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Digital Angle Gauge?

3K views 36 replies 16 participants last post by  wormil 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
How are these gauges? I see pictures of it resting on a table saw blade reading 45 degrees. Is this accurate? Does it reference the table top? Or does the table have to be level on the floor? Certain spots in my garage aren't perfectly level. Just curious. Is it worth getting?
 
#2 ·
I have a Wixey … it references the table top. You set it on the table, press the 'Zero' button, then move it to the blade and set your angle. It isn't super accurate (measures in tenths of a degree), but I have been happy with it.
 
#4 ·
These are great little shop helpers, I have both the mechanical angle finder and the Wixley digital.
Not only can you put your blade at an exact 45 or 90, you can adjust your miter gauge to a perfect 90 …
 
#6 ·
I have a Wixey … it references the table top. You set it on the table, press the Zero button, then move it to the blade and set your angle. It isn t super accurate (measures in tenths of a degree), but I have been happy with it.

- TheDane
It is a very versatile tool that is very accurate. 1/10 of a degree. I use it on all my tools for set up and calibration.

You will wonder how you got along without it.

- timbertailor
So is it accurate or not?
 
#8 · (Edited by Moderator)
They are awesome. Great technology.

Some take a 9v. battery. I'd recommend one
of those over one that takes little disc batteries.
There have been complaints about disc batteries
in these things and digital calipers going dead
quickly.

I think mine is by i-gauging. Takes a 9-volt.

I used to measure precision bevels using a custom-made
steel apparatus with a dial indicator mounted in it. I
still had to do trig to figure the angles but at least
it was repeatable. This is when I used to do a lot
of coopering.
 
#10 ·
I scoffed at them, and always used a drafting square to set up 30/45/60/90. Then I saw a Wixey on CL for $10 and grabbed it. I love it. Make setup easier because I'm not trying to hold the square, set the angle and lock the blade all at the same time (I have the Bosch 4100 so having two hands on the angle adjustment/lock is nice). Also good for checking jointer, drill press, miter gauges, etc.
 
#11 ·
I love the WIxey angle gauge, and other assorted devices, they can be great and speedy to use, but, whenever I go to grab it the batteries are usally dead, and I go back to my Starret tools to do the job. If i'm in the midst of something and know I'll be using the tool I check and get batteries for the project ahead of time so I'll have it, but for the hobbyist like myself, I find the cursing of dead batteries has surpassed the gee wiz thats a slick tool
 
#12 · (Edited by Moderator)
I've had the Wixey for 2 years now and on same battery just turn off after use.

Iwud4u: accuracy is in the eyes of the beholder evidently. I would say the Wixey is accurate to the .1 of a degree. You can decide if that is accurate enough for you.

The one thing I have found is the batteries need to be kept near room temp (60 degrees or so) if they get very cold near freezing it can affect the accuracy of the device.
 
#13 · (Edited by Moderator)
I take the batteries out. Turning it off turns off the display, but I have been told the damn thing still runs with the screen off.

Iwud4u - 1/10 of a degree is very accurate. Does not go into the 100 or 1000's of a degree, but 1/10 of a degree is rarely used unless calculating latitude and\or longitude and represents less than a 0.1% error. Insignificant for our purposes over such a short range.

Repeatability, on the other hand, is flawless and that is what one should really be concerned about.
 
#14 ·
I take the batteries out. Turning it off turns off the display, but I have been told the damn thing still runs with the screen off.
- timbertailor
This is true. According to their website, they still consume battery while off in order to maintain calibration. Don't know about everyone else, but the first thing I do when I turn it on is put it on the reference surface and zero it out. Again, according to their website, the type 1 angle gauge (uses the disc-type batteries) should last over 6mo if you turn it off when not in use (power consumption decreases by 50%). Type 2 (uses AAA battery) should last over a year.

I don't go to the hassle of removing the battery when not in use, just because I'd probably lose the little disc battery, and I can buy a two pack for like $5 which should last a year or more.
 
#17 ·
That's why this place is so great you can always learn something, I'll try taking the batts out, course I'll have to remember to bring them in from the cold too, but I've got the same problem with the big batt tools too!
 
#18 ·
I've had my Wixley for over 7 years, and I can remember changing the battery once, I think it cost around $3.
I don't think I would go thru the hassle of removing it … losing it or the lid …
And accuracy ?? Well 1/10th of a degree really makes a difference if you are going to the moon or mars, but in a 1 inch increment it is less than the thickness of a hair at 45 degrees and will appear as a nice tight miter.
Some time ago the folks at Eveready suggested storing unused batteries in the refrigerator to prolong shelf life … Just an interesting point … but if you want to keep them in your pocket and incubate them I guess that's your choice. ... Sure seems like a lot of hype for a $3 battery that lasts over a year.
 
#20 ·
I really like the Wixey gauges. Extremely accurate and I get the most use out of it when cutting miters on the table saw. I have two… one I keep by the table saw and I have one mounted on my Grizzly planer.
I have only changed the battery once on the planer one since I bought it years ago. The battery on the one on the table saw has been replaced twice since 2008. I bought 10 spare batteries and they just sit in my desk drawer.
 
#22 · (Edited by Moderator)
I have an app for my iPhone, it has a zero button so you can make it relative to the top. I actually used it to install carseats in our driveway (the driveway has a slope, but the carseat has a reference line on the side that's supposed to be level when on level ground, so I can re-zero the level to the driveway, then hold that against the level line on the seat).

However, as you pointed out, the magnets are where its at. You don't want to have to hold the phone in place while you make adjustments. I saw someone else once posted a project that held an iPhone (or some other smartphone) and had magnets on it. But, that seems like a lot of work to replace a relatively inexpensive, proven solution.
 
#23 ·
I can fore see a oaken frame for the smart phone, with magnets, and a post-it note pad; and a small chain with a pencil at the end … and a bottle opener.

Please remember that I am usually smiling when I make these posts, and I love the dry humor.
 
#25 ·
So is it accurate or not?

If you are cutting staves for a segmented vase (e.g. 7.25 degrees) it makes for a lot of trial and error to get the angle dialed in. Otherwise, it is fine.

- TheDane
If I were cutting staves, as I am sure if it were anyone, you would cut your angles on some sample pcs first to check your angles (no matter what the angle finder shows) and then make your slight corrections to perfect the angles.
So wouldn't it be a mute question as to if it is accurate enough to cut staves at 7.25 degrees?
 
#26 ·
So wouldn't it be a mute question as to if it is accurate enough to cut staves at 7.25 degrees?
It wouldn't be 'mute', but I suppose it could be 'moot'. You evidently missed my point when I said "... it makes for a lot of trial and error to get the angle dialed in."
 
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