RN

RayV

30/12/2007 7:29 PM

Incra miter gauge

Was out in Pittsburgh this weekend so took advantage of the chance to
visit Rockler. Nice store with plenty of helpful guys. I almost
bought this Incra miter gauge for $49 (on sale).
http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=11471
but on closer inspection the pointer isn't close enough to the scale
to get an accurate reading if you don't have it in one of the notches.
(big picture)
http://www.rockler.com/gallery.cfm?Offerings_ID=11471&TabSelect=Details

Am I missing something here? I think I am better off with my Jet
gauge that the pin falls out of than $50 for a gauge that the pointer
isn't close enough to the scale to read it.

The more expensive Incras come with a flimsy piece of metal that you
can shift into position to read the scale accurately but I think it
would easily get bent or snapped off.
http://www.rockler.com/gallery.cfm?offerings_id=16842&r=1

Of course I didn't walk out empty handed, I bought the Incra
positioning jig and can't wait to try it out.
http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=11494


This topic has 10 replies

MO

Mike O.

in reply to RayV on 30/12/2007 7:29 PM

01/01/2008 7:33 PM

On Tue, 01 Jan 2008 08:48:54 -0800, Larry Blanchard
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Would someone who does use odd angles frequently please explain the need?

We do a lot of stair building and the run and rake angles are often
not on one of the 5 degree increments. When cutting skirts and other
stair parts, repeatability is pretty handy.

Mike O.

ML

Maxwell Lol

in reply to RayV on 30/12/2007 7:29 PM

31/12/2007 10:34 PM

B A R R Y <[email protected]> writes:

> Maxwell Lol wrote:
> > Yeah. IMHO a flawed design unless you limit the use to "common"
> > angles.
>
> Not true at all. I've been using a fence-equipped version of that
> same Incra for years.

Ah - sorry for the error.

ML

Maxwell Lol

in reply to RayV on 30/12/2007 7:29 PM

31/12/2007 8:13 AM

RayV <[email protected]> writes:

> Was out in Pittsburgh this weekend so took advantage of the chance to
> visit Rockler. Nice store with plenty of helpful guys. I almost
> bought this Incra miter gauge for $49 (on sale).
> http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=11471
> but on closer inspection the pointer isn't close enough to the scale
> to get an accurate reading if you don't have it in one of the notches.
> (big picture)
> http://www.rockler.com/gallery.cfm?Offerings_ID=11471&TabSelect=Details

Yeah. IMHO a flawed design unless you limit the use to "common" angles.

I like my Kreg. Common angles can be set quickly, but any angle can be set
and adjusted.

LH

"Lowell Holmes"

in reply to RayV on 30/12/2007 7:29 PM

01/01/2008 5:12 AM


"Mike O." <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Sun, 30 Dec 2007 19:29:18 -0800 (PST), RayV
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
snip
> You are correct that this gage is not very handy for repeating odd
> angles. It is very accurate at the angles provided with the notches.
> I have another gage for the limited occasions I need repeatability at
> the odd angle.
> I always thought though that it would be fairly simple to add a
> pointer (even if it wasn't as fancy as the one on the higher end
> models) and wonder why INCRA hasn't done it. I guess they want us to
> spend a little more for the better models. I think that marketing
> technique must work because I've done that too.
>
> Mike O.

I have the $59 gage and find it to be very accurate and repeatable. If I
need an angle the gage doesn't set easily, I have an adjustable triangle
that I use to set the gage or in some cases a bevel square does the trick.

BA

B A R R Y

in reply to RayV on 30/12/2007 7:29 PM

31/12/2007 1:50 PM

Maxwell Lol wrote:
>
> Yeah. IMHO a flawed design unless you limit the use to "common" angles.

Not true at all. I've been using a fence-equipped version of that same
Incra for years.

"Common" angles have stops, but the device is continuously variable by
leaving the "tooth" out of the "cog" and tightening the handle to lock.

Lr

"Leon"

in reply to RayV on 30/12/2007 7:29 PM

31/12/2007 3:02 PM


"RayV" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Was out in Pittsburgh this weekend so took advantage of the chance to
> visit Rockler. Nice store with plenty of helpful guys. I almost
> bought this Incra miter gauge for $49 (on sale).
> http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=11471
> but on closer inspection the pointer isn't close enough to the scale
> to get an accurate reading if you don't have it in one of the notches.
> (big picture)
> http://www.rockler.com/gallery.cfm?Offerings_ID=11471&TabSelect=Details
>
> Am I missing something here? I think I am better off with my Jet
> gauge that the pin falls out of than $50 for a gauge that the pointer
> isn't close enough to the scale to read it.
>
> The more expensive Incras come with a flimsy piece of metal that you
> can shift into position to read the scale accurately but I think it
> would easily get bent or snapped off.
> http://www.rockler.com/gallery.cfm?offerings_id=16842&r=1
>
> Of course I didn't walk out empty handed, I bought the Incra
> positioning jig and can't wait to try it out.
> http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=11494

I have always viewed that particular gauge as simply a common angle gauge.

