Bargain Digital Callipers Fractional-Metric-Inch Conversion

[Kim]

I bought a set of these digital callipers last week and I am very happy with them

Great for us lutherical minded people because they have fractional conversion to the nearest 64th" at the touch of a button. No need to struggle on trying to work out the mysteries of eleventeen firtytoofs when reading a USA plan or website. They have a good sturdy stainless frame and jaws, have an absolute button (ABS) so you can measure how far it is from point A to point B AND from point B to point C without losing the initial measurement. Also, unlike most other Asian callipers at this end of the market such as General and Carrera and a few others around the $50 to $90 mark, this set does NOT turn on automatically when you pick them up.

Initially this may sound like you have missed out on something cool but losing that whistle is an absolutely wonderful thing for anyone that does not own shares in a battery company because with this set, off is indeed off, not sort of off where the motion monitoring mechanism continues to sap charge running the battery down far too quickly....and YES!! Unlike those horrible bloody things from Stewies, these callipers 'do' actually have an auto power off function at 5 min even thought the vendor does not mention it in his write up. The only bad word I have to say about this buy is that the callipers came with two batteries, one already in the unit and the other in the hard case...both of these were as flat as a tack and would not even kick a blink out of the display. New batteries, no worries

The ebayer selling them is based in Adelaide. I ordered my set Sunday last and they were on my desk the very next Tuesday via express post. So @ $39.00 a set 'including' shipping to anywhere in Aussie they're a real bargain I reckon so I just ordered another set to live next to the PC to help in the ongoing battle against those evil fractions.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ... 0470426374 (This listing has now ended. It appears that there were plenty more units available when it finished so they should be re-listed so check the link below.)

Here is a link to the "Precision Measuring Equipment" listings in the seller's ebay store. You may need to scroll through a page or two of listings to find the callipers yourself as any direct link to an active listings would of course become obsolete once it has run its course. If there are none of these callipers listed when you check, you may have to wait a day or so and check back.

http://stores.ebay.com.au/ozmestore1/Pr ... 34.c0.m322

Cheers All

Kim

[kiwigeo]

Nice one Kim.....just ordered a pair. My old Starrets still work but the auto shut off doesnt work any more so batteries dont last too long.

[Kim Strode]

Thank you also Kim, I just ordered a set as well as my current ones died recently. Thanks, Kim

[Nick]

Fractions are for pussies Good score. When I was buying the bearings e.t.c for the vibes, VXB offered me a set for $7 US so I got a set thrown in the order. I have a more expensive German set I use during my day job but the VXB's are adequate and great for just chucking around the shed.
One way you can tell what sort of quality you have is very similar to a good soundboard joint actually, by holding the calipers up to a light when the jaws are closed (zero), you look for light between the jaws. Good ones block any light down the length of the jaws, an adequate set might let some light through up near the top of the jaws & show no light down near the nose or end of the jaws & crap ones let light through at the nose. If there's a gap here then they aren't measuring from true zero as the jaws are already adding some to the size.

[kiwigeo]

Fractions are for pussies Good score. When I was buying the bearings e.t.c for the vibes, VXB offered me a set for $7 US so I got a set thrown in the order. I have a more expensive German set I use during my day job but the VXB's are adequate and great for just chucking around the shed.
One way you can tell what sort of quality you have is very similar to a good soundboard joint actually, by holding the calipers up to a light when the jaws are closed (zero), you look for light between the jaws. Good ones block any light down the length of the jaws, an adequate set might let some light through up near the top of the jaws & show no light down near the nose or end of the jaws & crap ones let light through at the nose. If there's a gap here then they aren't measuring from true zero as the jaws are already adding some to the size.

So I can put my finger between the jaws when theyre fully closed...is that a bad thing??

[Clancy]

Hah, mine just died too!
Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to ebay I go......

Thanks Kim!

[Nick]

So I can put my finger between the jaws when theyre fully closed...is that a bad thing??

No, just carry a pencil & paper with you to add the width of your finger to what it says in the display.

[Bob Connor]

I've just pulled the trigger on one as well. The fraction function looks great.

Having trouble paying for it though. Paypal detected that I wasn't in Australia and has limited my account so I'm trying to get them to fix it at present.

It's a pain but it's good to know that they are on the ball with their security.

