Customer Reviews

Kreg KMS7102 Table Saw Precision Miter Gauge System

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

In looking for an upgrade to my factory miter gauge, I considered the Kreg, Incra, and the JDS. Based on reviews here at Amazon, I eliminated the JDS gauge, and I was wary about the Incra (several models) because of the mixed reviews. Although no reviews existed here on Amazon, I found a nice online revew at "Online Tool Reviews" (dot com) Because I have been very impressed with the level of Kreg engineering on their pocket hole systems, I gave the Kreg gauge a shot.

I short, the gauge is easy to set up, easy to use, and is accurate. The nylon screws make fitting the gauge to your miter slot a breeze. My dial caliper indicates that the Kreg gauge is about 1/128" off, after just a couple of minutes of fine tuning. I tested the miter scale with my Bosch Digital Protractor (reads to the 0.1 degree) and the Kreg scale is dead on. Kreg even provides a method to adjust the angle to 0.01 degree, but I doubt I will need to do that!

You can refer to the aforementioned review for details on setup tips, so I will only add a couple of my own tips below:

Think about how far away you want the miter gauge fence to be from your blade BEFORE you cut the self-adhesive tape. Make sure your gauge will clear your blade guard! I wished that I would have cut my tape at about 1.5" rather than the 1" called for in the manual. Also, when following the tape cutting procedure in the online review, be careful not to pull the adhesive off the tape! My adhesive stuck to the paper and I had to carefully re-stick it. Lastly, be aware that because of the weight of the fence, your gauge will twist whenever the fence isn't resting on the table surface (when you back the gauge off the table).

The flip stop is really a nice feature; easy to square up a board without messing with the stop. Another nice feature is the hairline cursor that is attached to the stop, so you don't have to sight down the edge of the stop to get a reading (like you do for the Incra gauge). Overall, I am very pleased with this gauge, I'm glad I bought it, and my confidence keeps growing in the quality engineering of Kreg products.

The ease of set up and repeatability using the FlipStop make cutting and tenoning furniture parts a breeze.

I use a two-foot steel rule when setting up and the accuracy is great. I do not use the stick-on rule because I followed the manual instructions and cut it too short. In any event, if you adjust the rail to accommodate an angle setting, you need to carefully reset its position so the tape is correct-too much trouble considering the steel rule provides a direct blade-to-stop measurement. Definitely get the FlipStop if you need to make same-length parts. It is a GREAT feature.

The only objection I have is the little plastic buttons that prevent the rail from rubbing on the table are very easy to knock off and very hard to find on the floor. I cut a strip from a plastic cutting board to replace them. No more problem.

This is an excellent tool. My main happiness is that it is easy to set it up to be used in the right hand slot on the table. It is dead accurate -- I didn't have to tweak anything to make absolutely square cuts.

HOWEVER -- I'd be a lot happier if the main slide bar was steel instead of aluminum. The aluminum bar flexes a lot. The plastic adjusters have to be adjusted EXACTLY right or the bar will flex, changing the cutoff angle - slightly. I'm a shipwright and a sometimes cabinet maker, running my own shop. If the slide bar were changed to steel, the tool would be perfect. (Yes, I'd be overjoyed to pay another $10 for a steel bar.)

The Kreg Miter Guage System was a must for my shop without spending "bigucks" for the higher end models that I'm sure are comprable to the Kreg. It's easy to use and very easy to read calibrations. My only negative statement would be that Kreg should pre-assemble some of the smaller components or harder to assemble items to reduce the long assemble time.

I have owned a Jet 10 inch cabinet saw for about 5 years. I built a panel sled for it as one of my first shop jig projects. That solved all of my problems for 90 degree cutoffs. I also own a Dewalt Radial arm saw that I have used for many years for cutoff and making tenons. The Kreg Miter Gauge adds another piece to my arsenal. It is very well designed and is definitely lightyears ahead of the miter that came with the saw. Once adjusted to the slot, the gauge is good and solid. The stops are all perfectly set right out of the box. The instructions were easy to follow and I had it up and running in about 1/2 hour. The only minor complaint I have about the gauge is the screws that adjust the bar to the slot. They work O.K. but since they make only a "point" contact they tend to peen and come out of adjustmant. Since the adjustment is under the bar, it takes a little fiddling to get them just right. Some sort of top adjusting method would be much simpler. I tend to check the adjustment first thing when I start to use the gauge.

