I'm making a shadow box that's a decagon shape for some Alaskan native art. It's a mask in a round shape. See picture below. It's not that exact mask but it shows what I mean by round shape. 

 

Anyway, I thought I'd do a mock up out of plywood to check my saw blade setting. I used my (for the first time)Beal-Tilt-Box to set the blade angle to 18 degrees. Made my cuts and it came out perfect the first time. Now I very impress with my Beal-Tilt-Box.

 

Every joint came out perfect.Did I say I'm impressed with my Beal-Tilt-Box.

 

Native Art Mask.

 

Nice joints, nice mask. Please be sure to post when finished.

 

Rick

Hey Rich, is that the same thing as a Wixey? Great new on your results, good looking joints, and what a cool project.

Yes, the tilt box is a competitor to the wixey. And I also have the tilt box for over a year and I'm very happy with it. Although I have not done anything more than a 4 sided box..........my joints have been perfect. I was playing around making a 4 sided frame and only glued 3 sides. The forth side is so close that it looks to be glued up  too. Yup..... I like my tilt box.

The American Woodworker said:

Hey Rich, is that the same thing as a Wixey? Great new on your results, good looking joints, and what a cool project.

I think the beal has more points after the decimal point than the wixie.

The Tilt Box is a digital inclinometer that will read relative angles to an accuracy of +/- 0.1 degrees. Accurate +/- .01 degree.

 

you can quickly and easily set the bevel angle to 0.1° resolution.

 

Both units cost about the same.

In my opinion the Beal out scores the Wixey for two simple reasons.

1. The Beall uses a standard 9 volt battery.  The Wixey uses IIRC a CR something.  The round button battery.

2.  The Beall has auto shut off.  The Wixey. does not.  If you forget to shut off the Wixey, you are running around trying to find that specialty battery.

Good Point Greg, I didn't even look at the specs on the battery.

 

Greg Coleman said:

In my opinion the Beal out scores the Wixey for two simple reasons.

1. The Beall uses a standard 9 volt battery.  The Wixey uses IIRC a CR something.  The round button battery.

2.  The Beall has auto shut off.  The Wixey. does not.  If you forget to shut off the Wixey, you are running around trying to find that specialty battery.

Doggone it! You guys are really making me feel good about my Wixey! All those issues spoke of have happened to me already since I've had it this last year. How much does the Beal cost on a good day?

I absolutely love my Wixey.  Here's a little Wixey trick for you guys without a digital miter or if you want to check yours at 45 degress.  Set your miter fence to 45 degrees and lay it flat on your table saw top.  Set your Wixey next to it and zero it out.  Now put the Wixey on the miter slot rail and look at the reading on the Wixey.  If it reads 45 degrees you have an accurate miter.  If these instructions are confusing let me know and I'll put some pictures up to clarify it.

Hey Greg, I buy my Wixey batteries on Ebay.  I can get them for about 50 cents each.

John Moody said:

Good Point Greg, I didn't even look at the specs on the battery.

 

Greg Coleman said:

In my opinion the Beal out scores the Wixey for two simple reasons.

1. The Beall uses a standard 9 volt battery.  The Wixey uses IIRC a CR something.  The round button battery.

2.  The Beall has auto shut off.  The Wixey. does not.  If you forget to shut off the Wixey, you are running around trying to find that specialty battery.

John, they are both about the same price. I think they are $1.00 different. One is 39.00 the other is 40.00.

The American Woodworker said:

Doggone it! You guys are really making me feel good about my Wixey! All those issues spoke of have happened to me already since I've had it this last year. How much does the Beal cost on a good day?

I think I got the batteries for my Wixey at Walmart. I could have gotten them at Batteries Plus, but I think it was WalMart.

 

Ron Dudelston said:

Hey Greg, I buy my Wixey batteries on Ebay.  I can get them for about 50 cents each.

John Moody said:

Good Point Greg, I didn't even look at the specs on the battery.

 

Greg Coleman said:

In my opinion the Beal out scores the Wixey for two simple reasons.

1. The Beall uses a standard 9 volt battery.  The Wixey uses IIRC a CR something.  The round button battery.

2.  The Beall has auto shut off.  The Wixey. does not.  If you forget to shut off the Wixey, you are running around trying to find that specialty battery.

 I do like my Wixey a lot, but it eats batteris. I also got a percision adjustable square that has a digital read out. Both do great jobs, but each has a place that the other can't be used in.

Ron Dudelston said:

Hey Greg, I buy my Wixey batteries on Ebay.  I can get them for about 50 cents each.

John Moody said:

Good Point Greg, I didn't even look at the specs on the battery.

 

Greg Coleman said:

In my opinion the Beal out scores the Wixey for two simple reasons.

1. The Beall uses a standard 9 volt battery.  The Wixey uses IIRC a CR something.  The round button battery.

2.  The Beall has auto shut off.  The Wixey. does not.  If you forget to shut off the Wixey, you are running around trying to find that specialty battery.

Just found this discussion over at the mill

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?157530-New-Angle-Gauge

Rick

Thanks Rick, looks like the new and improved model. I guess we will be saving to add another one to the shop.

I wonder, are these like clamps and you just can't have too many digital angle gauges?

 

Rick Mathison said:

Just found this discussion over at the mill

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?157530-New-Angle-Gauge

Rick

It is not a Beal or Wixey, but Rockler has this one on sale for 19.99. It uses the 9 volt battery also. It could be purchased through the website and the commission going to The Wounded Warrior.