Whether it’s for a holiday or birthday, this Tools Under 30 Dollars Gift Guide Series shows you important, yet somewhat uncommon, tools that any gearhead would want.
Today, let’s talk about Measuring Calipers.
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A lot of jobs, particularly in the automotive universe, require a ton of precision measurements. And in many situations, you can’t just slap a ruler down to take a reading.
A precise measuring caliper is the ONLY tool for the job here.
But the good news is, a measuring caliper is really easy to use. And even better, most offer plenty of different ways to take a measurement, which means you’ll probably find them handy for a ton of other applications around the house. We’ll walk you through some common use cases:
Here’s the tricky part though. As you may have noticed in the pics, measuring calipers come in a handful of different flavors, particularly analog and digital.
There are pros and cons of each. For instance, a digital caliper may offer greater precision and easy readability, but depending on how often you use it, you may struggle with battery life. Whereas a basic mechanical caliper can sit happily in your toolbox for decades.
It’s important to realize that the price of measuring calipers will increase significantly, as the demand for more precise measurements increases, so you have to consider your needs.
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If you’re an engine builder, a sub-30 dollar caliper may not be the best choice. But if you just want to take some quick, easy measurements on say, the outer diameter of some tubing, then a measuring caliper under 30 bucks can be a great gift to give and receive.
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