Choosing a dial bore gauge

ZachBecken said

Is it a bad idea to get a Starrett or mitutoyo brand dial and swap it on a cheaper tool like the Fowler or should I just keep a look out for a good used piece?

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I'd buy good used measuring equipment before I'd buy cheap. A good Dial bore gauge is accurate to .0001 of an inch in temperature and humidity controlled environment. You also need to know what you are doing. A cheap one is accurate to .001 of an inch at best, and I doubt they are that close. A lot of critical clearances/dimensions/tolerances are in the .0005 range.