Replies

1. 
   TomS | Dec 11, 2004 07:55am | #1

   In the October '03 FWW there is a review of after-market miter gauges. (Article by Tim Albers)

   Excellent rating:
   Woodhaven Deluxe, JDS Accu-miter, Woodhaven Standard
   Very Good Rating:
   Delta Deluxe, Anglewright A30,
   Good Rating:
   Incra Miter 1000
   Fair Rating:
   Rockler Sur-Loc, Incra Miter 2000 & 3000, Osborne EB-3

   TomS

2. 
   bones | Dec 11, 2004 05:51pm | #2

   I had that same question a while back. Some folks here recommended the Incra 1000se.  They were right on the money. It's a very accurate MG. They make a version with more bells and whistles, but for me it as everything I need and is reasonably priced.  It's been very accurate since I first set it up.  I have other Incra products and they are made really well and are designed for accuracy. You can get it from many places, here is where I got mine.

   http://www.woodpeck.com/miter1000se.html

3. 
   nikkiwood | Dec 11, 2004 07:22pm | #3

   I think they are all pretty good. But I do have a point that might not be immediately apparent as you look at them.

   The Woodhaven and the Incra both use a system to make sure their bar rides snuggly in the mitre guage slot. The Woodhaven uses tiny graphite plugs (mounted on either side of the bar -- which you can turn in/out for a tight fit. The Incra uses several screws in the bar that control expansion strips.

   The problem with the Woodhaven is that the plugs catch on the edge of the table when the guage is positioned away from the table (for a wider cross cut), and then pushed thru the mitre slot. Because of the expansion slots, this is not a problem for the Incra.

   Certainly not a big problem, but irriatating nonetheless.

4. 
   forestgirl | Dec 11, 2004 08:23pm | #4

   I bought an Incra 1000 several years ago, before the SE version was available.  The SE has a telescoping fence (18" - 31").  The Incra is extremely accurate, solid, and easy to adjust for the miter slot (you don't have to pull it out of the slot to adjust the tightness).  Here's the page at Incra.

   I looked up the article mentioned above, where the 1000 was rated only "good."  I was astounded.  He ranked the Incra 1000 below a "Delta Deluxe" which is simply a heavy-duty standard miter guage with a clamping handle and a few detents, and according to the author is "difficult to set up" because the plates that contain the stops "tended to shift when they were bieng locked down."

    His main concern with the 1000 seemed to be that the stop and T-slots were small.  Not something I've heard complained about by people who own it, though.  The one thing I have heard reported is that not every fence is perpendicular to the table when it arrives.  A little shimming takes care of this.  Mine was perfect.

   At $139 (Woodpeckers) the 1000SE is a bargain compared to most of the other after-market gauges.  The 2000 and 3000 are probably overkill for most woodworkers.  I dislike the 2000 because of the 1/4-circle design, which can't be swiveled the way the 1000 and 3000 can be.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
   Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

5. 
   biznazion | Dec 12, 2004 08:16am | #5

   I don't feel qualified to answer most posts here, but this one I can add to. I have an Incra 3000 and I've been very happy with it. It's way overkill for what I do, but it's dead acurate and repeatable. I can't remember where I got it (somewhere online) but it came with a short and long fence along with a nice stop. Highly recommended.