I got them at lowes for like 30 dollars. Well worth it.

[@David-hm9ic]

Another great video. My first dial calipers were purchased for reloading ammunition but I quickly started using them for building radio controlled airplanes. The accuracy improved instantly. I now have several, both dial and digital but prefer the dial models because they never have dead batteries. The digital are handy for quick comparisons. Die hard machinists bad mouth calipers but I find them to give the same measurements as my micrometers that I use for metal machining. Good mikes measure to 0.0001” but I rarely need ten thousandths accuracy even when machining metal.

[@AB-nu5we]

I did get floating values on some early less expensive calipers, both digital and dial, but over the years, the inexpensive digitals seemed to have gotten better as you've pointed out. My goto is a Starrett dial, flawless if anything can be. I may have to check out your recommended digital caliper though. Be nice if they added Bluetooth. That would certainly seal the deal.

[@leonardorojas1781]

I have a really cheap plastic, kind of primary school toy caliper that I found and now I'm using it every day in my shop! I am amazed at its accuracy! Mainly use it when planing. Ha I have a digital one too, but it's stored waiting for the right project. Ha

[@JeffSolenberg]

I've had two different digital calipers that ended up with a failed encoder. Both were less than a year old. Now I have the iGauging dial caliper you demo'd that reads in fractions. I absolutely LOVE that one!

[@MrBonners]

That is not a digital calliper problem. The problem is you cheaped out. A $40 unit would not be like that. What do you expect for $10 unit? The point of their use is for accuracy and repeatability. Your cheapness defeats the whole point.

[@JeffSolenberg]

@@MrBonners So without knowing a single detail such as what brand I've got or how much I paid, you're able to jump straight to trashing me? Ok, I'll join you in the mud dipshit, you're an idiot.

[@StumpyNubs]

@@JeffSolenberg - Welcome to the internet :)

[@JeffSolenberg]

@@StumpyNubs :D

[@PPMOCRG]

Thank you! I just ordered the fractional dial calipers. They are just what I need.

[@lincolndickerson1293]

Thank you very much! I didn’t know they made a dial caliper with inches and fractions. I will be upgrading to the one you recommend in the comments. In truth I work with most measuring devices as story sticks with numbers on them. There is comfort in seeing familiar numbers though.

[@steve6438]

Thank you - you answered my question on what to look for in a caliper.

[@g.fortin3228]

I love the calipers... been using them since I used to be a machinist but that's cause I memorized the conversions.. I do like the dial model you show and might add one to my tools for ease of use ! thank you !

[@allanh4803]

Nice one James. Dial calipers are great. The biggest issue is that they can skip a tooth if dirt gets into the rack and they will become inaccurate. Dial calipers come with a "needle probe" which can revert the dial once the offending piece of dirt or chip gets into the rack or the pinion. I Love digital.

[@LarryB-inFL]

I completely agree! I have a couple of digital calipers that will measure in fractions, but they are annoying and almost USELESS in that mode, since they "want" to measure in 128ths...meaning I am always trying to figure what the nearest 16th is. And, like you, I usually switch to metric instead. In fact, I LOVE working in metric, if I can. My metal combination square has both imperial and metric scales on the ruler.

[@jasondoust4935]

A digital caliper with a flat battery is still a decent gauge in a pinch, but I keep a strip of spares in my bench's top drawer. On metric; When I was in 6th class in Australia, (the 6th grade in the US) Mr Perrault came in and carefully drew the metric system symbol on the blackboard, explaining that as a nation, many things were about to change. He made the interesting observation that kids or age would have a solid grasp on both systems, which would be advantageous. I often admire just how prescient he was and try to model that forward thinking. I also drill the occasional bowling ball and that can *only* make sense in Ye Olde British imperial measurements, which keeps me sharp on inches and fractions. You're on the money James (and others), sometimes it's handy to just switch units! I have an old Lufkin tape in metric and imperial and if something is bang on an imperial unit, that's what I write down, if it doesn't need to go on a drawing.

[@designer-garb572]

Growing up with imperial then my country decides to go metric just as I start to grasp imperial I find myself still using both, I find I use my callipers on everything I make, so handy, Thank you Mr Nubs for another informative video.

[@GlenDomulevicz]

This was a timely episode for me. Very helpful. Thanks for sharing.

