Replies

1. 
   sawduster | Jun 13, 2003 05:41am | #1

   I bought the Incra 3000 and find it exceeds my needs for the time being. I dislike the aluminum fence, but it is still very functional. I'm sure the others you listed are good, but some do not have all the flexibility of the Incra. I think you have to ask yourself if you want a good gauge and buy one that meets your needs, saving some money, or buy the Incra or equal and bring your skills up to the level where you can really appreicate it. Hope that is helpful.

2. 
   Len | Jun 13, 2003 06:38am | #2

   I have a Incra 2000. I don't have a single complaint. I got it from Woodpeck.com

   http://www.woodpeck.com/specials.html

   $139 on special.

   Len

3. 
   forestgirl | Jun 13, 2003 06:43am | #3

   BG, I've had the Incra 1000 for a couple of years now, and absolutely love it.  The one thing I'd do differently, perhaps, is get a telescoping fence for it.  They now offer the 1000SE, which has the telescoping fence and FlipShopStop as part of the package:
   http://www.incra.biz/Products/Miter1000se.html

   If you go to the page above, you can also look at the other models the Incra comes in.  For my purposes, the 5* increments are fine, with the 22.5* and 67.5* provided.  If you do a lot of many-sided pieces, the finer 1* stops might be needed.

   Why do I like it?  It's been absolutely perfect once set to 90*.  I don't have to double-check other angles, just set and cut.  It's very, very solid, and I like the aluminum fence.  I've made two auxiliary fences for zero-clearance cutting of miters and such.  One thing with the 1000, though, is if you move it to the other side of the blade, you need a way of remembering to adjust the fence out of the way of the blade (or at least I do 'cause I've nicked it twice after spacing out).

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

4. 
   Telemike | Jun 13, 2003 07:29am | #4

   After years of using various mitre gauges, both storebought and shop modified, and a selection of sleds, I just bought a new table saw with a sliding table.  All the posts that criticize american saws for not having sliding tables are right on.  Now, I wouldn't get a table saw without a sliding table.

1. 
   forestgirl | Jun 13, 2003 07:36am | #5

   Well, that ups the ante on Father's Day, doesn't it?!!?forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

5. 
   SgianDubh | Jun 13, 2003 09:33am | #6

   Well, business being a bit slack of late I got the chance of a wee part time number at a woodworking tool shop. It's an interesting experience, and looking closely at American style table saws for only the second time in my life is an education in itself.

   Having now looked more closely at cross-cutting options on this type of saw, options which are rather poorly served really on contractor and cabinet saws-- I'd have to say that of the aftermarket options available for cross cutting, that any of the products from Osborne and Incra look pretty good for small cross cuts.

   They all seem to have made good and practical efforts to reduce sloppiness in the bar that runs in the channel, a big cause of inaccuracies, and all have addressed to a lesser or greater extent the issue of fixing an angle at the protractor accurately and consistently. Some have nice extending aluminium fences with built in length stops-- very useful, even if a bit short. It's my reading of the situation-- as normal-- that the less you pay, the less you get. So save 50 or so bucks now, and you might have to pay for it in frustration later, which depends on your needs-- major frustration for a professional might be no more than a slight inconvenience to an amateur.

   None of these aftermarket fixes really address the fundamental flaw attributable to them all, that it's the case that cross cutting devices guided by bars and channels in the table are a third best option. The length of cut is usually very limited which is often fine with solid wood, and you can of course reverse the guide and extend the cut by having the fence at the front rather than at the back of the piece of wood.  But all of them are hopeless at dimensioning large pieces, such as plywood-- they can't cross cut a full sheet of 4' X 8' for instance-- which is a very common cross cutting operation.

   Basically, you can get a fairly useful add-on cross cut device for small parts for a bit over $100, or spend a bit more and get something that works better again-- about $200, and up. If you need serious crosscutting capacity, you have to think of adding an aftermarket cross cutting table at a few hundred bucks, and if handling panel products is a major part of your business, then you wouldn't even think of buying a Powermatic, General, or Delta, but you'd be lusting after a European made Casolin, Altendorf or a Martin, all of which are $10,000 and up, ha, ha.

   Absolutely in reference to nothing in this thread, for something under about $1,000, I think the new'ish Jet Super saw looks interesting. It supposed to be 1-3/4 HP, has a half decent dust collecting system, being an enclosed cabinet that houses the motor with a 4" port, but lacking really efficient dust channeling, a belt tensioning system incorporating springs somewaht reminiscent of some European saws, and a wee sliding table that will cut half a sheet of ply. The splitter and crown guard look a bit iffy, but I need to take a closer look at that to really form an opinion, and you can fit a few different rip fence options to it, if I remember rightly.  Slainte.

