Not too long ago, I reported to you the incredible accuracy that
the Incra Miter Gauge brought to the table saw. So precise that cutting 4,5,6...any number
of sided boxes was very easy. And being able to make such cuts was opening up a whole new
area of craft—namely decorative boxes such as in the inset.
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I thought, too bad that with the miter accuracy so dead-on, that I can't have the same accuracy with tilt angle. For sure, my cabinet saw's gauge is close— within a couple of degrees, one way or another. And accuracy is partially relative to the angle that I view the indicator. |
So, like you, I use bevel gauges, angle protractors and of course accurate squares...and then eye-ball it. |
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Then I saw the Beall Inclinometer. It is so simple and works so well. It uses gravity, of course. |
The first step is to attach the Inclinometer to the very precise steel block. It is exactly square. The Inclinometer has three strong magnets (inset) which holds it to this square block. |
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Now with the block on the table, you can adjust the Inclinometer's brass scale so that the pendulum reads 0o. In my shop, the table has a slope of about 1.5 degrees. Rather than to shim the table, you just re-adjust the scale to read zero. |
With the scale reading zero, I now transfer the Inclinometer to the blade. Here again is the Beall genius...he has notched a small section (insert) of the upright to fit over the blades tooth. The magnets hold it secure to the blade. [By the way, just as when changing blades, I have unplugged the saw. I would hate to think what would happen if....I don't even want to go there.] |
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With the Inclinometer attached to the blade, I can crank in the tilt angle and get an accurate reading at every point of the way. |
To my chagrin, I found that both my 90o and 0o stops were slightly off. Some cleaning of the stops (accumulated and compressed saw dust) and lubrication of the screw thread, gave me the accuracy that I wanted, and the tilt mechanism works so much more smoothly. |
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Now, as with the Incra Miter Gauge, I couldn't wait to cut some wood to see if accuracy really makes a difference...well you know the answer. |
I "cheated" and used the Incra Miter Gauge table for the degrees for a 6 sided box (I know it is 30o). |
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I cranked the tilt wheel until the Inclinometer reached 30o. |
And then, using the Incra Miter Gauge to make absolutely square (90o) cuts and the Incra stop to give me equal length sides, I cut my 6 sides. |
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And, yes, they roll up nicely
with tight corners at each joint. [Note, I have left the little cutoff scraps in the
picture as a reminder to be sure to clear them from the blade after each cut.]
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Of course the Beall Inclinometer works on all my tools that have a steel bed and angle adjustment. To my surprise, my jointer, that I thought was adjusted to exactly 90o, was, in fact, off almost one whole degree—and you know that can count. |
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Sort of the before and
after...and my way to mention cost. The Beall Inclinometer costs $129. It is very well
engineered and built. Most importantly, it brings great accuracy to my
shop—and that's worth a lot to me.
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