I could use some input, I want to add a precision miter to my new Griz CS. I’m considering the Kreg, Incra and Jessem.
I’m impressed with the stoutness of the Jessem but, have read less than favorable reports regarding accuracy and customer service is not up to par. I have an inquiry out to them right now that is not being answered.
The Incra seems to have a mechanism that could be easily damaged, hence my hesitation there.
I’m leaning towards the Kreg.
A major consideration would be if I can add a sacrificial fence in order to establish zero clearance and still be able to use the flip stop.
Your opinions and experience is appreciated.
Edited 7/15/2009 10:05 am ET by RonT
Replies
I have (had for years) the incra 1000se and use it all the time with my Griz 1023slx. Sweet and accurate as the day is long. With the vernier (pardon the sp) scale, I can get down to a half degree and the hold downs are great. It adjust to fit your slot as tight as you lilke. Works on the left and right and easy to switch. With the micro adjust you can sneak up on a width by the thou. Absolutely no issues with it. If I had it to do over Id get the same one in a heartbeat.
The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.' - Renaldus Magnus
Have you attached a sacrificial face for zero clearance and ease of blade alignment?
If so, how has that affected the use of the flip stop?
Ron
I have only used a fence once. I don't use a sacrificial fence most of the time. I don't need one. I align it up to within a schosh of the blade with a zero clearance insert and go. I mean its tight. Never had an issue because I have no slop in the slide it's perfect. this is where the bar adjustments are nice. Zero lateral play. I did try one by using a 1/8 piece of hardboard because I was cutting 45's on 1/4 round 7/16" wide for holding glass in a door. It is groved that you could put in a larger one. I just slapped a piece of DS tape. I used the flip stops to hold it down and it was so small I was not comfortable pushing it through. That had no effect on the flip stops. I used the far stop as an end stop and the other to hold it down and a pencil eraser at the end near the blade and pushed it through getting it close and shaving off a 1/2 turn of the thread on the fine adjustment (it aint much) til it fit like a glove. I did two doors with 6 panes each and by the end I was getting it in two cuts. Only missed on two. Luckily I had spares. Anyway Like I said its the best thing for sneaking up on a cut or hitting that angle cut I've ever seen. I also have the incra LS120 positioning system for the router table. It does the same thing for the routher that the miter gauge does for the TS. Have a good one!
I notieced your question about bending the fingers. I'll assume you mean where the gauge attaches to the fence. I would hope your not cross cutting logs with it (just kidding). I use mine and put it to the side in a safe place and have never had any issues.
The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.' - Renaldus Magnus
Edited 7/15/2009 2:39 pm by bones
Edited 7/15/2009 2:41 pm by bones
Have you considered the Osborne? What sold be on the Osborne design was the support strut (greater rigidity across the length of the face), along with it's ability to be accurately tuned. Plus, its adjustable face allows the edge to be located very close to the blade, albeit not zero clearance.
I have the Incra also, ableit an early version without the extension. What part are you thinking might be too delicate? I've had no issues with durability, but then again I'm careful by nature.
I'm glad you chimed in, I knew you had an Incra 1000; I considered e-mailing you direct. The head is thin and I have concerns about bending of the indexing fingers and the veneer mechanism.
What can you tell me about using a sacrificial face and how it affects the stop block?
Thanks.
Ron
"Bending the index fingers" -- Hmmmmm, what exactly do plan to do to this thing that would bend those fingers? ROFL!! Actually, I doubt they'd bend, but if you hit them with a cold chisel and hammer, they might break. The head is made of heavy steel, not aluminum. You really would have to get rather crazy with the thing to break off those teeth. If I'm missing something, hit me with it (you know, the 2x4 between the eyes approach).forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
can you put a sacraficial fence on these mitre gauges?
Absolutely. I mounted my fingerjoint jig to the Incra head. I've mounted a regular aux. fence to the Incra fence to get zero-clearance backup behind special cuts.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
The fact that there's not a lot of mass in the head leads me to believe the thing must be flimsy. Negative thinking I suppose. That's the reason for this post, to get feedback. Thanks.
I was kidding you a little bit in my last post. Without a wink View Image or a shock View Image emoticon, that's hard to get across. View Imageforestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
I have the Incra 1000SE. The flip stop assembly is built so that you can attach a 3/4" thick x 2 1/2" high (max) sacrificial fence and still be able to use the stops. The fence attaches to the miter bar with T-nuts (provided) so you can easily slide it to re-establish your zero clearance when necessary. The user's manual (available online) actually explains how to build the sacrificial fence.The only complaint I have about my 1000se is that the angled bracket that links the protractor to the miter bar was not at 90 deg to my table saw top so I had to shim it. Oddly enough that seems to be a common issue since there is a tip in their manual about fixing this issue.Regards,Senomozi
Thank you, you are the first to answer the question regarding the sacrificial fence attachment.
I have done enough research that I have decided to purchase the Incra 1000SE.
I got a heck of a deal on one at Amazon.com. $105.00 delivered.