Regards

[kiwigeo]

The only bad word I have to say about this buy is that the callipers came with two batteries, one already in the unit and the other in the hard case...both of these were as flat as a tack and would not even kick a blink out of the display. New batteries, no worries

I did slightly better.....battery in the calipers was dead as a Dodo but the spare was ok.

[joolstacho]

I think this bloke may run out of stock pretty quickly!
-Jools

[Kim]

I think this bloke may run out of stock pretty quickly!
-Jools

Indeed. When I first made this post around 48hrs ago I think the listing display was showing '8' units sold, that figure had included one of mine that I purchased back on 26/06/11. This listing is about to end and it now shows 24 sold units, that's 16 units in two days so I am sure he's a happy chappy which is cool because so am I with the product.

With just 40 minutes to go the listing display for units remaining is showing +10. I am certain they will be re-listed shortly so I've changed the link in my original post to direct people to the relevant page of the sellers ebay store so they can scroll through a page or two and locate any new active listing themselves.

May as well include the link here to so people don't need to scroll up and down.

http://stores.ebay.com.au/ozmestore1/Pr ... 34.c0.m322

Cheers

Kim

[kiwinoz62]

Kim,
You should get commission, when I saw you're original post I bought one then.
Now it's in the post and on it's way to me.
Thanks for the referral to the site, that's the good thing with this forum everyone is prepared to help each other if possible.

[ozwood]

Thanks Kim ,

Got Mine today , a wee ripper, first battery was dead , spare was the Charm.

Cheers,

Paul.

[Clancy]

Both batteries dead
Still don't know if it works

[Kim]

Given that both my batteries were DOA on set 1, 1 battery was DOA on set 2, Martin had 1 DOA battery with his order, Paul had 1 DOA with his, and now Craig has reported yet another order arriving with 2 DOA batteries, I think it is pretty safe to assume that the CR2032 batteries that are being shipped with these units are well past their use by date and have discharged...it would seem most of them completely so.

This is a bit disapointing yes, but I did mention this in my original post and still find the callipers to be very good value for the money. That aside I had sent an email to the vendor making them aware of this thread and suggesting that to avoid bad feedback here and on ebay that they make the effort to change their listing so it shows these units will ship with a single battery (better than 2 duds), and that they take the time to check each unit as it is picked and packed and install a fresh battery to ensure they will be delivered to the customer in good working order. They got back to me saying they would be doing so from now on...I see the cheeky bugga has now included a link to this thread in his latest listing. Seeing that they are getting such a good run from us for free, I recon it would be a nice gesture if those of us that have been short changed with dud batteries had replacements sent out...???

Seems the least they could do.

Cheers

Kim

[J.F. Custom]

The batteries in these units are very often DOA from the suppliers in China. Who knows how long they sit around for post manufacture but years ago when it came to my knowledge at Carba-Tec, we ordered a spare box of hundreds to replace the originals for customers...

Unfortunately, you probably know where this is going, the entire box of replacements were all but DOA as well... Better off going and buying another locally - fresh and check it's manufacture/use by date.

In any case, just another heads up. Carba-Tec has sold these units for some time now, that is "fractional/metric/inch" digital calipers. I had this very set you guys have purchased as a "sample" a good four years ago I'd say. They did end up selecting another unit however which is what they now sell. Very similar overall, only 200mm or 8" instead of 150mm and an extra large screen/readout/display. I guess correspondingly more expensive too? Here -

http://www.carbatec.com.au/carba-tec-20 ... per_c21478

All of these units I've dealt with over the years, from numerous suppliers have been a little hit and miss. They tend to suffer from cheap electronic chips on the most part. Some suppliers goods were dodgy from the start, others worked well for a time then went a bit haywire with functions becoming erratic, buttons not working, unit not turning off etc. Certain suppliers/manufacturers have become more reliable and use better quality parts and QC. Might pay all of you to enquire as to what warranty is offered just to back you up - and keep your records of purchase.

It is funny to see over the years the copies being made too - some of the "samples" sent were entirely plastic, yet still printed "STAINLESS HARDENED" on the body! Evidently, they were not quite up to speed on what those words actually meant in terms of the manufacture! Also, others were in fact metal, but far from stainless or hardened.

As a side Kim, the seller has now added a link back to this thread, using it as his advertising. You've gotta love ebay too - there is some interesting feedback going on there!

Jeremy.

[Kim]

As a side Kim, the seller has now added a link back to this thread, using it as his advertising.
Jeremy.

