Replies

1. 
   JoeCoty | Nov 21, 2002 07:15am | #1

   I have th TS-Aligner Jr.

   It is comforting to have precision adjusted machinery, especially when there is no one to ask for a trained eye. I am very happy with this unit however many people get by without this equipment. I didn't have enough experience to guessimate.

1. 
   DennisS | Nov 21, 2002 09:16am | #2

   I bought the full Monte A-Line-It thingie when I bought my new table saw. I wanted to get it set up first rate and didn't have any other tools around that I thought would suffice. Then I read (forgive me for not recalling who posted it) about using a brass screw in a piece of wood fitted to another piece that slides in the miter slot that works quite well for checking fence alignment, blade runout, and a few other things.

   None the less, to respond to the question at hand, yes, it's a great little tool to have around. I've checked runout on the spindle of my aging drill press, can check router setups and use it to set my jointer knives closer than with using a straight edge on the outfeed table.

   The full system has almost everything you'll need to check and/or set up just about any machine in your shop. What's lacking, though, is a magnetic base attachment. I bought one at Sears but didn't have the tool with me and found that the size of the hole in the dial indicator doesn't match the post on the mag base. Not something I can't fabricate. But would be nice if the A-Line-It came with one.

   ...........

   Dennis in Bellevue WA

   [email protected]

2. 
   rslatm | Nov 21, 2002 04:51pm | #3

   As someone who has worked on tuning woodworking machines in industry for years before all thes gadget were available I wouldn't waste the money. The folks selling those gadgets talk about accuracy most metal shops don't even bother with unless workong on space shuttles and such.  A set of feeler gauges and a $12 dollar dial indicator from Enco will work fine.  It's knowing what to adjust and how to get a feel for it that's worth paying for.  I'd recommend bying a few books as a far better alternative.   Duginske and White would be good start and probabably all you need.  I have a set of tools for setting up machines that can be put together for around $120  including a 6' straightedge and that's at todays prices not 20 years ago.

   Rick

   http://www.taunton.com/store/pages/storesubcat_inc2.asp?cat=134&cols=2&template=bookblock2.asp&title=%3Cimg+src%3D%2Fstore%2Fmedia%2FPowerTools%2Egif+border%3D0%3E&subcat=PowerTools