Angle Finder...not digital...?

[Nickp]

Good morning...and happy weekend !   Probably doesn't mean much to you retired guys 

 

I am looking for an "angle finder" and hoping you have a favorite that you've been using.

It needs to do inside and outside angles...

No digital, please...nothing fancy...accurate mechanical readout preferred.  Doesn't matter if it's a gauge or something like a protractor.

Right now I'm transferring angles to a protractor but am getting tired of that...

 

I am refurbishing a deck around an oval pool...not so oval as you might now...and am edging the deck around the capping and need to cut boards accordingly.

I've had other small jobs where an angle finder would have come in handy instead of using two tools...especially for bisecting angles for miters needing to fit existing corners.

 

I figure it's about time I get one...

Edited November 24, 2017 by Ron Dudelston
tags added

[John Morris]

You know I was going to plug our sponsor Woodcraft for this tool, but I could not find any without digital! Seems they are all digital.

That being said, I do not use one personally, I do however use a T-Bevel all the time, but that does not help you since it does not display graduations on the tool.

_T-Bevel

 

[John Morris]

Actually perhaps you need a protractor instead? Here are quiet a few mechanical protractors at Woodcraft. 

Woodcraft Protractors

 

[Fred W. Hargis Jr]

Digital is a little easier to use, is there a specific reason you want to avoid them? (Just curious). That aside, I suspect a drafting protractor would do it. They come in various designs, some are quite precise.

Edited November 12, 2016 by Fred W. Hargis, Jr

[Nickp]

Thanks, John...yes...I like the T-bevel for inside corners and that's what I've been using to transfer the angle onto a protractor.  I also looked at the Woodcraft and other sites and the ones that aren't digital seem to be plastic...don't think I want plastic although I would probably settle for one if it had a good scale.

 

Most protractors also seem to be made that will work well with outside corners but won't work for inside corners...(built in protractor)...

 

Go figure...you'd think it would be easy to find some simple manual indicator that's not made for school desk or similar.

 

The closest I've found (Woodcraft) is the True Angle Protractor or the General Tools - Layout Protractor No. 29.  The general transfers the protractor to the inside which makes it perfect for inside corners.  I'll have to take a closer look at the True Angle...most scales become useless above 90 deg.  One I looked at had the next mark after 90 at 120...

[John Morris]

I hope you find what you need Nick, when you do please share it here so we can know what exactly will work for our own work related to what you are doing. I went into the search based on your criteria above in the OP, and I had a hard time finding something that seemed like it should be such a basic tool!

[Nickp]

7 minutes ago, Fred W. Hargis, Jr said:

Digital is a little easier to use, is there a specific reason you want to avoid them? (Just curious). That aside, I suspect a drafting protractor would do it. They come in various designs, some are quite precise.

 

Good one, Fred...thanks...that's much closer to what I'm looking for.  Looks to have a good scale above 90...  Plastic, but I can live with that.

 

Why not digital...?  batteries, sometimes no on/off, may not be able to zero without a square, sometimes tough to read in the sun (especially with polarized sunglasses)...  but probably the biggest reason is I just don't trust them...   

 

 

[John Morris]

1 minute ago, Nickp said:

(especially with polarized sunglasses)

In my day job, we use varying types of digital instruments, and the screens are worthless with polarized sun glasses. I spend all day using these instruments, I spent a lot of money a couple years ago for prescription polarized sunglasses, and I can't use them on my job! Can't see the screens worth squat. Worse purchase I made, can't use those sunglasses except for driving and casual use at this point. 

[Chips N Dust]

5 minutes ago, Nickp said:

 

Why not digital...?  batteries, sometimes no on/off, may not be able to zero without a square, sometimes tough to read in the sun (especially with polarized sunglasses)...  but probably the biggest reason is I just don't trust them...   

 

 

I do have one yet, but the digitals are supposed to be able zero so it you are already tipped the measured angle is realative. Also, you can take the batteriea out to make sure it if off and the batteries do not drain. 

If the nondigital works for you, that is fine

[Nickp]

2 minutes ago, John Morris said:

I hope you find what you need Nick, when you do please share it here so we can know what exactly will work for our own work related to what you are doing. I went into the search based on your criteria above in the OP, and I had a hard time finding something that seemed like it should be such a basic tool!

 

Can ya 'magine !   Can it be the market doesn't cater to finding angles as much as it does to making them...  Been googlin' for a couple of days now...

 

 

 

[Gene Howe]

The one Fred recommended is the one I use. It's a useful tool.

[Nickp]

Thanks, Gene...do you find the scale has enough graduations above 90...?

[Nickp]

Awrighty, then...

 

Looks like I'm gonna go with the Starrett...gets me what I want AND a few extras such as direct readout of miter cut, crown molding cut angles.  It's also a good size for bigger work.  I will probably also get the True Angle for smaller places (when the need arises)

 

I trust Starrett...bunch of mic's (inside/outside), dial gauges, etc already...

 

John/Fred/Gene...thanks for the lead to the Woodcraft page and the recommendation...

 

http://www.woodcraft.com/product/150770/starrett-prosite-miter-saw-protractor.aspx

Edited November 12, 2016 by Nickp
ADD...

[Nickp]

1 hour ago, Chips N Dust said:

I do have one yet, but the digitals are supposed to be able zero so it you are already tipped the measured angle is realative. Also, you can take the batteriea out to make sure it if off and the batteries do not drain. 

If the nondigital works for you, that is fine

 

Thanks, Kelly...after some more reading, I see the zero function and the ability to do relative angles...nice feature...for now I'm gonna stick with the mechanical...I appreciate you noting the advantages...

 

New tricks for this old dog may happen someday.    

[Chips N Dust]

I have not got one...yet, but in my research, that was a question I had - if you table saw is not level due to your floor, how did the angle finder work on the blade - that is when I found out about the zero feature

[Nickp]

1 minute ago, Chips N Dust said:

I have not got one...yet, but in my research, that was a question I had - if you table saw is not level due to your floor, how did the angle finder work on the blade - that is when I found out about the zero feature

 

Yup...good feature about the Wisney for setting the blade angle other than 90, 60, 45 and 30...I use my drafting triangle and speed square for those.  If I were making poly-sided buckets and other weird angle cuts I'd probably dig out the Wisney (...and then look for a battery )

 

 

[Gene Howe]

52 minutes ago, Nickp said:

 

 If I were making poly-sided buckets and other weird angle cuts I'd probably dig out the Wisney (...and then look for a battery )

I'd use the Miterset.

 

[Gene Howe]

52 minutes ago, Nickp said:

 

 If I were making poly-sided buckets and other weird angle cuts I'd probably dig out the Wisney (...and then look for a battery )

I'd use the Miterset.

 

[Stick486]

circular saw saw guide,,,,

[kmealy]

I've got (at least) three: