Is A Miter Gauge A Necessary Tool?

I hope to point you in the right direction with this question as there is no one size fits all answer. Much will depend upon your needs and projects which drive your work. For some a sled is the best option while many prefer both a sled and miter gauge.

It would be my opinion that everyone should have a quality miter gauge. It offers flexibility for those odd angles. These aid in helping to achieve a smooth crosscut with your table saw.

In this way you have a ready solution to your needs that can be met outside of sled options for dedicated angles. As a heads up for readers I was not paid for any of my opinions here.

The reality is that those who do much table saw work will almost never use the stock gauge which came with their saw. They are horrific creations and do little for you aside from aiding with rough hand brew jigs. While not an essential starting tool for woodworking it is eventually necessary.

In terms of a quality miter gauge there are a few brands which stand out in the market. Among them are Kreg and Incra tools. Both hold advantages and with that disadvantages. This issue also comes back to need vs cost. Let’s look at a couple of these variables and the solutions they offer.

Kreg Miter Gauge

I do personally own the Kreg miter gauge. There are many things I love about it but also things that could be better. The advantages far outweigh the dislikes. In terms of build it is solid. The size is perfect for me and it gives enough fence for longer boards or wood pieces.

The stop on the fence functions just as it should and as expected. It provides repeatable results making it easy to adjust on the fly if desired. The only issue it can cause is if one needs a cut on a short piece of wood. In my wood art there are times when my lengths are too small as in mere inches.

In this case issues are to be expected for the stop will get in the way of the blade if not careful. Some improvisation is required to adjust for this issue. It is not a difficult adjustment but does require some care to maintain accuracy.

In setup the one thing to get right is the measuring tape which sits on the top of the gauge. Follow directions here. Take your time and do not mess it up. Allow me to say this one more time, men read the directions.

The angle which Kreg provides is determined by a pin system. Once the fence is mounted obtaining the desired angle is as easy as removing the pin, selecting the angle, then reinserting the pin. In this way there is no guessing required at where to lock in the gauge.

For general carpentry it is an affordable solution and a major upgrade worth having over stock gauges. In terms of wood art or fine woodworking it could be better. There are still hairline gaps when assembling pieces from the angle cuts. This is not a major problem as there are ways to fix this in finishing.

Nevertheless in terms of accuracy it is superior to other solutions except that of perhaps Incra systems. Even with wood art I can make it perform to a degree of accuracy that is acceptable so this does say a lot to its quality. Most people would be more than happy with this miter gauge.

The greatest advantage to this system is speed. It can be adjusted with minimal zeroing other than what would be typically expected on the fly. The greatest disadvantage is that big stop holding the wood in place. A smaller variation to switch out would be nice when needed.

Incra Miter Gauge

I do not personally own this gauge but I do have other systems from Incra such as the Ibox. Their tools are known for accuracy. I have taken information from those who own and use their miter gauge to aid us here.

By comparison the upper end version of this runs about 100 dollars more than the Kreg. From what I understand it offers all the same advantages I have already discussed with Kreg but more in terms of accuracy.

The main difference between their two versions is that the SE has detents every 5 degrees and the HD is at every 1 degree. Both versions can achieve .1 degree of accuracy. In short it allows for pretty much any angle that you could need with the accuracy to back it up.

The question comes back to need. How often are these odd angles needed in your work will determine whether or not it may be worth the added cost. Other than these features it is virtually of equal quality from my understanding.

One of the frustrations I have read about is that it can require more time in adjusting for different projects. Some reserve it for those odd ball cuts while others use it religiously. I may in the future acquire one out of pure curiosity to explore what it has to offer.

I have no doubt that it is worth the sales pitch. People report the ability to create tight seams in their miter cuts. I am sure I could benefit from this in some of my wood art projects.

Other Branded Gauges

There are other branded miter gauges. The problem is finding a brand which has a real fence system. It is almost a requirement to have this as much as it is to have a regular table saw fence. Fulton does have a system as well as Wood River.

The problem with these alternate brands is cost. It is not much more money to step up into a Kreg. Most of us run a saw blade that costs as much as these gauges. In reality the price difference in stepping up is not only worth it but it doesn’t make sense in settling for an off brand.

