Replies

1. 
   Steinmetz | Jan 24, 2005 10:17am | #1

   Dave,

   Buy three miter gauges. (Make them dedicated)
   #1: set at exactly 90 degs.
   #2: set at exactly 45 degs RH.
   #3: set at exactly 45 degs LH.

   Tighten them real tight and don't drop them.

   Hang them from the ceiling on hooks

   Add long wood extensions and glue coarse sanding belt cloth on each one.

   Steinmetz.

   
   

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   Edited 1/24/2005 2:20 am ET by steinmetz

1. 
   scooter1 | Jan 25, 2005 01:28am | #6

   Hardi Har Har.Steinmetz was probably trying to be funny, but really, accuracy of the Miterguage isn't that important to me. 99% of the time it is set at 90 degrees anyway. The times that it is set at a different angle, you'll still have to run some test pieces through and adjust that angle in any case.I buy cheapie Deltas and have about 5 some with holddowns, some with outrigers, one attached to a finger jig, and a couple extras. Five c r a p p y miter guages are better than 1 really good one.Regards,
   Boris"Sir, I may be drunk, but you're crazy, and I'll be sober tomorrow" -- WC Fields, "Its a Gift" 1934

1. 
   forestgirl | Jan 25, 2005 07:15am | #12

   "The times that it is set at a different angle, you'll still have to run some test pieces through and adjust that angle in any case."  That has not been my experience with the Incra.  Once it is calibrated 90* to the saw blade and the table, and you know that your table saw is tuned correctly, the inbetween angles are dead on.  All those "teeth" are milled very accurately.  Might have to check for making a many-multi-sided item, but certainly not for 45*  or any other standard operation.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

1. 
   MatthewSchenker | Jan 25, 2005 05:14pm | #15

   Forestgirl,
   I agree with you. Once I calibrate my 1000SE, it is perfect. It runs in the miter slot with no slop, and it is a perfect 45 or 90, or any other angle.The whole design of the Incra gauges gives you an impression of high accuracy -- they simply look and feel well made and convey precision. When you use them, your impressions are confirmed!

   Edited 1/25/2005 9:15 am ET by Matthew Schenker

1. 
   scooter1 | Jan 25, 2005 11:05pm | #16

   My point is that most of the time your miter guage stays at 90 degrees and for jigs, the miter guage stays at 90 forever. There is no point in buying an Incra and slapping on finger joint jig. And I don't care how finely crafted these are, I am not taking a piece of walnut and relying upon any miter guage for a 45 degree miter through a table saw. I will run a test piece and see what is going on.If the miter guage is not ever going to be attached to a jig then by all means invest in an accurate one should you chose to do so. I do almost no mitering on the TS and instead use slider, which is far more accurate and has less slippage issues than a miter guage. I do like the miter guages with stop blocks and outrigger fences, as they make fine cutoff tools, but my slider has that too, and is about 10 times as safe as a TS.But each to his own.Regards,
   Boris"Sir, I may be drunk, but you're crazy, and I'll be sober tomorrow" -- WC Fields, "Its a Gift" 1934

2. 
   Mackwood | Jan 26, 2005 05:09am | #18

   Boris,

   I bought my 1000SE after messing around a bunch cutting pieces for a six sided box.  I have an old Unisaw that's been tuned quite nicely and the miter gage has had the bar set up to remove all slop.  The miter gage is very accurate @ 90/45 degrees.  For any other setting it sucks!

   For the size pieces I will be cutting @ weird angles, I think the Incra unit will be most excellent (at least!) and well worth my investment.

   Regards,

   Mack"WISH IN ONE HAND, #### IN THE OTHER AND SEE WHICH FILLS UP FIRST"

2. 
   Dustmight | Jan 25, 2005 02:23pm | #13

   Hi Boris - Yeah, I agree whole heartedly....5 lousy miter gauges are better than one good one.  Just like 5 inaccurate squares are better than one good one!  ;-)

   p.s. and don't forget, 5 dull cheap blades are better than one good sharp one!

