Harvey MG-36 Miter Gauge?

[Steve Mathews]

Where is the Harvey MG-36 Miter Gauge made? I'm looking to purchase either the Jessem miter gauge or this one.

[Steve Eure]

Harvey is a Chinese company, so I assume it's made in China. This company also contracts with several of the other higher end tool
companies here in the states. They are a very reputable company and are well respected for their quality tools.

[Phil Mueller]

You might want to check out the Wood Whisperer’s recent YouTube vid reviewing a number of miter gauges, including Harvey and Jessem. There is also a “rebuttal” from Stumpy Nubs on the Harvey. Both worth looking at before buying a premium gauge. Watch Wood Whisperer first, then Stumpy.

[Robert Engel]

I can't figure out why the price dropped from 399 to 319. That's a pretty big discount, isn't it?

I watched them both, interesting, but I would never pay that much for a miter gauge anyway.

[Steve Mathews]

I watched both the Wood Whisperer's and Stumpy Nubs videos. The former appeared specific to the features of the gauge while the latter more like sponsored damage control of the Wood Whisperer critique. The Incra 2000 that I now have works fine but is cumbersome switching from one side of the blade to the other. Both the Harvey and Jessem gauges make that adjustment easier. I tend to shy away from anything made in China (not Taiwan) so I'll probably purchase the Jessem miter gauge.

[Bryan Lisowski]

I have heard great things about the Harvey miter gauge. If you want another review go to Kev’s woodworks on YouTube and watch his review.

[George Kasten]

I just received a Harvey MG-36 miter gauge with my new Harvey HW110LC-36 table saw. The fit and finish is very impressive. It's solid, accurate and easy to use. I'd been using an Incra 1000SE for years with a Delta Contractor Saw and it worked fine too, but I think the Harvey gauge will be nicer to work with. If I hadn't received the MG-36 as part of a table saw package, however, I don't know if I would have spent so much money on a miter gauge.

[Steve Mathews]

I have heard great things about the Harvey miter gauge. If you want another review go to Kev’s woodworks on YouTube and watch his review.

I watched Kev's video review but found it bland compared to the indepth review by the Wood Whisperer. I'm getting the impression that some are getting overly enamored with the MG-36 glitz. A fancy box and colorful anodizing does not make a good miter gauge.

[Ray Newman]

I came across the miter gauge brouhaha by happenstance yesterday, so I decided to watch both videos. First the one by Wood Whisperer, then the Nubbs. As Steve Matthews posted, I agree the Nubbs video was damage control. What aslo caught my attention was that the Whisperer purchased all of the miter gauge for his test.

Myself, for about the last 15+ years I an INCRA 1000SE. Never felt the need to upgrade it and it has done everything I needed it to do.

And as Steve Matthews mentioned about some who are over enamored with the Harvey glitz, I have observed that with a great many other tools on other woodworking sites. In my opinion, a great deal of one upmanship and keeping up with the Jones' occurring.

[Frank Pratt]

d
I watched Kev's video review but found it bland compared to the indepth review by the Wood Whisperer. I'm getting the impression that some are getting overly enamored with the MG-36 glitz. A fancy box and colorful anodizing does not make a good miter gauge.

I've watched a few of his videos & can't say I've actually made it all the way through one. He just makes me want to do something more exciting, like watch some paint dry.

[Marc Fenneuff]

I came across the miter gauge brouhaha by happenstance yesterday, so I decided to watch both videos. First the one by Wood Whisperer, then the Nubbs. As Steve Matthews posted, I agree the Nubbs video was damage control. What aslo caught my attention was that the Whisperer purchased all of the miter gauge for his test.

I thought it was strange that Stumpy didn't address the fact that TWW said he contacted Harvey tech support about the pointer issue and after a couple rounds with them was told that it was working as designed. Marc's gauge pointer did seem to differ mechanically from Stumpy's.

[Clifford McGuire]

I watched both videos and don't know what to conclude. And I say that as someone who owns three Harvery products.

This is what we get when YouTube'ers get sponsored by products. Their objectivity goes out the window. You could tell that Stumpy Nubs was in damage control mode. And it's the viewer that suffers.

I'm a big consumer of YT woodworking videos. But I avoid the ones that are sponsered (which are becomming fewer and fewer).

[Robert Hayward]

I can't figure out why the price dropped from 399 to 319. That's a pretty big discount, isn't it?
I paid $269 for mine less than a year ago.

[Doug Garson]

Watched both videos. My takeaway is Harvey has a quality control issue but more important they have a customer service issue. The one Mark got was clearly defective. Whether it was fixable by adjusting mounting screws we don't know. Harvey's customer service agent should know and if so should have advised Mark how to adjust it AND offered to replace it. Some have suggested that James should offer to help Mark fix it. James was clear none of the ones he has have the issue so why would he be any better qualified to fix it than Mark?
Someo have characterized James video as damage control. Put yourself in his shoes, you have used and recommended a product and a respected fellow woodworker posts a video showing a clearly defective one. What would you do?
I think the ball is in Harvey's court. They need to contact Mark and make it right.

[Kurt Wyberanec]

I can't figure out why the price dropped from 399 to 319. That's a pretty big discount, isn't it?

I watched them both, interesting, but I would never pay that much for a miter gauge anyway.

I am a big fan of Bridge City tools and have many from both the US and Chinese new era. I know that John as put and continues to put a lot of work in with Harvey to ensure the highest quality and so far he has done a great job and when there have been any issues they fix them.

That said, in terms of the MG it seems like a very nice piece and I have no doubt that the craftsmanship is probably 2nd to none right now, but the one big issue I have with it, is that it doesn't appear (and Wood Magazine pointed this out recently too) to have any numbers on the fence scale. That's a big issue for me....either I have to measure it and then adjust or I have to literally count the scale every time. I don't know if they have addressed this, but I would certainly consider that one issue before buying.