[@GentlemensWatchServices]

I used to do everything in millimetres, but I’ve found cutting stock in inches keeps my tools sharper for much longer.

[@BluuurghAg9]

...what?

[@Codswallop58]

BluuurghAg9 I think that's a joke

[@argumentfoireux1660]

And it hurts less when you cut your foot in millimeters.

[@MrBonners]

Yes, I find inches stay sharper much longer the millimetres. Millimetres, there is just so many more of them to cut.

[@jasondoust4935]

@@MrBonners Yeah, good point. I've got a digital mill that works to hundreds of a millimetre. I feel like I'm just forever sharpening stuff! Maybe I should press the button to use thousands of an inch... P.s. "Irony" is not the art of pressing clothes, folks. :-)

[@HavanaWoody]

Thanks James, that igage fractional dial is exactly what I've been looking for. On metric, if materials were in metric I would be happy to use it all the time, but I'm pretty pretty good at using a mix. Except bolts and nuts, it is terrible to mix metric and sae on the same device, I swear when I run onto a 7/16 nut on a 10mm headed bolt.

[@m3rdpwr]

Okay, I really like your preferred digital caliper. I'm going to pick one up. Right now I have a cheaper harbor freight digital caliper and while they're okay, I wanted a second pair to keep an another part of the house.

[@peterwhiteley5888]

I live in Canada which has been metric since the mid 70's but still use feet & inches for wood working because all the metric plans use is millimeters, Never centimeters or meters. According to Toyota , the wheelbase on my truck is 4000 millimeters

[@coreygrua3271]

Many, if not most, woodworkers are always seeking ways to up our game. James Hamilton helps that improvement process A LOT! I’m one that tries to avoid the caliper measurements. Now I have new options.

[@geertlemoine8130]

A joiner makes sure that what he makes fits with the rest down to the tenth of a millimeter. A carpenter makes sure it fits down to a millimeter. A mason makes sure it fits down to the centimeter. If the painter makes it to the right address, it's a good thing.

[@johncrowerdoe5527]

Paint thinner kills the brain.

[@dandixon4034]

Thank you for saying American, I just build a cradle for my great grandson and I used calipers for the precision of all pieces involved in that project

[@TurningsbyTurner]

Calipers are great for the wood lathe! Glad you pointed out the non machinist type. Will have to take a look at them.

[@hazembata]

Video Suggestions: 1 - What on earth is a sanding sealer and why/when should I use it? 2 - How durable are oil/hard wax blends like Polyx? Many seem to swear by them and they apparently "feel" nicer than other finishes. 3 - Is Kim Kardashian still a thing or has the world moved on? 4 - Do you know of digitial calipers that use a AAA battery rather than the button batteries? Great video as usual. God bless.

[@randyanderson6846]

Thank you! I've owned a couple of the digital calipers and felt stupid that I couldn't adapt to the ??/128 readings. I spent way too much time slowly moving it to find a number that made sense to me. Ordered and received the dial caliper from iGaging and sanity has returned. I've used it just a few times and wow, a big difference in my ability to use them and visualize what I'm doing to something that registers with me. I'll use it a lot more now that I can with ease. I used one like it when I was a teenager many years ago. Made sense then. Makes sense now.

[@Casenundra]

Thank You for this video. I have used multi-function digital calipers for years and have struggled to find the nearest 1/4, 1/8 1/16 ect from some readout. The NU function is a amature's god send.

[@billmorash3322]

Great video. I started using calipers in machine work and it took me a while to realise that they are useful in woodworking as well.

[@SmallWorkshopGuy]

I have found after using both digital and analog, I much prefer the analog (no battery). Zeroes out every time and no switching between metric etc.

[@pattyofurniture100]

I much prefer dial over digital as well.

[@TrevorDennis100]

My Mitutoyo digital are about 35 years old, but I wore out two dial calipers before that (I started as a toolmaker in 1967). The dial calipers would get fine swarf on the rack which jammed them and made them clunky. The needles would bend and come loose. They just weren't very durable for a 40 hour a week machine shop use. I still have the Mitutoyo, and they work as well as they did when new, and they have had the same hard use as the dial calipers.

[@davidhawley1132]

I just bought digital tilt and angle gauges. Game changer for me, and so affordable. Digital is great.