   Website                I just didn't like being 'me', so my alter-ego is back, ha, ha.

6. 
   BG | Jun 13, 2003 05:12pm | #7

   All,

   Interesting comments from one and all, I thank you. 

   It became painfully obvious when I did my research on cabinet saws that the American design was perhaps the least safe. ..especially as it relates to cutting full sheets of ply...or any dimension of 1/4" ply.  My TS will accomodate a sliding table..unfortunately the space limitations will not.  

   As Cee indicated, I'm interesting is uping the quality a bit...like a true repeatable 90 degree cut..maybe even branch out to include a 45 degree...(pushing the limits here).  I have always thought the Incra was the way to go, however, in a recent review some complained about the quality of the method for tightening the bar in the miter slot..indicated wheels fell off, etc.  Have any of you had this come up as an issue?

   Also, it appears the Osborn design takes some/more of the space before the blade than others....this is valuable territory.  Am I correct in that assumption?

   Lastly, the Accu-miter, with its weight, might be an advantage when cutting longer stock.  Interestingly, this miter came out on top in the evaluation.

   Richard J, if you want to become fabulously wealthy over night..take your new found free time and develop a solution for 'glue-ups'...I am so sick and tired of busting my hump with accuracy and then having the glue-up put angles and gaps where there shouldn't be any...gees.

        

1. 
   forestgirl | Jun 13, 2003 07:48pm | #8

   "indicated wheels fell off, etc. "   WHHAAAAA?  Hosepucky!  That's ridiculous!  The only "problem" I've had is that my miter slots (old and abused) weren't very even from front to back, had to smooth them out a bit for the gauge to work right.  Those little wheels are not going to fall off unless (possibly) you tighten them so much that you break them!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

7. 
   MikeN | Jun 13, 2003 10:09pm | #9

   I have the Osborne EB3, and I am very satisfied with its accuracy and repeatability. 

   Sincerely,

   Mike Narges

   
   

   ---

   Edited 6/13/2003 3:51:23 PM ET by Mike

8. 
   SparrowHawk | Jun 14, 2003 01:07pm | #10

   Hi BG,

   Well, to throw my .02 into the pot ... I've got the Incra 2000 and am very pleased with it. It is accurate to repeatable 1* increments plus the slide can be adjusted for a snug fit in your table. You can even reassemble it to work on the right side of the blade if you wish. I can't compare it to anything else except stock miters that come with table saws but there really isn't much of a comparison there either. It seems to me that everybody who has an aftermarket miter is very happy with theirs so I bet you will find that whatever you buy will suit your needs very well once you get used to it.

   Ken

1. 
   BG | Jun 14, 2003 04:16pm | #11

   SparrowHawk,

   I suspect your correct, like table saws or to put it another way...'let me tell you the wisdom of my decision'.  I did go over to Woodcraft last night....mistake #1.  They had a full compliment of options relative to Incra and the Osborn also.  I had looked at Woodpecker and knew the 1000se could be had for $122 plus shipping ($7) wait about a week for the brown truck(mistake #2).  The Osborn looked very nice but I had this $129 figure running through my brain....and the $189 was a significant jump.

   Anyhow, I convinced myself that having local support would be important and bought the 1000se for about $155 with tax.  So, while I'm sure I'll be happy with the tool, there aint no wisdom in that price to brag about......lol  

1. 
   SparrowHawk | Jun 14, 2003 05:36pm | #12

   Hello BG,

   I am quite sure you will be very happy with the 1000SE. I actually don't need the capabilities of my 2000 but I figured maybe one day ... well, you know how THAT goes ... but at the time I had the $$$ and it seemed like a good idea. Have you ever noticed that all those ideas that seem so good at the time somehow always end up being expensive or is it just me? Sigh.  Oh well, I have never regretted the purchase and I'm sure you won't either.

   Ken

2. 
   forestgirl | Jun 14, 2003 07:24pm | #13

   BG, what's $14 in the overall scheme of things, anywho, right?  You've kept the money in the community, helped support a local brick-and-mortar business (we're having some trouble these days, with the internet and all, y'know) and some of that tax goes into the local coffers too.  Have fun with your new toy!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)