High end miter gauges

[Firebrick43]

So for my Unisaw I purchase a Osborne EB3. I really liked the idea of the triangulated bar/scale/indents setting the angle but the more I use the less satisfied I am.

The one I have is made in china and the miter slot bar was really messed up. I wish I could have used one of the USA made ones. The owner sent me a new bar that was much better but it still doesn't slide well or has some play when pulled back at the edge of the table. The bars on these a split down the middle and use a set screw in the center to expand the bar to take up slack. Also the detents for 90/45/22.5 are vague and not solid to locate those so I still spend quite a bit of time tuning. The Fence is meh, not bad but not like the incra fences I have on my MFT bench.

So I have been looking at Jessem Mite-R-Excel and Incra 1000SE or even 3000SE. Maybe it would be adventagious to go with a 1000se on a miter express sled.

What is the thoughts of those that have used one or the other or both?

I have had good luck with incra products, and I have an Ibox that I like but still its miter slot bar is fiddly. It has two of them so it works. The jessem appears to be a roller on a cam bolt???? The jessem doweling jig I have is also excellent so its a hard decision.

Or maybe I should just purchase a nice surface grinder to make an exact fit bar in GJ fashion.

 

[RTM]

I have picked up a few vintage ones which fit in the slots much better than my late 70s vintage miter gauge. I also have an Incra V27, which I have not used with my TS or BS, only with my SWAG saw so far. I don’t know that I will use it enough on my TS to justify $$.

Maybe just buy a vintage gauge, and swap the bar onto yours?

 

[Firebrick43]

I have picked up a few vintage ones which fit in the slots much better than my late 70s vintage miter gauge. I also have an Incra V27, which I have not used with my TS or BS, only with my SWAG saw so far. I don’t know that I will use it enough on my TS to justify $$.

Maybe just buy a vintage gauge, and swap the bar onto yours?

well, the Osborne is made much differently(the angle mechanism that is) and I don't know if I could swap bars because of that.

 

[RTM]

well, the Osborne is made much differently(the angle mechanism that is) and I don't know if I could swap bars because of that.

Argh, forgot about those things. The name didn’t ring a bell. Does the black piece slide in the track? If so, most vintage bars will be too short.

 

[Showkey]

Have had the Incra 1000SE for years ………..accurate as going to get.

 

[Firebrick43]

it pivots on a post on the back of the bar. Its an eccentric as well to fine tune it. However the pin that engages the preset stops along the bar is loose or the notches loose.

Yes, the bar would be much to loose

 

[exmaxima1]

I have the Osborne guide and similar experience with binding in the slot. My Unisaw is a 60's model and had a former life in a cabinet shop so the slots have some wear. I slid a mill file thru the slots to straighten them out a bit and it made a significant improvement with the Osborne.

 

[mhejl]

Incra. I have 3 and use all of them. The original 2000 (no longer sold) mounted on a Miter Express sees about 50% of the use. A 1000 for stand-alone use, and a Miter 5000 used for wider boards the rest of the time. The 5000 is big and unwieldy for most work.

I'd suggest a 3000 with a telescoping fence and then a Miter Express . The miter gauge is easily removed for standalone use. Get a variant that has the gadget to square the fence to the table vs the plain right angle (they're known to need paper shims which are a PITA).

Get an extra long telescoping fence and at least 1 flip-stop.

Quick-release bolts to hold the fence to the gauge are really handy rather than keeping a ball hex screwdriver laying around. I forget what these are called but they have a spring loaded lever you pull up on to adjust the lever position. Available at Woodcraft, etc. I think Incra makes them but can't find them on the web site.

Edit: found them: https://www.incrementaltools.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=BKNOBS2