Digital angle finder

[Ed in Tampa]

So, did it say 0.6 °? All that trouble, and is was a 'prehung' door being 'installed'!:D

JPG40504
I didn't look at the angle I looked at slope per foot. It it displayed 1/8 per foot.
Which I knew since I had to shim the door 3/8" for the door to close. These new super environmental doors simply refused to shut properly even out only a 1/8' per foot. It kept snagging the threshold. They are that tight.

After the door is in you test the threshold seal with a sheet of paper, the instructions say it should just barely move before tearing. If the sheet slides without real resistance it is wrong. "tight" is the word and that slight out of level was enough to mess up the works

[robinson46176]

you test the threshold seal with a sheet of paper, the instructions say it should just barely move before tearing. If the sheet slides without real resistance it is wrong.

I don't remember if I have posted this here before but my father traveled with an auto dare-devil show waaaaay back where they used stripped down model T Fords to play auto polo. One guy drove and the other stood on the running board hitting the ball with a long mallet. Cars all over the field and constant wrecks. He used to tell me that when they rebuilt an engine (constantly) that they would drop in a piston and if you couldn't get your fingers in around it that was "good enough"...

[regnar]

Just to let you guys know if you are a Craftsman Club Member you can pick up the Digital Torpedo that was referenced in the first post for 19.99 right now. I might go and pick on up later along with a few other things.

[reible]

Hi,

Ed just wanted to welcome you to the digital age!

Ed

[dewey2me1mothyme]

I recently ordered a digital angle gauge from Rockler similar to the one shown, while it was on sale for $29.95 which I must admit was hard to part with for such a small item. Now I am kicking myself for not doing it sooner, I can't say in words how handy and useful it is, well worth the price for me.


http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=17206&filter=digital%20angle%20guage

[pennview]

I'm always interested in accuracy, so I may take a look at one of these and then compare it's accuracy to a machinists level.

I guess accuracy is something everyone has to define for themselves. But, an example where accuracy shows up immediately is when making a picture frame or some other four-sided object with mitered corners. Here's a case where the 45° miters need to be dead accurate and the length of the opposing sides need to be identical, otherwise it doesn't show well.

The length issue is relatively easy to achieve by using a fence on the miter gauge with a stop block attached to ensure duplicate parts.


The harder part is setting the miter gauge to exactly 45°. Maybe the digital level will help here. I solve this by test cutting miters on both ends of four pieces of wood and taping them together. Then I can decide if further adjustment is necessary. This test frame lasts a long time if I take very light cuts off each end whenever I'm setting up the saw.

I've solved the bifocal problem in the shop or working overhead by buying three pair of full size reading glasses (1.75, 2.00 and 2.25 diopter) at the discount store. I have another pair at the computer.

[keakap]

I recently picked up a "Angle Cube" by iGAGING on the cheap (29).
It's a 2x2 CNC milled square (to .0005") with many magnets, looks like it does what the Wixey, Sears, et al will do. All these are the grandchildren of my old-timer Smart Level by Wedge Innovations, circa '80s, which does almost all the same things and more, but not magnetic stuff. Been using it for 25 years, on its third 9-v battery, still perfect.
Hope the new breeds work and last as well. A Great addition to the shop!

A little "extra" feature-- my "shop" (garage) floor is sloped for drainage. These absolute Level readers make it sooooo easy to figure that in when needed.

[JPG]

. . .

A little "extra" feature-- my "shop" (garage) floor is sloped for drainage. These absolute Level readers make it sooooo easy to figure that in when needed.

Does does does that that m m m mean it :eek:RAINS:eek: in Paradise?:)

[keakap]

Now this is a good example of the obsession with accuracy where it's not needed. Previously, we'd all use a liquid level and be quite happy when the bubble was between the two tick marks on the glass tube. Now, with this digital level one can get all worked up over the floor being 0.3 degrees off plumb.

I'm not saying its not nifty, or that there aren't times for this kind of detail. But most of the time it's not needed and just creates anxiety without any good purpose.

Yep, sometimes whatcha don't know cant hurt ya.

But then there's that ceiling fan adaptor that doesn't look quite right at 20 degrees when it turns out the ceiling is 20.6 deg.
Or when. like mine, the "shop" floor is sloped .9 deg.
Average.

But then you are right in the end-- I was happier before I knew all that stuff, I guess. Now, the question to self pops up a lot: "does it really matter?"

[JPG]

Yep, sometimes whatcha don't know cant hurt ya.

But then there's that ceiling fan adaptor that doesn't look quite right at 20 degrees when it turns out the ceiling is 20.6 deg.
Or when. like mine, the "shop" floor is sloped .9 deg.
Average.

But then you are right in the end-- I was happier before I knew all that stuff, I guess. Now, the question to self pops up a lot: "does it really matter?"

It matters iff you are trying to 'match'/'compliment' it.