Spent $800 on a digital angle finder and it changed how I set up my saws

I used to rely on a good old steel square and my eyes, but after a few jobs with tiny gaps I knew I had to try something new. The Wixey digital gauge cost me about $800, which felt like a lot for a tool that just reads angles. But getting my table saw and miter saw dialed in to a tenth of a degree meant my joinery just clicked together, no more fussing. Anyone have a different tool that saved them from those little fitting headaches?

3 comments

3 Comments

perez.christopher1mo ago

That Wixey is a game changer for sure. I had a similar moment with a dial indicator setup for my planer. Cost about 200 bucks, but being able to get the bed perfectly parallel to the cutterhead stopped all that snipe on the last inch of every board. It's one of those tools you don't know you need until you use it, then you can't go back. The time saved not having to sand out those imperfections paid for it in a month.

faithb741mo ago

Ever try one of those laser levels for hanging shelves? I got one on sale and it saved me so much time fixing my own crooked work.

barnes.morgan26d ago

$200 for a dial indicator setup feels like a lot until you realize it's cheaper than therapy for snipe rage (and way more effective). I'd probably spend the savings on a nice level for my clearly-not-square walls, honestly. Laser or not, my shelves still end up with a "rustic" tilt that I swear was intentional.