So, now I have three miter/cutoff/dado tools in my shop.

1. Radial Arm saw for work on long pieces (Cutoff and Dado).

2. Panel sled for 90 degree cutoff.

3. Kreg miter gauge for shorter pieces and quick setup.

Sweet!

I've owned this gauge for a year now and find that it has pros and cons. What I dislike most is that it is way too long, hanging over the table by six inches and bump into it all the time. Got some nice hip bruises from that. The sliding stop is a bit wobbly and its overall design could be better. I don't understand why the stop bar is curved, so that small pieces slip under it, but okay for larger pieces. Strong points are the quick set detents, adjustable scale for fractional degrees plus the channel in the backrest which allows a sacrificial wood strip to be adjusted and moved fairly easily. This does not come with T-bolts and the groove is not sized to any standard T-bolt. Had to find the right size nuts & bolts instead in order to mount the backing. The plastic set screws in the miter slot bar are a major plus that allows verly accurate adjustment. . . but . . . because they're plastic, you peen them over every time you pull the gauge out and put it back. Have to adjust all over again. These should be replaced with steel screws. LIke everyone else, I forget to readjust the backstop and now its all sliced up. I'd check other brands before buying.

I was pleased with the Kreg miter gauge once I got it assembled. The adjustable nylon set screws in the guide bar make it easy to get a perfect fit in the slot on your tablesaw table. The angles are simple and precise and I like how simple it is to move the gauge to the opposite side of the blade when necessary.

Let me begin by saying that I am a huge fan of Kreg and have gladly and liberally stocked my shop with their tools. That said... Set-up was straight forward and easy. By all outward appearances, this thing is a beauty. Unfortunately, once used on the table saw, I was disappointed. The flip stop, as per the set up guide, is buffered by a plastic plug so it has a tendency to flex against the bolt making exactly repeated cuts a "Near miss". I have also noticed quite a bit of play on the actual fence as well as the stepped stops with the brass plug. I can square it up manually every time I set the angle, but this goes against purchasing and using a stepped precision miter. One still will have to battle the fence when it comes to cutting angles as well as being at a 90 angle to the table. This last piece is in reference to the plastic gliders the miter runs on. They save the table from scratches, but keep the fence from lying flat thus knocking off the square to the table top as it gives play against the arm. My shop is at a stand-still with wood to be re-cut until I find a replacement.

I had been using the miter gauge that came with my table saw to make wood frames with 45 degree angle cuts. It was impossible to get a perfect 45 degree angle as well as consistent lengths. With the small inconsistencies it was difficult to assemble the frame and come up with a good rectangle. The Kreg miter gauge produces perfect 45 degree cuts and using the swing stop, perfectly equal length sides. The Kreg gauge is a bit pricey but very well designed and rugged. The only problem I have found with it was during the initial assembly. They have made some changes to the design of the swing stop which are not reflected in the instructions that ship with gauge. A call to their customer support resulted in a quick answer. [...]. The gauge can be used on either side of the blade but the instructions are set up for using it on the left side of the blade. There is one brief paragraph that discusses how to assemble it for use on the right side.

Purchased with PRS1020 Table and PRS1010 Fence. Assembled without issue, instruction were clear and straight forward. Used with both my table saw and Router table. Gage is straight and precise, no issue with making cuts or routering ends of rails. Have not tried the stop yet. Extended fence is nice, but has some weight and takes some getting use to. Would have liked to see a Left hand tape for the top instead of another option that can be purchased, but was happy to see the tape was steel and not a cheap decal. Overall a minor grievance. Quick adjust-ability of the fence allows for easy switching between saw and router. Overall very happy with product.