[@fredastaire6156]

Thank you for this! Its time for me to get a caliper to up my woodworking game

[@els1f]

When I first took physics or electronics, I IMMEDIATELY realized why we are ridiculous for sticking with imperial/American units. You just move decimals to change scales, the names match the position... It's the most rational and sensible thing 😄

[@henrysiegertsz8204]

When you took Physics and Electronics, I bet you never worked angular measure in Gradients? Instead you used 1 rotation as 360 Degrees or, 2 Pi Radians!!! LOL!

[@els1f]

@@henrysiegertsz8204 fair enough, there. No, I definitely didn't use gradians, I was really just talking about measurements in meters and kilograms

[@berylhood6642]

Thanks Stumpy, I have always been confused as to what kind of caliper would be best for me. Therefore being too cheap to experiment, this has been a very helpful video.

[@Ngun200]

I used both the imperial and the metric system all the time. I am from Europe but your opinion on how you think we precive our system as superior ( is miles apart from the reality. I am stating the majority don't think like that, so I hope this changes your opinion by a good multimeter or two, both systems are warranted. My shed is 15 ft by 13 ft and 10 feet high at its highest point, the roof sheeting was 4.75 metres long, window I used was 40 inches by 40 inches, door was 6ft 6 inch by 5 ft 4 inch wide, we use milimeters and cm because we are not thought inch fractions like the usa, the common person will use both unless you work on a big job site.

[@ardeet]

As a metrophile I still give this 640/128 stars. Good stuff as always 👍

[@theeddorian]

I commonly used metric measures in my job as an archaeologist. Since I retired, I've come to appreciate fractions. For two reasons. One is that millimeters quickly grow to centimeters and decimeters. Inches are less fussy. The other really handy property is that fractions are remarkably easy to calculate with in your head or occasionally if need be, by hand, (use decimal inches and there's no reason not to be using millimeters instead), and since I very rarely use a measure smaller than a sixteenth of an inch, the ease of calculation is nice. Using metric system or decimal inches is a practice that needs a calculator as far as my shop is concerned.

[@robertshepherd8354]

I have a digital readout caliper and a vernier caliper and I find that I use the old vernier caliper the most. Just more used to it I suppose.

[@toolchuck]

Thanks James, I think this will be my new favorite caliper too, so I got me one! 6" FASTENER-CAL CALIPER

[@howardbain6516]

I am a 73 year old woodworker. I have used a caliper with a Vernier scale to 1/128 scale for 40 years. I would love to have that digital caliper and the price seems reasonable

[@lemon357lime]

I bought the dial Calipers on your Recommendation, I love these. Thank you Stumpy

[@mattv5281]

The fractional dial looks great. I have digital calipers with a fraction option, but that's pretty useless because it's hard to quickly tell how close 15/64 or 29/128 is to the measurement I need. I end up having to convert my fraction to decimal. The digital one with rounding needs to show a remainder to be useful.

[@dougberrett8094]

I have had calipers since 1970 that measure down 1/128. I never learned to use that system. It just may be easier to learn the decimal system than trying to figure out which is bigger 9/64 or 5/32. I have digital calipers that read in fractions. They are useful to match drill bits with their slot in the box since my eyes no longer read the size stamped on the shank.

[@timdouglass9831]

I have a set of dial calipers with the fractions and like them better than any digital solution. The biggest reason is that analog dials are relational while digital displays are absolute. I can look at my dial and easily see that I'm shading close to a 16th without any mental strain. There is a direct correlation between the dial and the workpiece. I can see that it's still a hair too thick and the amount the dial needs to move gives me a good idea of how much needs to come off (or more typically, how much too far I've gone). Analog dials just give you a little bit more information in a more easily processed way, and I like that.

[@trolltaker]

Thank you thank you thank you for this video, James. I have struggled for too long with trying to round up/down on a standard digital caliper. I did have an app for my phone that would do the rounding for me, but found that to be a pain to use, so generally just struggled with it in my head or with a pencil on my workbench top. I just ordered both the digital and dial versions that you recommended and am very grateful.

[@drooten]

I love my vernier callipers for woodworking. Great beginners video Stumpy. Those 64ths scale callipers look sweet.

[@joewrosenthal00]

I have used a machinist’s dial caliper for decades. However, after seeing this video, I ordered the Fastener-Cal digital version you recommended. No more mental gymnastics or scribbling on a notepad??? I’m a chemist, so the metric system is no mystery to me. But I just consider myself “bilingual”, and happily do woodworking using the English system without guilt!

