November 13, 20169 yr Like Keith I have and use this type...C&P'd his picture (too cold & lazy to go out and take pic of mine now) Also use the General; mostly inside work; yes it's plastic but is durable; was a great teaching aide for both grand-daughter's in their middle school geometry classes too
November 18, 20169 yr Author On 11/12/2016 at 0:41 PM, 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! The Starrett is in the house...Model 505P... Physical stuff first...made of sturdy plastic, grey, easy to read scales...laser etched lines and numbers. Two scales...an inner for miter cuts and an outer for straight cuts. Nice big scales...every degree or two depending on which scale being used. Nice beefy feel, easy to operate with one hand, opens and closes nicely with Teflon spacer between legs. The center is rounded so it fits nicely in inside corners...for those rare occasions where the corner is not sharp Handles inside and outside corners nicely. Scale is easy enough to read to do 1/2 degree measurements. And now the operation...To determine the cut angle a method I've used has been (180 minus measured angle) divided by 2 = cut angle. Example, measured angle is 88 deg...(180-88)/2=46...46 is the miter setting...not the 44 which is the bisect of the angle. The Starrett is laid in the corner, check the inner scale, it reads 46...as expected. This is the amount of wood that is cut off, not what remains (44deg). Other math methods come to the same conclusion...just differently. Same for outside corners...the Starrett opens up, rules overlap each other, measure, read the inner scale the same way. Works equally well for acute and obtuse angles. (lots of u-tube videos...easy watch). Another great feature is the small quick reference guide included that handles angles (saw settings) for crown molding for common spring angles. Again...it does the math for you and provides the saw setting. What it does not tell you...the Starrett does not read the angle measured. For this you will need to add or subtract from 90...there is not a scale that gives you the angle...your mileage may vary. The intent of the device is to give you the miter saw setting, not how to get there. So if you have problems getting to how to bisect an angle and correlating it to a miter saw setting, this is for you. My chosen weapons to date have been a T-bevel and protractor...I've even used a cheapy plastic angle finder (like a T-bevel with a scale) just to lock in the angle and then use the protractor. I've been happy with that and not likely to do away with it...but I now have a new weapon in the arsenal. I like doing the math but the Starrett is cool to use... Give it to your "gopher" or "apprentice" and they'll do perfect miters every time. Just don't confuse them with the concept of complimentary angles... Don't know whey Ron Popeil didn't come up with this..."set it and forget it"...
November 18, 20169 yr 1. Don't measure it. 2. Use the T bevel to get the angle which is unknown. 3. Go to your favorite cross cut saw and set the same angle by scribing from the T bevel blade. 4. Cut your wood. 5. If you need to half the angle I use my largest protractor my chop saw. Lay it down so that you can measure the full angle of the T bevel. Then write down the angle on the saw and half it. Been doing this for years with moldings and decks and such works fine and is very simple. Good luck and sorry for the late reply.
November 18, 20169 yr Author Thanks, Michael...yes, chop saw scale, protractor, two pieces of wood, folded paper, cardboard, trial and error...and many more... To date, my trusty T-bevel has done me good...but another toy...er, tool...is always good for the soul...
November 22, 20169 yr When all else fails, this one will surely solve all you problems. http://www.bridgecitytools.com/default/bp-18v2-bevel-protractor.html?utm_source=Bridge+City+Tool+Works&utm_campaign=36ef2ff4e7-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2016_11_17&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_8072d037d5-36ef2ff4e7-310918565 Herb
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