Hello Everyone! I’ve a $10 question about the Wixey planer gauge. The price as gone up by about $10 since I added it to my Amazon cart last night!!!!! I was wondering how people like the Wixey digital planer gauge. I just got my new DeWalt 735 and was thinking about tricking it out some. The first question is if it is easy to adjust the zero scale if I sometimes use a planer extension table? I have a 3/4-inch thick by 8-ft long Melamine/Particle Board table that I use for long pieces. I slide it into the planer bed and support the ends for planing long boards. Since I don’t use it all the time, how easy is it to change the scale to account for the 3/4-inch extension table. I use it about 60% of the time.
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Replies
Not sure if the planer gauge works the same as the digital gauge that I use on my tablesaw fence.
When I have to reset the fence I simply rip a board, measure it with calipers, move the fence the exact amount that the board measured, reset the gauge to zero.
Frank,
How do you like the fence gauge? Would you recommend it? My new saw fence is a Euro-style fence that doesn't have cross hairs.
Was it hard to install?
I was about to get one for my combo unit when I looked the photos of the unit more closely.
It appears to me that installation is "make it up as you go" kind of job. Check it out.
Frosty:
I mounted one on the tablesaw portion of my MiniMax combo and love it.
I mounted the Wixey unit to my Dewalt 735 about a year ago. It worked tolerably well and was easy to adjust for zero. However I found that I could not rely on it in an "absolute" sense since the zero would move. I found that this was due to the flimsy mounting bracket. TTo solve this problem I constructed a mount out of Richlite, a phenolic material that can be cut with normal wood tools. The results were outstanding. So my recomendation is "trick out" your 735, it is a great planer, but to do so be prepared to replace that useless flimsey bracket for the Wixey.
Can't comment about regularly
Can't comment about regularly changing zeroes, but I can say it was well-spent money when I bought mine a couple years ago. It has saved me time many times (ahhh, bad sentence), and I'm really glad to have it.
As Davidah states, you don't have to stick to their mounting method (they offer double-stick tape or a screwed-on option).
If you could live without it for awhile, and are good at checking prices on a regular basis (Amazon, Woodcraft, Rockler), chances are you could get it for noticeably less within the next few months.
Thanks for the info FG!
Saving time and hopefully being less confused is my goal. It was while using the 735 the other day when I had my Melamine extension table in the planer. I got distracted and cranked the handle a half turn again... Blamo! I had planed everything to 1-3/32 instead of the 1-1/8 that I was going for.
I don't yet have the extension steel wings for the planer so I'm using my 8-foot extension for the time being. The 8-foot bed is pretty nice to have though!
I didn't know they made one
I didn't know they made one for the portable planers, I think for accuracy it is a good tool to have - even at the only one dollar off, it would compliment my Wixey angle guage nicely. However, a good set of Veneer calipers would be more useful and at least as accurate, this is what I use now.
I actually do use calipers, my wife bought me Starret dial calipers for Christmas a few years back! I love them and use them all the time, but it didn't help me out when I forgot and accidentally cranked the planer an extra 1/32 lower. If I was able to read a scale on the planer, it wouldn't have happened.
BTW: Isn't that Wixey digital angle gauge just an amazing gizmo to have? I love mine!
good point. and the perfect reason to get one!
I have been wondering about one for the planer and drum sander. I love the angle toy, thats what got me drooling!!
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