iGaging Angle Cube vs Wixey

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Thu May 01, 2014 8:58 am

I have been using a Wixey for a couple years now. I have been very pleased with its performance. It, however, really gets abused in my shop. It has been dropped or knocked off the bench several times. I was thinking that it might be time for a new one. This one works but I want to be sure I have an angle indicator in my shop so I decided to buy a new one.

I did, however, not buy a Wixey. I bought an iGaging Angle Cube. I don't know why I deviated from a tried and proven product but I did.

I think it was the specifications that "got me".

The iGage Angle Cube:

Resolution: 0.05°
Repeatability: 0.1°
Accuracy: +/- 0.2°

The .1 caught my eye. I completely missed the .2 and I think that is what is going to be disappointing.

I must do some testing before I trash my decision to buy the iGage but right now I believe the Wixey will remain my "go to" device until it quits working all together.

I would appreciate any comments that any of you who own an iGage may have.

Preliminary observations:

The iGage is huskier than the Wixey and will probably survive rough treatment better.

The iGage uses a 9volt battery.

The magnets seem to be stronger and are located on both sides as well as the bottom. I will like that feature.

Wixey Specifications:

Resolution: 0.1 degrees
Accuracy: +/- 0.1 degrees
Repeatability : +/- 0.1 degrees

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Thu May 01, 2014 10:03 am

Got mixed opinions here.

The obvious difference is the switch buttons.

The on/off sets 'level mode' with the iGauge.(level reference readings when turned on). I do not know if the Wixey does that.

The Zero button I assume functions the same for both.

The Hold button on the iGauge is very useful since the display is not always conveniently visible at times while measuring.

The side 'hi/lo' indicators are helpful intuitively for fine readings about 'zero'.

At first I was disappointed with the apparent repeatability. I subsequently determined that the bottom/side surfaces were not flat. Since abrading those surfaces, repeatability has improved to my current satisfaction.

I do like the three sided magnets.

Battery life is still an unknown.

Bottom line is, I am now satisfied with it.

Perhaps you could determine the differences in readings(side by side?) that the 'accuracy' makes since you now have both in hand.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Thu May 01, 2014 2:49 pm

[quote="JPG40504"]Got mixed opinions here.

The obvious difference is the switch buttons.

The on/off sets 'level mode' with the iGauge.(level reference readings when turned on). I do not know if the Wixey does that.

The Zero button I assume functions the same for both.

The Hold button on the iGauge is very useful since the display is not always conveniently visible at times while measuring.

The side 'hi/lo' indicators are helpful intuitively for fine readings about 'zero'.

At first I was disappointed with the apparent repeatability. I subsequently determined that the bottom/side surfaces were not flat. Since abrading those surfaces, repeatability has improved to my current satisfaction.

I do like the three sided magnets.

Battery life is still an unknown.

Bottom line is, I am now satisfied with it.

Perhaps you could determine the differences in readings(side by side?) that the 'accuracy' makes since you now have both in hand.]
My Wixey does not have these functionality but Wixey now offers a newer version that does.

When I am able to get back in the shop for something more than a few minutes, I'll do some comparative testing.

anmius · Post by **anmius** » Thu May 01, 2014 4:29 pm

It is my understanding that the Wixey continues to use power from the thin "button" batteries even when it is turned off (mine sure does). So it can lose power just sitting in the cabinet. I don't know about the iGage but the 9 volt battery is something I keep around for other uses whereas the button batteries I do not. Might be a reason to switch (or not).

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Thu May 01, 2014 4:46 pm

anmius wrote:It is my understanding that the Wixey continues to use power from the thin "button" batteries even when it is turned off (mine sure does). So it can lose power just sitting in the cabinet. I don't know about the iGage but the 9 volt battery is something I keep around for other uses whereas the button batteries I do not. Might be a reason to switch (or not).

My iGauge went into hiding fer almost a year 'turned off'. Still running on battery # uno.

I notice the 'improved' Wixey uses 2 - AA batteries.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Thu May 01, 2014 6:45 pm

anmius wrote:It is my understanding that the Wixey continues to use power from the thin "button" batteries even when it is turned off (mine sure does). So it can lose power just sitting in the cabinet. I don't know about the iGage but the 9 volt battery is something I keep around for other uses whereas the button batteries I do not. Might be a reason to switch (or not).

Maybe, just maybe another solution is possible. An angle gauge costs about $35-$40 while button batteries are a lot cheaper. A small supply of button batteries might be in order.

I have slightly different observations regarding the Wixey drawing down the battery. If I turn mine off when I am not using it, the batteries last a lot longer. However, the Wixey has an automatic shut-off function that disconnects if the Wixey is left idle.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Thu May 01, 2014 6:46 pm

JPG40504 wrote:My iGauge went into hiding fer almost a year 'turned off'. Still running on battery # uno.

I notice the 'improved' Wixey uses 2 - AA batteries.

Did you also notice that the new improved Wixey is about 20% more expensive.

Gene Howe · Post by **Gene Howe** » Thu May 01, 2014 6:58 pm

The battery comes out of my Wixy as soon as the angle is achieved. Learned the hard way to do that. I usually learn most things that way.

billmayo · Post by **billmayo** » Thu May 01, 2014 7:41 pm

I really like the Beall Tilt Box II as it can be used as a level. $34.50 at the factory.
http://www.bealltool.com/products/measuring/tiltbox.php

They have added a note about accuracy:
Note About Accuracy: The original Tilt Box was advertised as having a resolution of .05 and an accuracy of .1. While this was (and remains) true of many of the units, it is not, we have discovered with time, true of all of them, and so, for the sake of accuracy, we are now downgrading our claims to the more realistic .2 of a degree.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Thu May 01, 2014 9:11 pm

billmayo wrote:I really like the Beall Tilt Box II as it can be used as a level. $34.50 at the factory.
http://www.bealltool.com/products/measuring/tiltbox.php

They have added a note about accuracy:
Note About Accuracy: The original Tilt Box was advertised as having a resolution of .05 and an accuracy of .1. While this was (and remains) true of many of the units, it is not, we have discovered with time, true of all of them, and so, for the sake of accuracy, we are now downgrading our claims to the more realistic .2 of a degree.

A dead ringer fer the iGauge!