Digital angle finder / gauge

[Justind97]

I’m in the market for a digital angle gauge to step up my baseboard installation and not spend so much time playing the guessing game.

I’ve looked on Amazon and they range from $20-60 Canadian and then there’s a jump to $200.

Do any of you have any to recommend or to stay away from?

 

[The Cobbler]

I just take scrap trim or whatever, start with a guess at the angle and adjust till it's right. doesn't take all that long... sorry, didn't answer your question did I.

 

[spike99250]

I would get one of the Starrett angle gauges. They are not digital but will give you the straight or miter cut. Well worth the money.

 

[signcrafter]

I would get one of the Starrett angle gauges. They are not digital but will give you the straight or miter cut. Well worth the money.

I second this. Accurate and small to carry in your pouch. Here is the metal one, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000B8N0SU/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I also have a bosch digital angle finder, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CA0ZB3O/?tag=atomicindus08-20. I use it for crown molding sometimes since that has to be a lot more accurate for angles of walls and the longer legs get a better feel for the wall. But for base I just use the starrett I linked above.

 

[RKA]

If you can cut your trim standing up against the fence, try the bora angle tool. It’s a copy of the Festool angle tool. It bisects the angle perfectly. You fit it to your corner, lock it down, take it to the saw and match the saw miter angle to the tool. Your corners will be dead perfect.

https://www.amazon.com/530401-Duplicating-Duplicator-Measuring-Transfer/dp/B01J7KWMEA

 

[Justind97]

I just take scrap trim or whatever, start with a guess at the angle and adjust till it's right. doesn't take all that long... sorry, didn't answer your question did I.

I get where you’re coming from. I’ve been doing it this way for years. I got my knee scoped last week and so I’m not as limber as I normally am. Yesterday it took me far too long to get 5 corners cut which translated to 50 million trips to the saw to get the angles perfect.

I figure to spend a few bucks now will save me multiples of time down the road. I did this when I bought my dump trailer and excavator last year after doing interlock for 10 years by hand... kick myself every time I think about it for not spending the money sooner.


Thanks guys! I’m going to go with the Bosch digital one and be done with it!

 

[danski0224]

The problem with a measuring device that reads out in degrees is that the assumption is made that the saw is accurate.

The Festool and Bora angle finders remove that inaccuracy and are incredibly easy to use.

Also keep in mind that if the walls are drywall, the sheets are typically installed horizontally, which puts the edge taper on the bottom. I have had to shim behind base to get it plumb. You may want a guide block to measure the angle in the same place at each corner.

 

[matt_i]

I just take scrap trim or whatever, start with a guess at the angle and adjust till it's right. doesn't take all that long... sorry, didn't answer your question did I.

That's how I did it...cut a set of "perfect"45" on the stops and adjust by a half to 1 degree based on the fit of the master gage. You're right it does take extra trips.

 

[jjkrjh]

We recently redid our deck. Had a bunch of odd angles on the railings. Bought one of these at Home Depot.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-5-in-Digital-Protractor-822H/206007248

Made it so much easier. Took the measured angle and halved it. Then made the cuts. Cutting the boards to match the angle was the hardest part. Had to set angle on the saw and try a very thin cut, check the angle and recut if needed.

 

[TLCObsession]

Also keep in mind that if the walls are drywall, the sheets are typically installed horizontally, which puts the edge taper on the bottom. I have had to shim behind base to get it plumb. You may want a guide block to measure the angle in the same place at each corner.

Or the top - though they usually mud that out pretty well compared to the base. Instead of shimming, drive a screw in and back it out enough to get the trim to be even with the rest of the wall.