I have been using my Stanley tape measure and an old Vernier caliper to measure the size and dimensions of pliers and fasteners.
Unfortunately, the scale of my old caliper is now faded and quite difficult to read. Most of the time I have to draw it close to my eyes and squint a little to make a reading. Sometimes I wipe the scale with some whitewash to reveal the faded laser-etched markings and later clean it off.
This experience with my old trusty dial caliper has been nothing short of frustrating and I am considering replacing it with a digital caliper for obvious reasons.
Advantages of a digital caliper over dial caliper
A digital caliper has many advantages over an analog Vernier caliper. Firstly, a digital caliper is easier to use and the screen is easier to read from a distance. Secondly, most digital calipers allow you to convert the readings between metric and imperial scales. These are features you cannot find on an analog caliper.
Thankfully, before I even ordered a digital Vernier caliper, Qfun came through. The company sent me a Qfun digital caliper to test it and I thought it would be nice to showcase it here.
I know this breaks the rules of this website because Pliersman is a pliers website but which tool enthusiast doesn’t need a Vernier caliper?
A Vernier caliper is an important measuring tool to keep in your toolkit. You can use it to measure how wide pliers open and the pliers’ dimensions. It is also useful for measuring jewelries and fasteners such as hog rings and snap rings.
Qfun Digital Caliper Unboxing
Packaging
The first impression of the Qfun digital caliper is a quality tool. It comes in a compact blue molded case. The case locks nicely to keep the caliper secure. It is also hard enough to withstand the weight of other tools in the toolbox.
Qfun digital caliper and accessories
The first thing you see when you open the hard plastic case is a nice-looking caliper, microfiber cloth, spare battery, and a user manual.
The digital caliper has a large screen and three buttons. It has a 15 cm scale and a depth gauge. The scale has both mm and inch markings. The three buttons on the screen are the on/off, zero, and units buttons.
The on/off or power button is for turning on and off the display. It lets you extend the life of the battery by allowing you to turn off the display when the tool is not in use.
The zero button is for zeroing the tool or resetting it. You use it when you suspect that the measurement you are getting is not accurate. To zero the caliper, simply close the external measuring jaws all the way and press the zero button. This resets the tool to the true zero.
You can also use the zero button to set a relative zero for differential measurements. This helps you to get the difference in the size of two objects. To set a relative zero, adjust the external or internal measuring jaw to the place you want your zero point to start. Once you finish making the differential measurements, reset the caliper to the true zero point using the first method.
The mm/in/fraction button is for converting the readings between inches, mm, and fractions. Simply press it to toggle between different displays. The default reading however is in mm. The resolution of the scale is 0.01mm or 0.0005″ or 1/128 and the accuracy is 0.02mm.
Final Remarks
Overall, the Qfun digital caliper looks like a quality tool. It is accurate, easy to adjust, and easy to operate. What I like most about the tool kit is the hard plastic case that ensures the caliper remains safe inside a toolbox. I also like the large screen and the large numbers that are easy to read from a distance. The only drawback is the lack of backlight on the screen. It makes the tool unusable in a poorly lit space.
All in all, Qfun digital Vernier caliper is a nice affordable tool for measuring the size of small objects and gaps with precision. It is a great replacement for my old trust analog caliper. I will use it to measure the internal and external diameters of snap rings and other fasteners. It is a must-have tool for measuring bore sizes and shaft sizes.