UncleButch
Many years ago I apprenticed under a very well respected journey man carpenter. He was old school. One of the life lessons I learned from him was to always buy qaulity tools.
They last longer, better tools reflect better on the person using them - it shows how serious they are about their work and in the long run you save money.
As far as saving on batteries. If the type being used you if you can purchase recargable batteries of the same type, buy a set of that type. If the battery is dead. Pull it out, recharge and while waiting, stick in a recharged battery. That way you are not having to constantly buy batteries.
YGW
I think you'll find that button batteries used in most electronic instruments don't leak. I have several different Mitutoyo electronic micrometers in my machine shop. The larger on 2 to 3 inch and 3 to 4 inch are seldom used. I usually take the battery out after I use them. Occasionally I forget. It might be a year or two before I need them again. Sure as the sun rising in the east, the battery is dead, but they never leak.
Unless there has been a big improvement in battery technology, some are prone to leaking and will raise heck with the device they're inserted into. I would just as soon remove the battery carefully and replace when I next want to use the tool.
As an earlier reply suggested, and I agree, get a dial caliper. I also use a USA made 6" Starrett caliper, and it will last a lifetime. One you use it for a little bit you will be able to read it just as fast as a digital caliper, and it is much easier to set up when you start using it for sheet layout work or depth-stopping. I also own a 12" caliper, but I rarely need it for model railroad work. 6 inches should be fine.
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You learned how useful a caliper is, now you should purchase one that will meet your needs.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Yes, they do eat batteries but not a good idea to remove and put batteries back in unless absolutely necessary and you do have to be careful doing that. Some stuff that uses button batteries can have delicate contacts. The on/off switch is all you need to be concerned about.
About twenty years ago I bought a plastic and fiberglass dial caliper with just SAE on the dial and markings for Metric on the slides. Both were accurate enough for model railroad work as stuff from NWSL was mostly Metric. I did some gear/motor conversions.
Five years ago I bought a battery operated digital caliper from Micro Mark and the cheap one compares exactly. I use the plastic one mostly.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
I have a Harbor Freight digital caliper. Had for about 3 years and never changed the battery and still works great.
UNCLEBUTCH,
I would say that there was something defective with the product.
My digital caliper actually instructs you to remove the battery "if the tool will not be used for an extended period of time", but does not define what that time is, I define it as when done with whatever project I used it on, whether that be two days ago or two months ago.
At three months, I would first try the retailer, unless their return period is less than that, but I would still let them know of the issue.
If the retailer is unable to assist you, I would also contact the manufacturer and let them know of the issue, as they just might have had a bad batch of parts.
If the manufacturer refuses to do anything, I would again inform the retailer where you bought it.
If neither wants to assist with the issue, I would, politely, inform them (both) that you are done with their products, as this is not an acceptable performance of the product.
I am willing to bet that at least one of them will be willing to work with you though, and that the "polite info" will not be needed to be used.
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
I have one made by General. I always turn the battery off when not using it. I haven't replaced or even removed the battery in the several years I have owned it - I don't use it alot.
Paul
I bought a digital Starrett quite some years ago. I do have an analog from before, but the fancy display seduced me. Plus, it's faster to read. It has proven quite reliable, and I have had no problems. It has an auto-off on the display. However, I use the off switch anyway to do my part to save on batts. I don't keep track, but I would guess I replace batteries about every 2-3 years.
Mitutoyo also makes good ones.
Perhaps you guys should check them out.
Ed
I bought a Starrett 6" Dial caliper, no batteries required. Its a one time purchase (unless you drop it on concrete or some such), and should last a lifetime. Their low end calipers are made in China. You pay and extra $100 for made in USA. I have used both and they are both quality products.
I have one I bought from Micro Mark years ago. I don't know the brand bame of the caliper itself. I learned right off that if I left the battery in, it would be dead next time I used it. I take mine out every time and have never had a problem with breaking a contact. I think your procedure was a good one. I would contact the manufacutrer about the breakage.
Ron
Owner and superintendant of the N scale Texas Colorado & Western Railway, a protolanced representaion of the BNSF from Fort Worth, TX through Wichita Falls TX and into Colorado.
Check out the TC&WRy on at https://www.facebook.com/TCWRy
Check out my MRR How-To YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/RonsTrainsNThings
I bought a digital caliper this pst Nov. I found I had quite abit of use for it.In an effort to save battery life, I removed it at the end of session/day.Today. it wouldn't work; one of the contacts in the battery compartment broke.
This wasn't a high dollor tool, but 3mos? then I got to thinking,did I cause a premature failure by removing/replaceing battery so often?