Digtial calipers at Aldi stores (UK)

[Mike Nash]

What ho, chums!

In the UK from Sunday the 7th of Feb Aldi stores have 0-150mm digital calipers for sale at £7.99. See here
https://www.aldi.co.uk/digital-caliper/ ... 0020524000

I've had one for a few years (either Lidl or Aldi supplied) and been happy with it. I can't vouch for their accuracy but I've had no reason to suspect it.

Regards, MikeN.

[mboelis]

It made me crazy these calipers when using frequently . Every time when starting it must be calibrated on 0,00. Very short battery life. Now i have a Mitutoyo ABSOLUTE Digimatic Caliper Series 500Costs more, but mory fun.

[Mike Nash]

Hmmm,

Well, I've got to agree the Mitutoyo 500 is much superior but then the cheapest one I can find will cost me £77 - and that's not including P&P! It had better be much better for that price! And of course, an engineer such as yourself will have these superior tools.

My reason for showing these cheaper tools is to aid those who cannot afford the Mitutoyos of this world, especially the younger riders. When in 1959 my dad bought me my Ariel NH (now VB) I was only 17 years old and I remember how prohibitively expensive any decent tool was. Today I suppose nearly all Ariels are owned by fairly wealthy older people so perhaps my intentions are redundant.

Regarding my own cheap digital caliper, its battery has about a year's life and only occasionally needs zeroing. But that's so easy I'm surprised you consider it a chore. Over the range of 1 - 2 inch my caliper agrees with my Moore & Wright micrometer - so I'm pleased for that part - but I then have to assume its accurate over the rest of its range.

Regards, MikeN.

[simon.holyfield]

My reason for showing these cheaper tools is to aid those who cannot afford the Mitutoyos of this world, especially the younger riders.

A worthy reason Mike. I'm currently engaged in writing a motorcycle restoration book specifically aimed at getting younger folks interested, with the Bantam Club.

[joegibbs]

Most of the digital callipers use the LR44 type of single cell to power them, this size of cell comes as an Alkaline or Silver Oxide. The Silver Oxide last a lot longer. (Same holds true for watches).

[chris.vredenbregt]

whatever digital calliper you buy,its the user that makes the faults by mesuring wrong .

[Mike Nash]

Right folks! A friend has allowed me to check my cheapo Lidl (or Aldi, I can't remember which) caliper against some Moore & Wright test gauges, and here are the results.

Test size/caliper reading

1 inch/0.999
3inch/3.000
4inch/3.9975
5inch/4.9975

I think that good. A caliper always needs more care than a micrometer because its measuring at a distance offset from its recording device and so a good deal depends on the "touch" or "feel" you apply to the movement of the measuring head. As always with hand measurement, practice makes perfect and I think with more care I could have done better. Altogether, I think these cheap digitals are worth the money.

And thanks Joe for pointing out the differences in battery design. I was unaware of that and will check I've the silver oxide type in my instruments.

Regards, MikeN.

[Leejm]

I also have a Mitutoyos vernier. I borrowed it from work it also happens to had been the same day I left for a new job! Fifteen years ago.

[Steve McCarthy]

Those Lidl ones are not a bad copy of the real ones. The batteries they supply with them are for test purposes only in my opinion and should be replaced with a good know brand asap.

Been using a set for a large project over the last 5 months whilst my collegue is using some "real ones"; no fallouts yet. Get a set, they work ok.

Steve, engineer

[john.whiting]

Ive had an Aldi caliper for a while,at least a year,and the battery is still good.I use it quite often.I also have plenty of others up to a one meter Vernier.My eyesight makes others verniers useless without a magnifying glass.I find the zeroing function very useful when using a lathe,as I don't have any fancy digital readouts.In fact I made up a holder so that it can be used as a poormans digital readout.Regards John.Incidentally,it reads exact on test bars from micrometers.