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Incra MITER5000 Miter 5000 Table Saw Miter Gauge with Sled and Telescoping Fence by Incra
List Price: $409.14Our Price: $246.42You Save: $162.72 (40%)Availability: Usually ships in 4-5 business days Category: Tools See more product details
Product DetailsManufacturer: Incra Model: MITER5000 Product features: - Table saw that blends incremental angle control and a special 3-panel sled
- Precision angle indexing teeth are laser cut in solid steel
- 364 lock solid angle stops in 1/2-degree increments
- Ten expansion disks adjust both sides of the bar for zero side play
- Hold down clamp locks your work piece onto the sled
Accessories:
Description of Incra MITER5000 Miter 5000 Table Saw Miter Gauge with Sled and Telescoping FenceCapitalizing on a great idea, the folks a INCRA® have combined their highly successful Miter3000® with the exclusive AngleLOCK® Indexing System with a sled system for the table saw. The sled with T-track and clamping fixture secures the workpiece as one solid unit for precision cross-cutting at any angle. The right-hand portion of the sled, once cut, secures to the right miter slot of your table saw by means of a miter slider and functions as a zero clearance cut-off table that's perfectly aligned with the main sled. Since this system includes precision angle adjustment, stop positioner and clamping sled for superior workpiece control, all possibility for cutting error has been eliminated and each cut is predictable and precise. Finally, a perfect cross-cutting system for your table saw! Order the replacement Panel for maintaining zero clearance for different blades and compound angle cutting. Please see above for Miter3000® specifications. The Miter 5000 Table Saw Miter Gauge blends the incremental angle control features of the Miter 3000SE with a very special 3-panel Sled for the ultimate miter cutting workstation for the table saw. The sled with two aluminum T-tracks and clamping fixture secures the work piece as one solid unit for precision cross-cutting at any angle. The tracks are embedded in the MDF panel top to secure an included work piece hold-down clamp and to provide absolute rigid support for the 36- to 64-inch telescoping IncraLOCK Cuto-off Fence. The right-hand portion of the sled, once cut, secures to the right miter slot of your table saw by means of a miter slider and functions as a zero clearance cut-off table that's perfectly aligned with the main sled. Since this system includes precision angle adjustment, stop positioner and clamping sled for superior work piece control, all possibility for cutting error has been eliminated and each cut is predictable and precise. Also featured with every Miter 5000 is a simple and incredibly useful hold down clamp which locks your work piece onto the sled for maximum accuracy and the cleanest cuts possible. Ten expansion disks adjust both sides of the bar for zero side play, anti-friction travel on all table saws with standard 3/4-by-3/8-inch or near-standard miter gauge channels, including Delta, Craftsman, and imports. This means that all of Incra's incredible precision will actually show up in your work because the bar won't wiggle around in the miter slot. Also included are Special Edition Miter Fence telescopes from 18- to a full 31-foot length. The dual flip shop stop and Incra's patented automatic positioning control also come standard with this model. AngleLOCK Indexing Precision angle indexing teeth are laser cut in solid steel to lock in 364 positive angle stops in 1/2-degree increments over a full 180-degree range. Interlocking grooves in the fence and stop ensure even the sharp edge of mitered work will not push behind the stop. The fence locking bracket creates a monolithic rigid platform and fence when tightened down. Quickly set using the included standard hex tool, this feature takes an already strong platform into the rigidity level expected in any professional machining environment.
Tools and Hardware Reviews of Incra MITER5000 Miter 5000 Table Saw Miter Gauge with Sled and Telescoping FenceCustomer Review: Mitre 5000 Sled for Precision Summary: 5 Stars
Chances are you are like me and read these reviews as they influence your decision to buy. If so make sure you also read the installation section. In fact, I think for making a purchasing decisions this is the most important section to read.
First and foremost. You are buying this tool for the accuracy that it will give you. As such if you do not want to put the time and effort into the pre-install preparation and the installation then you would be better off making your own sled and saving yourself some money (actually, a whole lot) in the end.
Up-front confession: I am a hobbyist workworker. I am not Mr. mechanical, but I do like tinkering. I have made more mistakes due to impatience than I care to admit.
Pre-Install Preparation: If you want dead-nuts accuracy I strongly suggest you do these things. First, clean out your miter slots. Chances are if you use your table saw alot these will be gummed up. Some WD40 and a blade screw driver will do the trick. Doing this is important as there are tension adjustments that help to take all the play out of the slide bar. Second, make sure your blade is as close to 90 degrees to the table as you can get it. While there are fancy tools to do this I have found that my mechanical square does the trick. It is really important that you have you blade aligned properly before installing the sled. Sure, the instruction show you how to zero out the miter gage to your blade, but you should take the time and make this adjustment before installation.
Finally, be patient and take your time. I say this as I am not patient. I spent a few evenings after work putting mine together. Remember, you are spending some serious money on this product. If you set it up properly to begin with you can cut joints accurate enough to make picture frames.
Installation: Take you time and follow the directions. They are actually very well done. The parts come in marked bags. I am definitely not the mechanically inclined poster child and had to re-read a few of the steps a few times, looking over the parts. The bottom line is that the instructions are pretty darn good. It might be nice if a few of the pictures in the instructions were zoomed out a bit to see a bit more context, but this is really a minor complaint. I do have the following suggestions that are not part of the instructions that I found helped me. They are ...
In hindsight you probably do not need to spend so much time adjusting the play out of the left slide bar until you actually attach the sled base. The reason is that with the base attached you can move the sled through the full range and much easier check for play and adjust it out. What is really cool about this product is that all the adjustments are accessible with the sled base attached.
You DO NOT want any play in the bar! Repeat, you DO NOT want any play in the bar. I suspect every table saw model is slightly different. Incra has ten seperate adjustments to take out the play. I found that only tightening the two adjustments on each end first was the best means of minimizing the play in my miter slot. Then I made the other adjustments. I found a lot of interplay between these.
I also moved the sled to different positions and checked for play and adjusted as necessary. I payed particular attention to the area near the saw blade (obviously) as this is where you will be cutting the wood. I also moved the sled though the miter slot back and forth and then tightened up the adjustments again. I would say I spent a good twenty minutes on this step alone. Your mileage will vary depending on the table saw you own.
Before cutting of the excess, though the procedure did not say to do this, I raised my saw blade, pulled out my mechanical square and verified that the front of the sled was exactly 90 degrees to the blade.
Checking the left and right sled bases square to the blade, and the other items I mentioned are the only things I would add to the instructions.
I am guessing it took me about three hours to get everything setup. Someone more mechanically inclined could cut this time in half. This investment is a one time deal. In pondering all of this it occurred to me that you are pretty much mating the sled to your table saw. So, if you plan on getting a new table saw anytime soon you may want to hold off on buying this product.
The Test Cut: I took two pieces of unjointed pine and cut them at 45 degrees. One word. Wow! When you spend 1/2 the cost of your table saw on a a miter gage and sled you need to set some high expectations. If you take your time, carefully read and follow the directions, this product delivers. I am blown away by the accuracy. This product delivers. You can miter picture frames with this product.
There are a number of decent videos on the various incra miter gauges on YouTube. I could not find one on this specific version, but the sled appears to be the same as the miter express. After this experience I am now looking forward to replacing my fence with the incra table saw fence.
I have yet to figured out how to align the rulers so I do not have to measure when making a 45 degree cut. I did not find the directions real useful in this regard. I have not found any guidance yet on the net for doing this.
My first project was making two 21x24 picture frames out of purpleheart. After my initial test cut I knew this sled was up for the task.
Not sure why old Norm does not own one of these puppies?
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