    

   Edited 1/25/2005 6:24 am ET by sliversRus

2. 
   forestgirl | Jan 24, 2005 11:06am | #2

   There've been a few discussions about this over the years.  Here's one link:
   http://forums.taunton.com/tp-knots/messages?msg=19423.1

   Couldn't seem to find any of the others.  As you'll see, I'm partial to the Incra 1000SE or the 3000.  Never cared for the 2000.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
   Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

3. 
   Dustmight | Jan 24, 2005 02:34pm | #3

   My experience with aftermarket gauges is limited to the Osborne 3 and the Incra V27.  The Osborne 3 belongs to a buddy.  It's alot more sophisticated and expensive than the V27, but unfortunately he got it while they were having some quality problems.  He got three different gauges that were all inaccurate, and Osborne wasn't particularly helpful.  It seems like a nice gauge when you get one the works well.

   The V27 is very simple and very good within it's capabilities....no extension arm, 5* detents, etc. The adjustable bar is good too.

4. 
   bones | Jan 24, 2005 03:35pm | #4

   I would vote for the Incra 1000se. I love mine. There are more expensive models, but this one is nice in the middle.  It has fixed stops in 5 degree increments and an extension rail with a stop block. I replaced the one that came with my cabinet saw and have used nothing else since. The rail adjusts easily and the stop block has micro adjustments. Wood peckers has free shipping on purchases over a hundred I think. (Call and verify).  I just received a note from woodpeckers weekly email club flyer, that this is on sale $20.00 off this week.  At $119 after discount it's a good deal. If interested use the coupon code below. Good luck on the decision.

   The coupon code is MSE20

   http://www.woodpeck.com/miter1000se.html

5. 
   woodensplinter | Jan 25, 2005 01:19am | #5

   Don't know much about other aftermarket miter gauges.  Got an Osbourne EB-3 for Xmas.  The fence was out of square with the gauge bar and the table (it leaned back towards the operator).  For the price, I think the fence could be truer as well.  Contacted Excalibur (e-mail), no response.  Contacted Osbourne.  He suggested I contact Excalibur.  At this point in time, I'd at least suggest staying away from the Osbourne.

   
   

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   Edited 1/24/2005 5:23 pm ET by wooden splinter

6. 
   MatthewSchenker | Jan 25, 2005 01:42am | #7

   David,
   I purchased the Incra MITER 1000SE a few months ago and I really like it. It has a very solid feel, positive angle stops, and nicely engineered calibration to square it with your fence. It telescopes from 18" to 30" and it comes with a great stop. It also has a system for tightening it in your miter track that really works. And I like the handle! I use mine in a router table, but I assume it would be just as nice in a table saw.

   Actually, I've bought several Incra products and really like all of them.

   Here's the link:
   http://www.woodpeck.com/miter1000se.html

   
   

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   Edited 1/24/2005 5:43 pm ET by Matthew Schenker

7. 
   Mackwood | Jan 25, 2005 03:20am | #8

   david,

   I'll cast another vote for the Incra 1000SE.  At the price another poster was talking about, I'd buy it quick!

   Regards,

   Mack

   "WISH IN ONE HAND, #### IN THE OTHER AND SEE WHICH FILLS UP FIRST"

1. 
   dukeone | Jan 25, 2005 03:51am | #10

   Mack: I've several items from WoodHaven including their miter gauge, it all seems first rate. No wizz-bang stuff just solid, clean, straight and square.
   KDM

2. 
   bones | Jan 25, 2005 03:59pm | #14

   The e-mail club price runs for a week, so the $20.00 off will expire on Friday when the new flyer comes out. I will say, they are like sears.  If you miss a sale, it will come by again in a couple months.

8. 
   Shaker | Jan 25, 2005 03:48am | #9

   I have limited use of the miter guage, but I just bought the one from JessEm. Enough said.

   Shaker

9. 
   sawdustmaker | Jan 25, 2005 04:24am | #11

   The latest issue of Woodsmith has an article on this. They recommended the Woodhaven, Incra 1000, and the Kreg. Incra got the nod for having "all the bells and whistles".

10. 
    PelhamPete | Jan 25, 2005 11:07pm | #17

    Consider this as yet another vote for the Incra 1000.  I have one for my table saw (Jet Cab, left tilt), and one for my router table.  I also bought the Incra V27 for use in a bells-and-whistles shooting board (that I only have completed the rough prototype so far- but it works great and will plan on making another one out of premium materials) ... the V27 works great as well. 

    Setting up the Incra miter gauge that first time can be a hassle as they recommend it being done.  I ignored their approach and use precision shim stock (between the head brackets and the fence) to square it up initially.

    A related aside- I haven't tried any of the other miter gauges on the market, so perhaps this ought to be taken into account as it applies to how much my vote should/does count for.

    -Peter T.