Incra Miter Comparison

[Randall Frey]

Well, Happy Holidays to all.
On my wish list for Xmas was an Incra Miter 3000E. My wife went to our local Woodcraft store and came home with a combo kit 1000E and Miter Express they did'nt carry the 3000E. I have some concerns about this set up vs the 3000E and was hoping you all could help. Originally, I looked at the 5000 but the fence is 36" and might be a burden, the 3000 is 27". Most other specs between the 3 and the 5 were the same. Here are some of the differences between the 1000E kit and the 3000E that are of concern.
*Angle stops, 1000, 41 vs 365 on the 3000
*Angle adj between stops, 1000, 5 deg vs 1/2deg on the 3000
*Miter bar length, 1000, 17 3/4" vs 20 1/4" on the 3000
*Telescoping fence range, 1000, 18" to 31" vs 27" to 49" on the 3000
*Fence length, 1000 18" vs 27"

Overall it looks like the 3000 would allow MANY more fixed spots to lock into and a finer adj between these fixed spots. (Have you ever needed this fine of adjustment? )
Miter bar length looks longer on the 3000. (Bigger work pieces?)
Telescoping fence?
Fence length, (Work piece support is important)
Thanks in advance

[Charles Green]

I have the 1000SE. The only thing I would like would be the longer crosscut stops on the 3000 and 5000. The 5000 is on my list of things to buy for this reason and to do wider panels.

[Dave Falkenstein]

When I bought my Incra 1000 a while back, I looked at the other Incra models. I concluded that I would not need the additional angle stops on the 3000. Experience has proven my assumption correct. The 1000SE is an improvement over the 1000, and I would have no hesitation buying it again.

I use a sacrificial fence on the Incra 1000, so the length of the fence makes little difference.

[scott spencer]

Hi Randall - AFAIK, you still pivot the 1000 in 1° marked increments, but using the cursor instead of a positive stop. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong...(like I need to ask! :rolleyes::D)

[Mike Cutler]

Randall

I think your wife made some great choices. Give that MiterExpress setup a chance. It's a great system, you're really going to like it once you get used to it.
The Fence on the 1000Se can be replaced with a longer fence if required. Longer fences are subject to bowing with heavy material. the insides of my Incra Miter fences have solid billets of aluminum machined to fit them inside to make them stiffer. A sacrificial fence makes the issue sort of moot as already pointed out.
The length of the miter bars might be longer on the 3000Se than the 1000SE, but it's the location of the adjustment washers that dictates how far behind the blade stock can be postined. I don't know if there is the same distance between washers on both bars.
I guess the number of angle stops is important to some types of work. I've never needed that many discreet settings personally.

I personally think you have a very nice setup going for you. That MiterExpress is very nice. I have a JessEm Mast-R-Slide on my TS. If not for that, I would have purchased the same products your wife did. :cool:

PS. Here is a thread on the adjustment of the miter bar washers. I noticed that Incra's page shows them in a position that is inconsistent with their instructions.

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?referrerid=5960&t=49194