Digital calipers

As Thom says, if your or your wife are going to use them professionally, go with the best . The three manufacturers he listed are probably the best there are. I have used all three mfg's calipers at one time or another as an aircraft mechanic and know that as long as the tool maintained, used and treated in the proper manner, the only inaccuracies are caused by operator head space and timing. My personal preference is Starret, I have 2, a 12 inch and an 18 in, both dial calipers that I have had more than 25 years and both are as good today as they were the day I bought them.

Steve,
Mattfixit is right........learn to read a dial or normal set of verniers......I'm an engineer, and all my precision measuring instruments are Mitutoyo or Moore and Wright (possibly the best on the market). The digital ones are just great, but if the battery runs out of power, you can't read any sort of measurement on them. In our toolroom at work, we don't use any digital devices as if one breaks down (if dropped - a cardinal sin!!) or loses power, it might stop a project dead in it's tracks.

Eh... do it the old way... learn to read a Dial caliper....... I have both... and still prefer the Dial ones...... Damn batteries hehe

Thanks Thom and Scott;

Will take under advisement.

Steve

Mine came from Dillon Precision but I've had them a long time and didn't pay what they are asking now. It isn't the best one on the market though, and I'd have to agree with Thom that the Mitutoyo are probably going to be about the best you can find.

FWIW, I've been an engineering designer for many, many years now and have been using CAD systems since the mid 80's. She'll enjoy the field.

Hello Steve,

If I may make a few suggestions here. I am an ex Tool & Die Maker who later became a Mechanical Designer using CAD tools. If you want to buy your wife a digital caliper or any type of measuring tool.

You should look at the following companies

Mitutoyo America Corporation www.mitutoyo.com or the L.S. Starrett Company www.starrett.com and lastly Brown and Sharpe www.brownandsharpe.com. All three companies make excellent measuring tools that will last a life time, I've had a set of digital calipers from Mitutoyo for over twenty years now and the only thing I've needed to replace is the batteries. The tools are going to be a little more expensive then Micro Mark or Harbor Freight but over time and if this is for a career than it will be worth it.

Plus most times you can write it off as a tax deduction for your job.

Just my here

HTH
Cheers
Thom