David Jenkins
|
| posted on 20/11/25 at 04:05 PM |
|
|
Mitutoyo 150mm/6 inch digital vernier - mine gets so much use, either in the garage or when I'm designing for 3D printing. It's used almost
daily, often several times per day.
There are much cheaper alternatives (I have one) but this just works - continues to work - no matter how badly I use it. If it stutters, a wipe with
a slightly oily rag along the scale always fixes it. The cheaper ones turn themselves off after a short while, to save battery, often in the middle
of a tricky design or machining process. The Mitutoyo one stays on, and they claim that if you're fairly good at turning it off when you're
not using it then the battery should last 12 months - if you keep leaving it on then it should last 6 months. I think the 12 months is more a
recommendation to change the battery before it leaks into the caliper body!
In fact, I have two Mitutoyo calipers - the old one is probably at least 20 years old. It started getting unreliable so I replaced it... then fiddled
with the original and made it work properly again. Its display is tiny, and its zeroing isn't as convenient, but it still has a place on my
bench. The best one lives in a cupboard in the house (mostly used for 3D print designing) and the old one gets used for the majority of work in the
garage - it's still accurate (more accurate than I am, anyway).
|
|
|
|
|
HowardB
|
| posted on 20/11/25 at 07:16 PM |
|
|
My Metabo SDS drill/chisel - ok it was a BOSCH blue until that drowned in a flood, but boy does an SDS make light work of tough things -
want to remove all the plaster from all the walls in a house - SDS, chase out for wires - SDS, socket holes,. SDS, break out concrete - SDS etc,. it
also has a clutch so is great for diamond core drilling - not good for building kit cars, but I have been working on a house 
Howard
Fisher Fury was 2000 Zetec - now a 1600 (it Lives again and goes zoom)
|
|
|
SteveWalker
|
| posted on 21/11/25 at 12:02 AM |
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by Dingz
Just reminded me of my 300mm steel rule, it was issued to me in the design office at Vauxhall when we went metric, ‘71?
People who borrowed it wondered why my initials were VM.
I used to carry and use a steel rule at school, partly because I was building a 5" gauge steam loco at home with my dad. It was always fun when
people pulled out a plastic or wooden rule to start a rule "sword" fight. They tended to back off quickly when I pulled out a steel rule .
|
|
|
nick205
|
| posted on 21/11/25 at 08:38 AM |
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by David Jenkins
Mitutoyo 150mm/6 inch digital vernier - mine gets so much use, either in the garage or when I'm designing for 3D printing. It's used almost
daily, often several times per day.
There are much cheaper alternatives (I have one) but this just works - continues to work - no matter how badly I use it. If it stutters, a wipe with
a slightly oily rag along the scale always fixes it. The cheaper ones turn themselves off after a short while, to save battery, often in the middle
of a tricky design or machining process. The Mitutoyo one stays on, and they claim that if you're fairly good at turning it off when you're
not using it then the battery should last 12 months - if you keep leaving it on then it should last 6 months. I think the 12 months is more a
recommendation to change the battery before it leaks into the caliper body!
In fact, I have two Mitutoyo calipers - the old one is probably at least 20 years old. It started getting unreliable so I replaced it... then fiddled
with the original and made it work properly again. Its display is tiny, and its zeroing isn't as convenient, but it still has a place on my
bench. The best one lives in a cupboard in the house (mostly used for 3D print designing) and the old one gets used for the majority of work in the
garage - it's still accurate (more accurate than I am, anyway).
Nice - I have a Mitutoyo at work and as said, it just works!
I got a cheaper one for home and binned it fairly quick. It ate batteries, was unreliable and was unpleasant to use.
|
|
|
JoelP
|
| posted on 22/11/25 at 05:41 PM |
|
|
6" chainsaw by milwauki. The best thing ever when scavenging logs. Plus I have 4 batteries that fit it.
|
|
|
JoelP
|
| posted on 23/11/25 at 09:52 PM |
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by JoelP
6" chainsaw by milwauki. The best thing ever when scavenging logs. Plus I have 4 batteries that fit it.
I forgot it was a cheap copy that uses milwaukee batteries... And it broke today on its second outing lol
|
|
|
Charlie_Zetec
|
| posted on 23/11/25 at 10:28 PM |
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by jacko
Yep truck body’s /.prison vans / horse boxes / aluminium tipper truck body’s / Luton van body’s
Riot van conversion / make MAN trucks into sleeping cabs
Plus lots more
G
Nice to see someone else in the CV industry on here! I've been working with GRP for 14-odd years now in that sector, and my (late) father in the
GRP & panel industry for 40+ years before that.
Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity!
|
|
|
Charlie_Zetec
|
| posted on 23/11/25 at 10:34 PM |
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by David Jenkins
Mitutoyo 150mm/6 inch digital vernier - mine gets so much use, either in the garage or when I'm designing for 3D printing. It's used almost
daily, often several times per day.