[@lostinadream1866]

Just bought your favorites on the provided link!!! I hate the ones I have because of the 97/128 fraction stupidity lol

[@Robyrob7771]

I have a Mitutoyo digital at home for fine work and a dial at work. And as for the metric system I learned it in school when the US was supposed to convert, I know 70s I’m officially old. I do most conversions in my head if I need to. The only unit I don’t like is the Celsius scale.

[@paul-ld9vh]

Thanks for the information! Just made a purchase. I can never do the metric/imperial conversions in my head, especially after falling on it last year, LOL.

[@berthatton9410]

That was useful as usual, thanks. Metric is to Imperial as river dance is to ballet. Sharp staccato vs. organic and flowing. I use them both depending on my mood.

[@davepruitt2739]

Great vlog! When I got to the fastener calipers, was straight to chips fly site placed my order. My only complaint didn't come with a 32" display oh well thanks

[@TomL-]

Wow, that's a great site that I've never heard of before. Lots of great, reasonably priced measurement tools. Thanks!

[@AndreaArzensek]

I found it funny that you need so many calipers with imperial system instead one in metric and immediately know what measure it is or round up easily to the next one. Try that with 97/128. Still I love to see these imperial/metric videos so I gave you one big like! Keep them up and you'll fill up the comments section as well as your piggy bank.

[@StumpyNubs]

So many calipers? Just because I showed five different calipers doesn't mean anyone needs multiple pairs because. Using fractions doesn't require any more calipers than metric would.

[@AndreaArzensek]

@@StumpyNubs What I meant is that there was/is the need to make so many special calipers for different applications (except digital ones). In metric calipers there is only one option and it works for every measuring application.

[@scottsears6440]

I bought my first set of calipers a month ago. Now i use use them all the time. How did I get along without them?

[@SaintCronch]

I've been working with an old snowblower with imperial measurments on bolts and parts. I have a caliper with both mm and inches but holy moly do I wish I had the fractions and not only 1,2342352 inches. Even if I'm mostly only using metric, the analog scale can get hard when you start to measure for example 2,57mm.

[@cabbyhubby]

I've been using the same Mitutoyo dial calipers in my cabinet shop since 1992. Standard inches of course.

[@SpookyMcGhee]

When I first got into woodworking I had already been a working manual machinist for a little over a year. Since I am a creature of habit, the calipers and micrometers were and still are always on the bench. I don't generally use fractions much as I am much more comfortable with decimal dimensions and tolerances. And yes I know a +/- 0.005" tolerance is probably overkill for woodworking but it's personal preference I guess

[@craign8ca]

Working with guitars means working with wood and metal. Specifically, the strings are measured in tenths of an inch. The wood can be either tenths or fractions.

[@WattWood]

I'm from the uk and of that age where I'm able to use both have metric and imperial tapes calipers micrometers and feelers gauges many inherited from my dad

[@matthewroderique7468]

In New Zealand we changed in the 60s, Im only 45 and use both still, depends on the application

[@dangerousbear4658]

Thanks stubby I just ordered the digital caliper

[@johnjohnsonjr5324]

I think you for all your hard work.

[@stephenwallbank9090]

I live in Oz and it's pretty easy to work in both given that sometimes you can only get one or the other tool, like router bits. Or the job requires one or the other.

[@christopherd5941]

Been wanting to buy a decent, but affordable, caliper. Now I know where to start looking.

[@MrStrizver]

I wasn't happy with the EZcal Calipers that I got years ago. The battery compartment wouldn't stay closed. I had to resort to taping it shut. Parasitic battery draw is pretty significant so you do need to take the battery out during periods of non-use, which exasperates the battery closing issue.

[@tnekkc]

In ~ 1986 I bought mail order from a woodworker's catalog a General Tool No 142 6 inch Dial Caliper Swiss Made that reads in hundreds and 64ths of an inch on the same dial. It is made out of black and gray plastic. The depth rod is steel.

[@adama1294]

Metric system really shines in Engineering. The formula's to convert basic measurements ( time, position, mass) into complex stuff is much less tricky. Stupid gravity constant. I am born in the USA and see that the metric system is superior but recognise that getting rid of the leggacy system of SAE would require draconian measures that Americans would never put up with. Manufacturing largely has made the switch but the exposure to the layman remains small. You quite right that you can't just get away from it here. One other thing, the origin cal is also called an absolute scale digital calipers for people that want to browse. Unless your job requires a certificate of conformity and regular factory calibrations the Iguaging brand will be fine for you.