Based upon reviews of the Fulton and Wood River people achieve what they need and appreciate what the products offer. No doubt they are a step up from the stock gauge. One could almost use a 2×4 with a screw and guide to beat those pathetic stock systems though (sarcasm included).

In terms of the other miter gauges offered which lack fence systems I personally would avoid them. Keep in mind I only use a cabinet saw but I know others have contractor table saws on job sites. In this case these fenceless options may be of value.

To this end I still would consider the best branded one can find. In real terms the Kreg system could be used without the fence to still obtain the accuracy of measurement in degree of cut. It will easily fit onto virtually any contractor saw without its fence. This may be worth your time in exploring.

Do Miter Gauges Replace Saw Sleds?

No they do not replace table saw sleds. In case a reader has no idea what a sled is I will briefly describe. A sled is custom built to provide a safe environment for small or thin cuts on the table saw. It provides a surface for the wood to sit within while the sled will do as the name suggests.

It will slide into the blade using the two miter slots as a guide. Additionally a sled can be modified to allow for miter cuts as well. People commonly use a sled for 90 degree cuts but allowing it to do 45 degrees can be done. As these are the two most common cuts a sled can replace a miter gauge for some people.

It does have limitations. The size of the sled will determine what can be cut within it. Longer trim boards can become an issue as well as wider or longer boards. For wood art and other fine woodworking they become invaluable.

Personally I have multiple sleds I have created for different functions albeit far less fancy than many out there. To each according to their needs yet it may be worth investing some time and energy into this option. The major benefit of the sled is that it can be constructed to handle an angle cut from either side of the table saw blade.

In my opinion I see the Incra system as being overkill. As a sled can cater to the most common needs if desired and a Kreg system will cover virtually any other need one could have. In this way the best of both worlds can be had. Yet I do understand the argument for accuracy in Incra and admit I have never held one in my hands.

Cost To Benefit

It is worth researching what will best benefit your needs. The fact is a sled can be made for around the same cost of a Kreg. A very nice sled can be made cheaper than that of the Incra. If you do much woodworking there is no doubt that you will need a sled of some kind for different functions.

What you create as a sled may not be as complex as what can be done if you choose to go with the miter gauge as your primary way for cutting angles. This will be especially true if you use more than the 90 and 45 degree marks. Yet if 90 and 45 is all you primarily need then there are reasons to consider the sled only.

The major benefit you obtain with a nice sled is safety on the 90 cut. That to me is worth any cost. It is one of the reasons why I purchased a SawStop. It will allow you to cut very thin widths without fingers getting in the way. This alone can be priceless for accuracy as well as safety.

Adding mitered angles to a sled is a bonus. The one downside to using miter cuts from a sled is consistency of the cut. You will not achieve the fine accuracy that say an Incra will give you. It could be possible to reach the accuracy of the Kreg but it will take work.

You will need a way for it to be used in a dual capacity for 90 and 45 degree cuts. This can be achieved in different ways whether by bolts, guide blocks, and even T slots can be inserted to guarantee repeatable accuracy. It really comes down to how much you want to put into your sled and its size capacity.

If all you need is 90 and 45 degrees this is not a bad option for the cost to benefit of things. Yet with this there are also clear advantages to the miter gauge. One being the size of boards.

With a good miter gauge you are not limited to board width or length. The fence gives you a nice hold to maintain the cut. In the event you ever need an alternate angle it is already pre-built into the system with no modification required.

In my opinion I say do both sled and miter gauge. I would at a minimum keep the sled for 90 and use the gauge for all other angle cuts. This is the typical conclusion that most will arrive at. No doubt this is just the easier path to follow with less hassle.

The sled will give safety when needed on the 90. The gauge will offer angle cuts and if needed you have the flexibility without the hassle of modifying the sled. It makes sense. Yet this does not end for overachievers which implement the 45 in the sled anyway. Yes you know who you are.

Hard To Go Wrong

While each person may need a different solution I would say the best middle of the road option is the Kreg. If you have the money to spend then Incra is solid in their option. Most people will end up with one of these two solutions.

Those who have chosen the sled only option enjoy the cool factor of everything being done within its workspace. There are clear benefits to this. No matter what you choose it really is hard to go wrong with these options. Just stay away from the knock off brands or cheaper variants as the savings is really not worth it.

Of course there is always that occasional yard sale purchase for savings, you never know what you may find.