As for the price, $319 is what you would expect to pay for a high quality gauge these days....that said, Harvey runs a new sale basically every week. Occasionally things are full freight and they can also be 60% off. This is the one thing that I really don't like with the company. It makes the buyer always wonder if they've gotten the best price and when it is on sale it cheapens the purchase. I feel like they should just offer it for a reasonable price for what it is and just once in a while run a sale of some sort. But in terms of quality I wouldn't hesitate, just make sure it suits your needs.

Miter Gauges are an interesting thing, and there appears to really be a widespread amount of them on the market and price doesn't appear to = quality in all cases. I just ordered a Hammer HS-950 sander and would really like to have the gauge that they offer, primarily because they use a crazy 15mm slot which makes it hard to adapt (another pet peeve of mine....companies that force you to use their gear) but the gauge itself APPEARS to be nothing special and for $250+ I don't get it. It looks equivalent to a lot of gauges you can pick up around $100.

I have an INCRA 1000SE and find it to be a great gauge....some small issues here as well though....

a) the sliding plastic scales can sometimes move too easily forcing you to recalibrate
b) there's a little too much droop on the extendable portion
c) and this has become a big one for me that I'll post about...the adjustable screws to fix slot slop get stuck and I can't turn them

That said, it's a lot more for the money in my opinion than the Harvey but to each their own.

[Cory Newman]

to be honest I've never watched either of these two "influencers", but after watching each of these, I'm more likely to watch more wood whisperer videos than I would Stumpy Nubs. I really got a bad taste from watching the latter.

[Doug Garson]

to be honest I've never watched either of these two "influencers", but after watching each of these, I'm more likely to watch more wood whisperer videos than I would Stumpy Nubs. I really got a bad taste from watching the latter.
I think it is insulting to call either of them "influencers", I' subscribed to both and they offer good instructional videos on woodworking for beginners to experienced hobbiests. They both do product reviews but the bulk of thier videos are instructional and entertaining.

[Ray Newman]

Doug Garson: I think that to an extent, they are influencers. I know a number of people/woodworkers-- especially the so-called "newbee", who think "if I had that kind of tool, I could build that too." They wind up buying it while not considering/discounting skill and the time involved.

Just like back in the last century when I when attended the now defunct woodworking shows. Attendees would hoover around the booths with some tool or time saving gadgets film loop playing, and then buy them but wind up not using them very often.

I will agree that some of the videos are instructional as well as entertaining and remind of the Norm Abram New Yankee Workshop series.

[richard poitras]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReBIy-u8wTo

More to think about.

[derek labian]

Interesting rebuttal from Stumpy Nubs. Hard to say, but Marc did contact Harvey, and did indicate multiple times that it was just HIS experience with HIS purchases. Either way I do love Jessem products.

[Andrew More]

to be honest I've never watched either of these two "influencers", but after watching each of these, I'm more likely to watch more wood whisperer videos than I would Stumpy Nubs. I really got a bad taste from watching the latter.

I think you should give Stubby another chance. Sponsored content is the furthest thing from what drives the channel, and he has a ton of useful information.

[Eric Cothern]

I have the Rockler miter gauge and have been happy with it but after watching both videos, it is hard for me to justify spending over $300 for a Harvey miter gauge.

[Vince Shriver]

I also watched Mark's reviews and was impressed with his brand impartiality. I agree with derek and have never been disappointed with Jessem.

[Tom Henderson2]

I watched both the Wood Whisperer's and Stumpy Nubs videos. The former appeared specific to the features of the gauge while the latter more like sponsored damage control of the Wood Whisperer critique.

Concur. Stumpy has a good channel, and I'll continue to watch, but this show was just an infomercial.

[Bryan Hall]

I think if Stumpy came straight out and advertised what he was getting paid by harvey I'd be more understanding of the situation. There are a LOT of youtubers getting Harvey dust collectors, table saws, miter gauges. All with nothing but shiny reviews.

Marc just wrapped up a long term powermatic sponsorship and he's going to be a bit more free to say what he wants when he wants about any tools. He's been around forever and I'm not sure he "needs" tool sponsorship.

However, I can definitely attest to the fact that even to best companies can send you a dud and then fail to come through on the customer service side. This miter gauge instance is just a sliver. Most likely most of them are great. No company is perfect though.

[Bob Hinden]

I too watched all three videos. My take is that if TWW couldn't get good customer service from Harvey, then I bet I won't either. At this price point, I would expect excellent service.

I am leaning toward the Jessem for a few reasons: I like that it's made in Canada, very happy with my Jessem saw guides, the ability to lock the rail to a set position, the vernier scale, and it's a little less expensive. The Harvey also looks very nice, especially the stop with a micro adjuster.

[Chris Sonego]

I just got notifications that my new alpha saw is shipped. After watching the two YouTube videos, I’m anxiously awaiting to see how mine does.

What I will say for now is that I’ve called Harvey a few times over the last week and they’ve been very helpful and responsive. First impression is that they answer the phone almost immediately by a real person without the dial this and wait game. Pricing since my original order has changed and they were happy to adjust my order to the most favorable price. They also handled my technical questions very well.

If my new miter that comes with my saw turns out to be like the one that TWW received, I’m very confident they will take care of it. Nothing against TWW, but I wonder if he even requested a replacement. Isn’t that what most here would do at that point?

[Jim Becker]

I just watched Wood Whisperer miter gauge extravaganza and it was interesting. I was honestly surprised at the things that were off with the Harvey given its price point

[Phillip Mitchell]

Miter Gate 2022