[@SteveC38]

Great information James, I had no idea those were available with features like that.

[@jetsettergeorge2675]

Thank you

[@olddawgdreaming5715]

Thanks James really need to get those calipers.👍👍

[@OzSafe1]

PRO TIP: That thin bit of metal that sticks out the end is used to measure the depth of a hole, which comes in very handy.

[@TrevorDennis100]

Pro tip #2: If you zero digital calipers on one of two, same sized, round bars or holes, you can measure the between centres.

[@TrevorDennis100]

@11atlantica Hmmm.... And how do they do that with dial or vernier calipers? ❓

[@timthomas9105]

PRO TIP 4: That little bit sticking out of the caliper can still make it wobble. Using the caliper to set a square ruler will be more stable because the rulers are an inch wide and 1/8 inch thick.

[@TrevorDennis100]

I started a toolmaker apprenticeship in 1967 in the UK, back when the UK still used imperial. Changing to metric took no time to adjust to, and was orders of magnitude more intuitive to use. Quite why the US insists on keeping imperial is a total mystery to me. Base ten works better for machine slides, is easier to the math in your head. If you need more precise measurement with metric, you simply add another place after the decimal point and use a measuring system that covers it. With imperial you get to 1/64" and where do you go from there? Imperial is just plain crazy. Metric threads are easy because the tapping size is going to be the same as the pitch.

[@-ZIO]

I grew up with metric in Italy. Im in the US now for over 25 years and have managed with the imperial units but it makes life more difficult. Metric is much simpler and as a result I find metric produces fewer mistakes so less waste.

[@markbernier8434]

@@boots7859 I will also comment here that the imperial measurements will hang on because stuff that was built 100 years ago, both tools and articles, are still in service.

[@mkbcoolman]

I'm in the US, and I've found that I'm pretty equally using Metric and Imperial. Metric when I can, but Imperial when I have to. Like Stumpy said, it's not really a choice here...you are simply forced to use Imperial a lot of times.

[@davegreig8933]

Yep, I totally agree. I was a toolmaker in the 70s and 80s just as the trade was going down the tubes. The need for old style press tools, plastic injection moulds, machine jigs and fixtures was in the process of being circumvented. I was trained using imperial and dividing fractions in my head was/is second nature. However! I made the leap to metric and I haven’t regretted it. To hear these guys talking in 1/16ths, 1/32nds and 1/64ths these days seems archaic and retrograde. It’s like listening to folk from a bygone age. Changing over isn’t about the pros and cons, it’s about pig headedness and an unwillingness to change. It’s arrogance. America needs to get a grip and ditch this looney old system. It kicked the English back across the Atlantic. It needs to do the same with imperial measurement.

[@jamesanthony8438]

Well, with y'all gettin' the hell out of the EU, maybe it won't be long b'fore y'all come back to Imperial standard measurements, too. We'll be waitin' for ya' =)

[@johne7100]

Good video, thanks. WRT digitals: a while back I nearly threw mine in the bin because the display was missing segments and the nominally 3.2v battery showed 3.0v across the contacts. You'd think 3.0v would be enough - at least I did. But the voltage across the contacts is NOT what the battery will provide in the device; that needs the full nominal voltage. Replacing the battery despite the apparently good showing kept my calipers out of the bin. All the same, I have a decent true vernier caliper as backup and I'm putting a dial on my wish-list. Sympathies to those who have to live in one world and think in the other. I live where everything is metric and I'm glad of it, but that cosiness is being eroded by e.g Dremel with their imperial sizes, and Chinese-import router bits etc. Well, that's just a good excuse to buy another router.

[@mildyproductive9726]

If you have the routers you like, already, you can try to find replacement collets in imperial.

[@billgiles3261]

I learned the Imperial System at school but learned the SI I when did my engineering apprenticeship. Now I use whatever feels handiest. Fortunately I am good at mental arithmetic and sometimes find myself measuring a project using different systems in different dimensions. But I cannot cope with the fractions on the older callipers not trusting myself to convert 37/128ths into something sensible. But we are better off these days as I learned to use mechanical vernier callipers and micrometers.