There are much cheaper alternatives (I have one) but this just works - continues to work - no matter how badly I use it. If it stutters, a wipe with
a slightly oily rag along the scale always fixes it. The cheaper ones turn themselves off after a short while, to save battery, often in the middle
of a tricky design or machining process. The Mitutoyo one stays on, and they claim that if you're fairly good at turning it off when you're
not using it then the battery should last 12 months - if you keep leaving it on then it should last 6 months. I think the 12 months is more a
recommendation to change the battery before it leaks into the caliper body!
In fact, I have two Mitutoyo calipers - the old one is probably at least 20 years old. It started getting unreliable so I replaced it... then fiddled
with the original and made it work properly again. Its display is tiny, and its zeroing isn't as convenient, but it still has a place on my
bench. The best one lives in a cupboard in the house (mostly used for 3D print designing) and the old one gets used for the majority of work in the
garage - it's still accurate (more accurate than I am, anyway).
I'm 100% with this - my trusty Mitutoyo digital verniers were well-used when I received them 20+ years ago, and only really started to fail the
other year. I think the battery cover is loose which means the dial sometimes flickers on/off, but the model is redundant and I've not found a
replacement part as yet. I was treated to a new set (same brand, but didn't feel quite as well made), and they are a reliable go-to every time.
I also have a manual set, but tend to keep those for the broader use rather than the more precision lathe/drill machining.
My other top tools are a Leatherman Skeleton which pretty much goes with me everywhere and is a practical tool for emergencies.
And my top garage tool is a Snap-On 1:4 torque multiplier that is great for stub axle hub nuts (was originally purchased for my Defender, but also on
the Westy too).
Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity!
|
|
|
David Jenkins
|
| posted on 27/11/25 at 07:55 PM |
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by nick205
Nice - I have a Mitutoyo at work and as said, it just works!
I got a cheaper one for home and binned it fairly quick. It ate batteries, was unreliable and was unpleasant to use.
I also have a cheap one - I used it on the lathe, set my target dimension, and it would turn itself off just as I approached the last measurement!
It's not a bad thing to use, apart from this "auto-off"... but this 'feature' is a show-stopper for me.
|
|
|
jps
|
| posted on 28/11/25 at 01:01 PM |
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by David Jenkins
quote:
Originally posted by nick205
Nice - I have a Mitutoyo at work and as said, it just works!
I got a cheaper one for home and binned it fairly quick. It ate batteries, was unreliable and was unpleasant to use.
I also have a cheap one - I used it on the lathe, set my target dimension, and it would turn itself off just as I approached the last measurement!
It's not a bad thing to use, apart from this "auto-off"... but this 'feature' is a show-stopper for me.
Not exactly progress, but after the same sorts of problems with a cheapo digital one, I just bought a dial vernier instead!
|
|
|
MikeR
|
| posted on 28/11/25 at 04:43 PM |
|
|
I inherited my fathers Mitutoyo Digimatic 500 series digital verniers. No idea of the age but they don't look anything like the current model on
sale and are beautiful to use. They live in their case on my desk. I will not take them into the garage. I use lidl/aldi versions in the garage (as
well as a lidl version on my desk for quick measuring 3d prints).
|
|
|
jacko
|
| posted on 28/11/25 at 06:12 PM |
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by Charlie_Zetec
quote:
Originally posted by jacko
Yep truck body’s /.prison vans / horse boxes / aluminium tipper truck body’s / Luton van body’s
Riot van conversion / make MAN trucks into sleeping cabs
Plus lots more
G
Nice to see someone else in the CV industry on here! I've been working with GRP for 14-odd years now in that sector, and my (late) father in the
GRP & panel industry for 40+ years before that.
Yes I started work as an apprentice in. 1972 age 16 .
In them days the truck body’s were manly. Wood so it was more like wood work
Then as time moved on it went to aluminium much lighter body’s for more load weight
Very early box vans where covered in hard board nailed on to wood framing then moulding over the joints
Later on GRP ( glass re enforcers. Ply ) and no framing
And the world goes on .
Thinking about it one of my favourite tools years ago was my draw knife it’s a blade with two Handles one at each end for working on wood
Graham
555
|
|
|
David Jenkins
|
| posted on 3/12/25 at 04:18 PM |
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by jps
Not exactly progress, but after the same sorts of problems with a cheapo digital one, I just bought a dial vernier instead!
I have a 12" dial vernier, but most of my work these days is in metric - modern verniers have dual measurements (maybe just the slide,not the
dial) and I have been tempted to get a metric equivalent but, for the number of times I'd use it, the imperial one + a calculator will
suffice!
I'd love a 300mm Mitutoyo digital vernier but there is no way on this earth that I could justify buying it!
|
|
|
jollygreengiant
|
| posted on 4/12/25 at 09:16 AM |
|
|
My Favourite tool used to be my trusty bottom arm/ball joint Lever tool. Most arm would come loose by wedging (with a chisel) down the bolt clamp gap,
but when they didn't, out came THE TOOL. Other mechs in the garage used to take the wee out of my tool, UNTIL they got a tight one, then it saved
them too.
Beware of the Goldfish in the tulip mines. The ONLY defence against them is smoking peanut butter sandwiches.
|
|
|
