Your Experiences with Digital Angle Gauges/Levels (like Wixey, AngleCube, etc.)
texastommy
| Posted in General Discussion on
I have spent about an hour looking at customer feedback and reviews of various AngleCube-type devices. I am a little more educated on the genre, but not any closer to a purchase decision. I am not interested at the moment in digital protractors. I am looking for advice on the best or worst AngleCube-type device. Would like strong magnets, ability to return angle with respect to true dead level as well as angle with respect to a non-level surface, good accuracy, a good 90-deg angle between side registering surface and bottom registering surface (with magnets on each), and a reliable auto-off feature so my batteries last for more than one use. V-grove on registering surfaces a plus.
Any thoughts?
Replies
I have a magnetic Wixey angle gauge and level and I really like it. I can positively verify sawblade angles (table and band), drill press angles, and quickly. There are other methods to do the same thing, but it's fast and reliable.
Thanks, CS. Which Wixey do you have?
I've had the Wixey for many years, and it is useful. I'd buy one again.
I have a Tilt Box magnetic angle gauge from Lee Valley and am pleased with it. Makes for super fast adjustment/verification for table saw, miter saw, drilling, band saw table, jointer fence, etc. No problems or issues so far. I have had it for around 3 years. Since its battery powered, when not using it, I do store it inside the climate controlled house along with tools like electronic calipers, dial indicator/base, meters, etc. vs. in leaving those devices in the heat and cold of the garage shop.
I had a Wixey for years and was happy with it, but it eventually died. The Wixey was not solid state - it had a pendulum mechanism inside that eventually started sticking from sawdust or something that eventually found its way in. I replaced it with an iGaging cube which is all solid state. I bought the backlit one, which I would not recommend - the view angle is very narrow, so you end up kneeling to site along the top of the table saw (or whatever tool it's on). The non-backlit model no doubt has the same accuracy but not the viewing problem.
I don't see the value in these digital angle gauges.
I bought an AccuRemote Angle Gauge (4.5 stars on Amazon) and it was off by a tenth of a degree. How do I know it was off? Because I set my tablesaw blade to 90 degrees with my Starrett combo square then checked it with the digital gauge and it read 89.9 degrees.
I double checked the blade-to-table angle with 2 other Starretts and verified the digital gauge was the culprit.
The specification sheet that came with my digital angle gauge clearly says it's accurate to within a tenth of a degree so they don't claim to have Starrett-like accuracy.
Looking at the WR300 on the WIXEY website, I see they only claim accuracy of plus or minus 2 tenths of a degree. That's fine for setting the sharpening angle of my chisels but not for cutting picture frame miters IMHO.
Mike
I use mine the same way. If I need a 4 degree tilt on my disc sander, it's handy, and I don't care if its off by even a few tenths. But for setting a table saw blade to 90 degrees, it is lacking.
I use a 'Hamden' brand I got on Amazon. I'm perfectly happy with it.
I use it all the time for setting up tools, including my table saw. I find it's very accurate. I've checked it a few times with a couple of squares (Starett, Empire and Shinwa) and never found it off.
I keep it stuck to the top of my table saw fence... The magnet on the bottom keeps it there, ready at a moment's notice.
I'd buy it again.
I have a Wixiey and have used it with great accuracy. The only thing that I hate about it is if you don't use it that much I have to take the battery out, because if left in the device it drains the battery.
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That drives me nuts! I can't tell you how many batteries that thing has consumed.
I have two different electronic calipers. One kills the battery in storage, while off, and the other does not.
Bad design.
My Wixey was OK but ate batteries too fast for me. I tried an igaging from Rockler and it ate batteries at an unbelievable pace, returned it.
The Beall Tilt Box rocks. I have the original version still in use and a Tilt Box II as well. The Tilt Box II is smaller than the original and has an updated accuracy claim of only .2 degrees.
I have never noticed any issues with either so, maybe my Tilt Box II is old enough that the old .05 accuracy applies. Bevel cuts on the tablesaw, jointer and other odd-ball angle setting jobs are a breeze with these.
I posted a pic of me setting the tablesaw miter gauge with one years ago. I see replays of this here and there in print and on the web. That's all well and good but, the accuracy still falls to the device and there are soooo many poor ones out there.
My igaging unit has a rechargeable battery that charges via USB cable. Haven't charged it in over a year or more and it's still working.
Wixey...new ways to use every time in the shop and only $29👍
I have tested my igaging rechargeable using the igaging squares - they read the same - 90.0 Can strongly recommend the device. And the squares.
I have the Wixey, have had it for at least 7-8 years, and while the battery issue can be a pain, I have found it to be very accurate.
That being said you want to make sure you are zeroing it out on a surface you know is, and will stay, flat. Specifically, I am referring to not going off your throat plate as a reference, unless you are absolutely certain it's in plane with your table top. Any deflection in the throat plate is going to throw off the accuracy of the cube. On my Sawstop I switched out from the stock throat plate and only use zero clearance plates because the stock plate is split at the back to allow for riving knife and blade guard and can deflect when pressure is applied downward in some operations. That changes the angle the material is presenting to the blade and makes the cube appear to be inaccurate.
There is error in the accuracy of every, and I mean every, measuring device. It just depends upon the level of accuracy that is required. A fixed angle tool will be the most convenient and afford sufficient accuracy for woodworking setups (eg. Starrett squares). However fixed angle tools don't come at unusual angles (22.5 degrees). This is where a Wixey would be suitable. Is +-0.1 degrees (my older Wixey) sufficient or does one need the accuracy of sine bar and gauge blocks on a granite base? ....and then which of the 4 grades of gauge blocks are needed? ...and how much money should be spent to get that accuracy? Everything is a trade-off.
While a Wixey could be used to set up a table saw mitre gauge, for example, there are inexpensive fixed pin jigs that are more suitable. For setting a blade at 90 degrees, use a fixed square. However, I can't think of a better tool to set an unusual bevel on the blade than using a Wixey.
I have an Igaging cube works fine.
I've got a tilt box II and i believe it checks all your boxes, not sure about the auto off. I'm guessing it does as I've never changed the batteries in 5 years.
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