Customer Reviews

Incra MITER1000/18T Miter 1000 Table Saw Miter-gauge

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Not only was I impressed with the product, but the packing was superb, usually things arrive poking through the box but even the carton was well designed. Setup was a cinch, the instructions included photos and clear directions. I was already prepared thanks to Incra's offering the instructions on their website for the 1000, 2000 and 3000 Models which also offered an opportunity to compare their features. The Model 1000, although at the low end was very similar to the Model 3000 except that it uses a simpler design to calibrate between the 5 degree settings; a gauge rather than a second incremental set of notches, which, although more accurate, was much more than I needed. Adjusting the miter bar was also simple but I found I had to come down hard on the screws to expand the nylon washers to fit the saw groove. Squaring the head to the blade was simple and much easier than squaring the blade to the old style, fixed head miter gauges. Incra supplies you with all the hex wrenches you need including a long handled, ball head driver for adjusting the fence. A word about the fence: the 1000 Model uses a simple sliding stop block which you can use if you attach an auxiliary wood fence. I would prefer the flip-stop which comes with the 2000 model because the stop can be moved forward to clear a 3/4 inch wood fence face. This fence does not use the Incra indexing system, however, all things considered it is an impressive and extremely accurate device, somewhat heavy, but well made and extremely well thought out.

I just bought one of these for my old Delta-Rockwell table saw. The accuracy for mitered cuts is incredible. At this point, I can only find two faults with it. First, the guage blade is an anodized aluminum extrusion, with channels in it to hold the adjustable stop. The front surface of this blade is so slick that I have a hard time holding the stock stable while feeding it into the saw. This front surface needs to be tactile to keep the stock from slipping. I plan on adding a layer of self-sticking stair tread safety grip.
The second fault is the two screws which hold the guage blade to the protractor. After setting the miter blade position for 90 degree cuts, the blade position is secured by two allen head screws (wrench is provided). But, to make 45 deg. or other angled cuts, the blade needs to be re-positioned with respect to the saw blade and that requires loosening the screws with the allen wrench - sort of awkward. If these screws were thumb-screw type or maybe some sort of cam lever, changing the miter blade position wouldn't be so tedious.

I've been using this miter gauage now for almost three months and I simply love it. I'm not sure if poor reviewers received bad items or their expectations are simply too high but this miter gauge is one of the best additions to my shop. The allen bolts for the fence position is not much of a pain as was outlined before. Incra gives you a large screwdriver-handled allen driver to use for the fence positioning which makes it easy as can be. I would worry about the constant vibration and loosening of knobs if Incra used those instead. Once you set the gauge square to your blade, it doesn't move one bit from there. Incra gives plenty of room for miter slot differences as well by choosing to use or not use 6 expandable, pressure washers. On my old table saw, I only had to use the three that were originally on the gauge. When I upgraded to my 22124, the miter gauge was slightly loose. I added two more washers, from all of the extras that Incra includes, and now it is tight as can be.

Incra really put some solid engineering into this product and you can tell the first time you use it. The long fence alone is a great addition to running stock through my table saw. I've even used this as a tapering jig in a bind.

I bought mine after reading the hundreds of glowing reviews.
I had to return my first one as the hole the pivot bolt went into was too big and made for a very sloppy fit. Incra support was very good about this.
This guage is too flimsy for anything approaching the full length of the guage fence.
I also have the optional super stop.
Making adjustments to the length and setting the fence near or far to the blade is a pain since you have to use an allen wrench. I replaced my allen bolts with some knobs. This is something Incra should have done.
The mounting of the fence to the miter is not square to the surface of the table and requires a lot of shimming.
The only thing really accurate and solid about this guage is the miter cogs. Everything else takes a lot of shimming and setup.
I now only use this miter gauge for really odd angles and short pieces. The miter guage that came with my Grizzly cabinet saw is just as accurate for 0, 45, and 90 degree cuts and is way more solid.
I highly recommend the Osborne miter guage over this one since the Osborne is way more solid and is more easily switched for use on the opposite side of the blade.
Overall I am very dissappointed in this miter guage.
I would have rated it 3 stars, but for the price.

This gauge is absolutely superior...the material and craftsmanship are top shelf, it was easy to install and calibrate, and it's easy to use. My only adverse comment is that I thought it would have been nice to have a clamp, so that work could be clamped to the gauge for angle cuts. Highly recommended.

When properly set up, this gauge is very accurate. The expanding plastic sliders prevent any trace of side play from being evident between the bar and your table saw miter slot. The vernier scale is excellent. The detents are dead-on.

Packaging and instructions are excellent. It took about 30 miunutes to carefully assemble and set it up.

I am 100% satisfied.

I've had this one for about a year now and really like it. It was easy to setup tight on the miter slot and parallel to the blade. It is indexed in 5 degree intervals but you could still set it at any angle by setting the angle and tightening the handle. Of course you will need to measure the exact angle you want since, compared to the more expensive models, the markings are set at 5 degree intervals.

This fence is a work of elegance! It is so precise, yet does not require a math degree to figure it out. This works equally well on my table saw and my band saw. The adjustable stop makes repetitive cuts easier, and allows for precise placement of the wood being cut. There is nothing to lose or misplace, like other preciaion fences, so you can easily hang on a wall peg when not in use. I am very happy with it!

I have a contractors table saw that I got when my portable wore out. It cost much more, but boy is it worth it. This miter system is awesome. I have had trouble replicating specific angles, and this does that, and keeps my fingers away from the table saw blade. What more can I ask.......great device.

I bought the Incra 1000 Miter gauge a couple of years ago and it has been nothing but trouble ever since. I have to say though that I was too lazy to call for a replacement and when I did just the other day, Incra offered to replace it for free even though it was way out of warranty.

The first thing that happened was that all that gadetry at the end of the miter guage (used to set half degrees and lock the setting in) simply did not work. For one thing, at 90 degrees, the little metal pointer didn't go into its slot. There was simply no way to do it because the gauge is inaccurate by almost half a degree. But by adjusting it manually using the usual triangle method before each cut I was able to get it square. Of course thats how I had to use the stock gauge so I was no better off with the Incra. Unfortunately I did not notice that the slot adjustment screw that Incra stupidly put halfway under the track was proud by a fraction of inch. This prevented the wood from coming up flush against the track and it would then be cut at an angle that was just slightly out of perfect square. The difference was so small that I didn't notice it and spent hours trying to figure out why my parts didn't assemble correctly. There is no way to fix this except to remove the screw but that leaves the miter bar sloppy in the slot.

The workmanship on this was terrible and the design flawed. I simply do not understand the good reviews. All I can figure is that Incra has no quality control and you could get a good one or a bad one. In their defense, they will replace it with smiles. But who needs that agravation?? When you buy a tool you expect it to work.