The Miter 5000, made by Incra, combines the accuracy of the Miter 1000 miter gauge with the advantages of a tablesaw sliding table. And while it can’t offer the generous cutting capacity of the dedicated sliding tables found on some big, expensive tablesaws, the 5000 proved to be a worthwhile addition to my Delta Unisaw.

A 36-in.-long fence provided good support for long boards, and it includes an unusual stop system that was easy to employ.

When making angled cuts, the 5000 offered remarkable accuracy. The protractor head swings through a complete 180º arc, which is handy for making either right- or left-handed miters. When you’re finished using the jig for crosscutting or mitering, and you need to do some ripping, the 5000 simply slides off the saw.

The protractor head may be set in increments as small as one-half a degree. Easy-to-operate thumbscrews and locking handles keep everything securely locked in position.

The 5000 does have a downside, though. Because it sits on top of the sawtable, the jug reduced the thickness-cutting capacity of my saw by 1/2 in.

By the way, Incra includes all of the parts needed to use the indexing head as a stand-alone miter gauge, also known as the Miter 3000. If you already have the 3000, you can buy a kit that converts it to a 5000 for about $170.

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