I did just mention that in my previouse post Jeremy like wise the point about the batteries reaching their use by date.

Should also add that I did look at the carbatec option but shipped they're around $75 all up for something I bet has come from the very same production line and the truth is that Carbatec's feedback can be interesting at time also but I guess that depends on which one you use.

I did look at this guys negative but could see nothing directed at this particular product so I went ahead and am happy I did. I noticed that some of the bad seems directed at re-deliver charges requested by the courier for second attempt at delivering heavy items. That would not be anyone's fault but the buyer for not being there as arranged...and my two orders have come in an express post satchel so no issue there. That said there is a bit of dodgy looking stuff in the feedback too so Paypal becomes a good option here.

Cheers

Kim

[J.F. Custom]

I did just mention that in my previouse post Jeremy...

Somehow I missed that last paragraph Kim.

...like wise the point about the batteries reaching their use by date.

Yes, my comments on batteries was agreeing with you but mentioning it's not limited to this set - from experience, it seems to be a common problem with these items from China. However, I pointed further that replacement batteries from the same suppliers (ex China) are often a little dodgy too. So my point at buying one locally (Dick Smith, Chemist etc etc) that you can check is from a fresh batch with a lengthy use by, I would think is a valid one. My suggestion 'tis all anyhow.

Should also add that I did look at the carbatec option but shipped they're around $75 all up for something I bet has come from the very same production line

Yes, different beasts, but worth double is certainly questionable and a valid point - I was simply making people aware of it's existence. The second part of your comment here is not necessarily likely and an unfortunate assumption that many make on Chinese and Taiwanese goods. There are many manufacturers of these items in those countries making similar, if not direct visually identical copies. That does not make them the same. In this instance, I personally have no idea if the supplier of these and Carba-Tec's units is one and the same. Odds would be in favour they are different (due to numbers) more than the same, but it's quite possible. Still, personally I'd leave bets off the table on this point

...and the truth is that Carbatec's feedback can be interesting at time also...

Indeed I agree.

... but I guess that depends on which one you use.

Not sure I follow you here. Do you mean me personally? Which supplier I use? If so I use many, as I'm sure you do. My digital calipers of which I have two sets, are neither from Carba-Tec or this eBay store. If you are commenting on the pointer to the feedback - I try to provide honest feedback on any supplier without bias. Irrespective of this, I was pointing it out for a laugh - not to dissuade business with the eBay store. I think this is a positive aspect to eBay in that it does allow buyers to check their source prior to purchase. Obviously you are coming from the perspective of a happy customer which is great - I don't think pointing out that there are many unhappy customers is a bad thing or "nit-picking". It is quite true that many if not all suppliers have happy and unhappy customers. I'm really not sure what to make of your comment; perhaps I have completely misread it.

I did look at this guys negative but could see nothing directed at this particular product so I went ahead and am happy I did. I noticed that some of the bad seems directed at re-deliver charges requested by the courier for second attempt at delivering heavy items. That would not be anyone's fault but the buyer for not being there as arranged...and my two orders have come in an express post satchel so no issue there. That said there is a bit of dodgy looking stuff in the feedback too so Paypal becomes a good option here.

Yep - a lot of negative feedback is left without due cause unfortunately. A failing of the system? But then, we can decipher that as we read it so it all helps. I've never had to use the Paypal security but I agree it is reassuring that some avenue of dispute is available at times.

Jeremy.

[Kim]

... but I guess that depends on which one you use.

Not sure I follow you here.
Jeremy.

Just saying that there is at least one Carbatec in each state Jeremy and I have seen mixed feedback, both good and not very good at all and that difference seems to depend upon which of those stores one is doing business with.

P.S. My money is still on both products coming from the same production line, or at least containing the same PCB/chipset.

Cheers

Kim

[J.F. Custom]

"...the truth is that Carbatec's feedback can be interesting at time also but I guess that depends on which one you use..." - Just saying that there is at least one Carbatec in each state Jeremy and I have seen mixed feedback, both good and not very good at all and that difference seems to depend upon which of those stores one is doing business with.

Ah - That makes more sense! Apologies, my misunderstanding and thanks for the clarification.

P.S. My money is still on both products coming from the same production line, or at least containing the same PCB/chipset.

Cheers

Kim

Oooh, you are a risk taker!! Still, your money is safe as we'll never know...

Cheers,

Jeremy.

[Clancy]

Both batteries dead
Still don't know if it works

Update: They work