I decided I needed a couple more dial calipers. I like Mitutoyo, but they are expensive, and I'm not crazy about it when I have to toss an expensive set of calipers 50 feet across the shop to try and hit a garbage can.
I've got a 12" Fowler caliper, assorted verniers, a couple Mitutoyo, a couple no name, and 24" Anytime.
They each have an issue. Squishy measurement, markings not as sharp as they should be, markings closer to wrong line, price, etc.
I went to McMaster-Carr to see what they offered. Of course they had Mitutoyo and one or two other expensive brands, but they listed one that just said McMaster Approved. McMaster shows them as made in China. Usually when you click on product detail you can figure out the brand, but not this time. They are not cheap, but they are cheaper than Mitutoyo. I ordered a couple sets anyway. A 6 and an 8 inch.
When the new calipers arrived I was surprised at the brand. The brand is more well known (at least to me) for cheap battery powered stick on DROs. McMaster said made in China, but some sources claim they are made in California.
At first I was not happy. They look sharp, and may have the best markings, and be the easiest to read dial calipers I have ever used, but they felt crunchy.
I blew them out, cleaned the rack, blew them out again, and used them. They felt better, but not silky smooth. I was prepared to replace them the very next time I had a little cushion in the tool budget.
I've been using them for a couple months now. A few times a week, and several times a day some weeks. They have completely smoothed out. Almost as nice under the thumb as my Mitutoyos, and much easier to read. I have gotten in the habit of wiping the jaws, and checking zero every time with calipers, but these hardly drift at all, and they are very repeatable. I would buy them again. In fact I might buy some more soon for other areas in the shop
The name? Some of you already know, and some probably figured it out. iGaging.
Posted this a last Sunday via polytheft forums. I was at the hospital with a family member posting from my phone, and I still haven't found a mobile Usenet client. I figured if the polytheft forums can scavenge our content to falsely inflate content for their for profit website I should be able to post from there. Seems every post om their forum requires manual approval, and a week later my post never appeared.