While a sliding T-bevel gauge is indispensable for angled work, I’ve often wished that mine was marked off in degrees, like a protractor. A T-bevel may provide an excellent way to match the angle of a splayed leg or an inside corner, but it is a less-than-ideal tool.

When you must work from a known degree setting, such as when cutting compound angles, making miters or polygons, or laying out dovetails, a bevel gauge needs help. Also, when you hold the bevel against a miter-saw fence or a tablesaw miter gauge to set the angle of the cut against the sawblade, it’s easy to throw off the setting. And then, because you never had a reading on the actual angle, you have to spend time sneaking up on the cut. The Bevel Setter is etched with precise settings from 0° to 60°, with a long stop to lock in any setting. On its reverse are common dovetail angles and 12 standard settings for polygonal work. (Quick, you have to make an octagonal frame, what’s the bevel setting for the miter cuts? This tool will give you an answer fast.) The tool is also marked in 1/16-in. graduations on each long edge.

Fine Woodworking Recommended Products

Starrett 4" Double Square

Head is easy to remove, replace, and lock down; narrowest blade, at 5⁄8 in., made it easier to fit into tight places; hard to read under bright lights.

Buy at Woodcraft Buy at Amazon

Starrett 12-in. combination square

This accurate, robust, well-machined, easy-to-read combo square is as great as ever.

Buy at Amazon

Lie-Nielsen No. 102 Low Angle Block Plane

With smooth, precise adjustments and wonderful balance, this compact block plane is a joy to use. It doesn’t have any bells and whistles, but there’s not a better block plane available for the money.

Buy at Direct