Digital Vs Dial Calipers???

Iv got a 20$ harbor freight dial calipet thats not digital. Had it for 5 years dropped it a few times, rezeroed it and it still works great. I prefer the analog gueages.
 
Been using a cheap digital that cost 20 bucks for probably 6 years now. I changed the battery once. No complaints at all about it.
 
One thing about a dial caliber, the batteries never die.

\If you want a digital, back it up with a dial for those times when the battery dies, the stores are all closed and you have no replacement batteries.
 
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I've always bought Mitutoyo for my own use. I have a 6" pair of dial calipers, a pair of 12" digital calipers and recently a pair of very old 4" dial calipers off of ebay for $25.

I love the ability to tare the digitals to take +/- measurements, "hold" so you can take a blind measurement and not worry about moving the jaw, and also because I can switch to metric. All three features are handy for my line of work. I've replaced the battery 4 times since buying them new in 1992 and they get used a lot.

But...
I feel dial is superior for the "feel" and durability. I got the 4" to keep on my desk at work for anyone to use. I didn't want to invest a lot but I know a 30 year old pair of Mitutoyo dials would STILL outlast a set of chinese junk.
 
I own 6" and 12" Mitutoyo dials and 6" Mitutoyo digitals. I use the dial for reloading.

My digitals are solar powered, though, so they never need a battery. Not sure if they make that model now or not.

It's a nice feature, though.
 
I handle sending out any tools that need repair out for service for the company I work for. (precision machine shop) I'm guessing digital calipers out number dials by at least two times and more likely closer to three....and listening to everyone's experiences here you'd think that I'd be sending digitals out for repair every week. The repairs are needed by dials just about every time, I sent out 2 sets of digital calipers last year compared to the 17 sets of dials that needed repair. This thread got me thinking so I looked it up to see for sure. Other than battery replacement or cleaning the digitals just keep on going and going...one tiny chip and the dials are done...the pinion is not a very durable piece.
 
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