LB

Larry Blanchard

in reply to RayV on 30/12/2007 7:29 PM

01/01/2008 8:48 AM

On Tue, 01 Jan 2008 05:12:01 +0000, Lowell Holmes wrote:

> I have the $59 gage and find it to be very accurate and repeatable. If I
> need an angle the gage doesn't set easily, I have an adjustable triangle
> that I use to set the gage or in some cases a bevel square does the trick.

Although I just got mine, I plan on setting odd angles the same way.
Although with the presets for 3,4,6,8,9,10, and 12 sided constructs, I
can't imagine needing odd angles very often.

Would someone who does use odd angles frequently please explain the need?
Cutting wedges is the only thing that easily comes to mind.

MO

Mike O.

in reply to RayV on 30/12/2007 7:29 PM

31/12/2007 9:05 PM

On Sun, 30 Dec 2007 19:29:18 -0800 (PST), RayV
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Was out in Pittsburgh this weekend so took advantage of the chance to
>visit Rockler. Nice store with plenty of helpful guys. I almost
>bought this Incra miter gauge for $49 (on sale).
>http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=11471
>but on closer inspection the pointer isn't close enough to the scale
>to get an accurate reading if you don't have it in one of the notches.
>(big picture)


You are correct that this gage is not very handy for repeating odd
angles. It is very accurate at the angles provided with the notches.
I have another gage for the limited occasions I need repeatability at
the odd angle.
I always thought though that it would be fairly simple to add a
pointer (even if it wasn't as fancy as the one on the higher end
models) and wonder why INCRA hasn't done it. I guess they want us to
spend a little more for the better models. I think that marketing
technique must work because I've done that too.

Mike O.

tn

tiredofspam

in reply to RayV on 30/12/2007 7:29 PM

31/12/2007 2:31 PM

I have the incra 1000se... I don't have any problem with the thin metal
piece. Love the miter.. accurate.
My only beef was the angle used for the fence isn't 90 to the table.
I had to use shims to get the fence perpendicular.

Well worth the money.. Wish it had a bigger sliding bar for the
fence/stop. often I am cutting bigger pieces. But for that I made my own
stop to use when it is longer.

RayV wrote:
> Was out in Pittsburgh this weekend so took advantage of the chance to
> visit Rockler. Nice store with plenty of helpful guys. I almost
> bought this Incra miter gauge for $49 (on sale).
> http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=11471
> but on closer inspection the pointer isn't close enough to the scale
> to get an accurate reading if you don't have it in one of the notches.
> (big picture)
> http://www.rockler.com/gallery.cfm?Offerings_ID=11471&TabSelect=Details
>
> Am I missing something here? I think I am better off with my Jet
> gauge that the pin falls out of than $50 for a gauge that the pointer
> isn't close enough to the scale to read it.
>
> The more expensive Incras come with a flimsy piece of metal that you
> can shift into position to read the scale accurately but I think it
> would easily get bent or snapped off.
> http://www.rockler.com/gallery.cfm?offerings_id=16842&r=1
>
> Of course I didn't walk out empty handed, I bought the Incra
> positioning jig and can't wait to try it out.
> http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=11494

Tt

"Tyke"

in reply to RayV on 30/12/2007 7:29 PM

31/12/2007 8:58 AM

You are correct, this is the low end Incra design which does not allow easy
setting of the angles between the notches.

The other Incra mitre gauges, such as the 1000SE do have such a feature.
Incra calls this a vernier cursor. I have this model, and have been very
happy, but it does cost more.

I have rarely needed to use the vernier cursor to get the slightest
off-notch angles, but when I did, it worked well and was as able to reset
the angle as the notches, it just takes a little more time.

Dave Paine.

"RayV" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Was out in Pittsburgh this weekend so took advantage of the chance to
> visit Rockler. Nice store with plenty of helpful guys. I almost
> bought this Incra miter gauge for $49 (on sale).
> http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=11471
> but on closer inspection the pointer isn't close enough to the scale
> to get an accurate reading if you don't have it in one of the notches.
> (big picture)
> http://www.rockler.com/gallery.cfm?Offerings_ID=11471&TabSelect=Details
>
> Am I missing something here? I think I am better off with my Jet
> gauge that the pin falls out of than $50 for a gauge that the pointer
> isn't close enough to the scale to read it.
>
> The more expensive Incras come with a flimsy piece of metal that you
> can shift into position to read the scale accurately but I think it
> would easily get bent or snapped off.
> http://www.rockler.com/gallery.cfm?offerings_id=16842&r=1
>
> Of course I didn't walk out empty handed, I bought the Incra
> positioning jig and can't wait to try it out.
> http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=11494


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