Ever since I read a few weeks ago about building a router sled, I thought that a caliper (digital?) might be a useful tool to have around. For instance, in the article I read, they used a caliper to measure the distance between steel rods emanating from the router base.
In looking at them online, I've noticed quite a range. Some are over $100. Inexpensive stainless-steel ones are available for about $14.00. HB has a different one on sale this week for $9.99. Junk? Accurate enough for woodworking? At this point I don't even have a workspace, but I have been collecting a few tools. I can imagine using such a tool also to help measure the width of a guitar neck that I intend to carve (rasp). Seems like it might be useful to calculate a nut's size too, so that you would choose the right wrench or socket the first time.
Please educate me a little...what do you think? Do the "old fashioned" plain metal calipers, the ones that look sort of like a compass used for circle-drawing, have any advantages? I think in high school I used one of those and then held it up to a ruler (for some turning work).
Thanks Bill