Looking forward to mounting it on my new saw.
That's a great price, Ron. I got a good price on the regular 1000 that I bought years ago, probably because shortly thereafter, the SE model came out. I've always been frustrated to not have the SE, that Amazon offering is pretty tempting.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
I bought a Woodhaven deluxe gage about ten years ago and I highly recommend it.
Hi Ron,
I'll "third" the Incra 1000se! I've had it for a number of years and love it! I've had no issues what so ever with it!
Regards,
Mack
"Close enough for government work=measured with a micrometer, marked with chalk and cut with an axe"
I've had the Incra 3000 for a few years and it's great. Extremely accurate, and I've even dropped it a couple of times with no damage.
I just got the Jet Supersaw with the sliding table (and no left side miter slot), but am keeping my Incra and will learn to use it on the right side. It's that good IMHO.
Your opinions and experience is appreciated.
Make a wooden slider box that fits exactly to your two slots in the table... Mine are QS oak but metal will do. I have mine for years and I replaced one runner.
The hard part is making a curve to fit a bolt for a clamp to fit small objects..
And a slot for where the blade goes through. As in a replaceable plywood backer plate..
My Incra 1000? is wonderful if I need it
Edited 7/22/2009 12:25 am by WillGeorge
I considered forgoing the gauge all together and using a sled. I have one I made using a phenolic base and an adjustable aluminum fence, it's a single slot.
I can index it to preset angle stops using a couple of allen wrenches and its dead accurate and smooth. I can also adjust it in between angles using a draftsmen adjustable triangle.
I have reservations that I may have gone overboard with this new gauge but, it will be a little more versatile and quicker to set up and I'll be able to nail half angles when needed.
Thanks for the input.
I have the JessEm and, you're right, it is plenty beefy. I've had no problems regarding accuracy. That doesn't mean it's perfect for my setup, though. I have a Jet SuperSaw (yeah, I fell victim to the slick advertising when it was first introduced) and, for some reason, they decided to mill the miter slots an odd distance from the blade (I don't remember the measurement but it's further from the blade than most -- at least 2") which makes setting the JessEm a little tricky if you want to use the stop.
If I have any gripe with the JessEm, it's that you can only use it in the left miter slot. I prefer to use the right miter slot for cross-cutting (don't ask) and it is impossible to configure the JessEm to use that way.
Otherwise, it is a work of art.
♫ If you’re OCD and you know it wash your hands ♫
I am a big fan of Jessem I have their router table, fence, mite-R-slide & lift. And have never had a problem with any of the Jessem products.
I was really thinking about getting the"Mite-R-Excel", I had never given much thought to not being able to switch it over to the right side of the blade. I guess it was one of the things I just "assumed". I'll have to give it some thought.
Now I must go wash my hands again, ROFL. I know I shouldn't laugh, it is really a tough problem for some people. My wife has worked in the Mental Health field for some time now. Our son thought it was funny when he found a new Ring tone for my cell phone. The voice you hear when it rings is" You have reached the Mental Health help line................." then it goes through giving instructions to all the various disorders, "OCD's just hit redial". ........
Well I was unaware of the ringtone switch, and I was picking my wife up at here office. So while I waited I sat down to read a magazine in a very busy waiting room. Well my phone rang...... but because I didn't realize it was my phone it just kept listing disorders and instructions. Half the waiting room was busting a gut laughing while the others found no humor in it at all. Once I realized it was my phone, I quietly snuck out the door and went to wait in my truck. But I knew I was was in big DoDo with the wife. Luckily the clinic director just called me to tell me that would not happen again, correct.
Even though our son got a good talking to, he is still proud of how he made Dad squirm.
Taigert
View Image
Hey Taigert,
Hahahaha! That was pretty funny, wish I had been there.
Yeah, I love JessEm products, too. I bought the Mite-R-Excel (actually, my wife bought it on my recommendation as a birthday present) it because I already had their router table and loved it. Don't get me wrong, I still think it is a superior miter guage, just one with a simple flaw.
I suppose my sig could be taken as offensive by some, but the only reason I use it is because, admittedly, I've got a touch of OCD myself -- nothing serious, just a touch. Your son sounds exactly like my son!
♫ If you’re OCD and you know it wash your hands ♫
I caught that detail, not being able to use the fence on the right side, when I was previewing the gauge. I use the left side of the blade for my work but, recognized I may have to move to the other side for special projects and would not be able to use the fence.
For the price difference, the Incra is a better value. I also considered I wouldn't have to keep track of loose index pins with this gauge.
I guess the questions is; do you like a Ford or a Chevy!
I received my new Incra 1000SE yesterday and set it up. WOW. I think I'm going to like the accuracy and versatility of this fence. Its beafy and tight.
I'm confident I made a good choice. Looking forward to my next project!
Enjoy, Ron! I realized yesterday while cross-cutting some sides for a small stand, the downside to the nice Makita SCMS is that I don't get to use the Incra as much. Darned little thing works so good!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
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