Brent Leonard
04-09-2009, 11:19 PM
I just purchased the Incra 1000SE as it was on Amazon for just under $100.
I had been thinking of either buying this product, another brand miter gauge with a fence, buying an aluminum fence to attach to my factory gauge or simply making my own hardwood fence. So the Incra was my venture due to the recent price.
I am the type of person who prefers more traditional methods over all the gadgets. I don't shun gadgets, but when I buy a gadget, I want to be able to get ALOT of use out of it. If there are cheaper alternatives, by using traditional methods or I can build my own jig, I usually will.
That being said,
I played with it tonight and wanted to give my thoughts on the product for anyone else that perhaps was thinking the of buying one....
The Incra product is very sturdy and well thought out. It seems extremely accurate once you set it properly to your saw. For 90° cuts I use a shopbuilt sled that has served me very well. My miters have always left something to be desired right off the table saw (even after always meticulous setting of my factory gauge). I always have to put the perfect angle/bevel on my cut at the disk sander. It has gotten me by with no major complaints, just another step in the process.
The Incra gauge is a lot larger and heavier than the factory gauge. Of course it will be due to the fence attached, but the ease and speed of just pulling out the ole miter gauge is now a tad bit more cumbersome. Handling the Incra kinda feels like handling a stout precision tool (as it is and should be).
Just as everyone has stated on every site out there, the Incra 1000SE is an excellent tool and worth the $100 I paid for it. For 90° cuts, I would say it is not necessary. For mitered angles, it really excels. If you cut all your miters on a miter saw or RAS, it may not be needed.
I expect it will see a lot of time on the top of my TS, even replacing my trusty sled for a lot of cuts in the future.
I had been thinking of either buying this product, another brand miter gauge with a fence, buying an aluminum fence to attach to my factory gauge or simply making my own hardwood fence. So the Incra was my venture due to the recent price.
I am the type of person who prefers more traditional methods over all the gadgets. I don't shun gadgets, but when I buy a gadget, I want to be able to get ALOT of use out of it. If there are cheaper alternatives, by using traditional methods or I can build my own jig, I usually will.
That being said,
I played with it tonight and wanted to give my thoughts on the product for anyone else that perhaps was thinking the of buying one....
The Incra product is very sturdy and well thought out. It seems extremely accurate once you set it properly to your saw. For 90° cuts I use a shopbuilt sled that has served me very well. My miters have always left something to be desired right off the table saw (even after always meticulous setting of my factory gauge). I always have to put the perfect angle/bevel on my cut at the disk sander. It has gotten me by with no major complaints, just another step in the process.
The Incra gauge is a lot larger and heavier than the factory gauge. Of course it will be due to the fence attached, but the ease and speed of just pulling out the ole miter gauge is now a tad bit more cumbersome. Handling the Incra kinda feels like handling a stout precision tool (as it is and should be).
Just as everyone has stated on every site out there, the Incra 1000SE is an excellent tool and worth the $100 I paid for it. For 90° cuts, I would say it is not necessary. For mitered angles, it really excels. If you cut all your miters on a miter saw or RAS, it may not be needed.
I expect it will see a lot of time on the top of my TS, even replacing my trusty sled for a lot of cuts in the future.