Jointech SmartMiter Review

[brown_hawk]

Just for the heck of it, I took a board and cut at 22 1/2 degrees for eight sides. I just sort of ran it through. A 22.5 cut, then move the bar to 0 and a straight cut, then 22.5. Also used the SS sled to do some straight cuts.

I don't have a band clamp or anything. When I hold it by hand, seems okay, but loosens up a little when not held. Without a clamp, I don't want to say perfect, but on the other hand, this was just a down and dirty 'cause kd had to make that comment about the segmented rings.

[dusty]

Do you have a Wixey. That would be a good way to determine if your 22.5 degree cut is accurate. The dry fit sort of looks like some fine tooling would help.

Looks like a really nice tool to have. I watched all of the demonstration videos earlier today. The floating pivot looks like it brings a whole new dimension to the table.

[brown_hawk]

Do you have a Wixey. That would be a good way to determine if your 22.5 degree cut is accurate. The dry fit sort of looks like some fine tooling would help.

Looks like a really nice tool to have. I watched all of the demonstration videos earlier today. The floating pivot looks like it brings a whole new dimension to the table.

The Wixey arrived yesterday. And it may need some fine tuning. I just sort of threw it together on the spur of the moment. A band clamp (or a big rubber band) would probably show it better.

Just a little something to show possibilities.

Hawk

ETA: Looks like a couple of the pieces weren't snug against the fence when I did the cuts, so they were off enough. Not my usual anal self this time.

I'll try to do a better one, but it will be a while. The router table top and a couple of things around the house need to get done first.

[kd6vpe]

hawk,
I'm sorry I didn't want to put you through all this. I was just curious I built a sled at 30 degrees and it took me 3 tries before I got it to the right angle. I had seen this sled before but just couldn't justify the cost vs. making my own. Thank you so much for the pictures and the time you spent. I am now thinking about my want list priorities again.

[brown_hawk]

hawk,
I'm sorry I didn't want to put you through all this. I was just curious I built a sled at 30 degrees and it took me 3 tries before I got it to the right angle. I had seen this sled before but just couldn't justify the cost vs. making my own. Thank you so much for the pictures and the time you spent. I am now thinking about my want list priorities again.

Yeah! You twisted my arm so hard I could almost feel it. But not quite. I'd have probably done it anyhow, so don't worry about it.

And that self built thing is why I wanted a sled like this or the Incra.

Hawk

[Ed in Tampa]

Hawk
In the pictures I see a Shopsmith crosscut sled also. How are you using it with the Jointech?
You answered my question but that actually opened more questions for me on what you bought and what came with the Jointech sled.

Was the clamp included or did you buy it separate?
The stop block? The angled stop block if they are not one and the same.
The handle, and etc.
Please list what came and what you bought separate. Thanks
Ed

[brown_hawk]

Ed,

The clamp was the only thing that was extra, $25. The handle, the flipstop, the 45 bevel stop all came with the sled. There was also a 4" MDF block that is used to set the rulers. Everything except the clamp came with the sled.

JoinTech does have a "cut off extension" which is the same thing as the SS Sliding Crosscut Auxiliary Table. Their extension runs $40. I will build my own zero clearance aux table in a few days using some 1/2 MDF and the SS miter bar that was left over from the 500 to 520 upgrade. Basically, you put the bar on the bottom of the MDF so that the MDF will hit the saw blade. Run the MDF through the saw with the miter bar in the slot, leaving an aux table with zero clearance on the right side of the blade. I can then drill a hole in the MDF to access the allan screw in the miter bar and lock the sled in place. Since I have the material sitting around, I was too cheap to spend the $40 bucks.

But since I didn't have that aux table made yet, and the SS sled is 1/2" thick as well, I just used the SS sled as the aux table. Like I said, this was a quick and dirty to show me (and you guys) some of the capabilities of the sled/clamp combo to safely cut short pieces.

List of parts that came with the sled:
Sled, fence, fence extension,rulers on fence and flip stop (All one unit so no assembly here):
Miter bar and screw and nuts to attach it to the bottom;
Handle and bolt to attach it; and,
4" MDF block used in setting the rulers to the saw blade.


Extra:
Clamp

Hope this helps clear up any confusion I caused

Hawk