Any interest in a replacement for Kapex angle gauge?

morts10n

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Nov 10, 2007
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I developed a miter saw angle finder years ago that uses no math and is accurate to 1/2°. Throw your Kapex transfer device away! (I have 2 Kapex and have never used one.) All one needs is a sliding t-bevel. Any interest?
 
The KAPEX angle finder is quite good and you don't need math to transfer angles .. not that math is particularly challenging anyway!

What so different about this thing you're proposing?
 
Consider the recent posts in "Tools and Accessories" regarding  "Kapex miter Gauge accuracy"
Users must line up a laser to a line on the transfer device over and over, and instead reach for other measurement devices that read angles accurately but have to find the miter angle with math (easy for me and others...cumbersome for many)
I have a prototype that reads the miter angle directly and uses no batteries!
 
I've used a sliding T-bevel for years with my mitre saws. They work great, no pencil, no protractor, no math. The secret is to purchase a good T-bevel that locks solidly and doesn't allow the blade to move even a little when locked-up. The Woodpeckers T-bevel is by far, the best I've ever used.
 
I'd have to say that'd put me in the curious, but not at all interested camp.

I don't have accuracy problems with the KAPEX or it's companion "smart bevel" .. still not getting any hints here on why yours is supposedly better. To me you're looking at a pretty small market if your total potential is those that own a KAPEX, that are also disappointed and are further inclined to consider something in proto form.

(not being negative, just trying to be constructive)

"Throw your Kapex transfer device away" is not something I'll be doing. It's useful with the KAPEX and on it's own. Further, it's accuracy is directly related to how well you use it.

On a general note, rubbishing something and saying yours is better without even having an example to show wouldn't typically get a lot of miles with people I know. Your familiars may be different ...

Also, as [member=44099]Cheese[/member] says, there's absolutely nothing wrong with a good T-bevel gauge.
 
I don't have a Kapex and it sounds like transferring angle using the Kapex angle gauge device has its issues from the differing threads posted.

An alternative I use for cutting crown is a Starrett Angle Finder and I take that reading and enter it into an iPhone App called "Crown Angle" and it automatically calculates the bevel and mitre angles required to cut the crown on the flat.

Maybe this would help some of you with a Kapex to determine what bevel and mitre angles need to be set (I know that this wouldn't help with the nuances of setting angles outside of the detents issues).

I have an awesome Hitachi 12" mitre saw that has a digital readout for the bevel/mitre angles which I set from the calculations the app provides, so my crown joints are tight with no gapping.

Granted, my saw doesn't have the dust control abilities that the Kapex has when hooked to a DC but my shop stays pretty much dust free as I use a FastCap Saw Hood which works great.
 
Pic of the Starret Angle finder and my Hitachi with digital readout. Sorry for the poor quality, I used my iPad 2 to take the pics. Should've used my iPhone...
 

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Hey Kev
When I say prototype, perhaps I used the wrong term. It is completely designed with no further enhancement needed. I have a dozen and have used the same one  for 15 yrs now. I designed it way before Kapex came out. This is designed for any miter saw. Not trying to be elusive, just trying to " gauge" interest!
Cheers
 
If you want to convince us to throw away the Kapex Angle Finder we want to see some pictures of this fantastic angle finder.
 
BMAC said:
Pic of the Starret Angle finder and my Hitachi with digital readout.

Ya I also tried to use my Starrett angle finder with my saws, but because I couldn't lock it down tight, it always moved just a little bit so I went back to the Woodpeckers sliding T-bevel.

Just curious, were the 2 photos you just posted in their proper orientation when you attached them to this message? There's been a lot of images being automatically rotated incorrectly lately.
 
Yes, I noticed that they were upside down but when I click on them at least on my iPad they are displayed correctly.

I think that when I took the pictures with my iPad that I had it upside down and of course on the Apple products everything looks as it should when you take the picture. I apologize if others can't see it correctly and when I have a chance later I'll retake pictures and post them properly
 
Ya no apology necessary, I'm just trying to figure out this auto rotation thing. It's been happening for the last couple of weeks on a large number of the postings for a large number of members.

Thanks...

 
morts10n said:
I developed a miter saw angle finder years ago that uses no math and is accurate to 1/2°. Throw your Kapex transfer device away! (I have 2 Kapex and have never used one.) All one needs is a sliding t-bevel. Any interest?

No idea what the OP was talking about but 1/2* (0.5*) is not something to brag about. Even 0.1* results in a poor fit compared to what you can get with the transfer tool, with practice.
 
morts10n said:
Hey Kev
When I say prototype, perhaps I used the wrong term. It is completely designed with no further enhancement needed. I have a dozen and have used the same one  for 15 yrs now. I designed it way before Kapex came out. This is designed for any miter saw. Not trying to be elusive, just trying to " gauge" interest!
Cheers

Perhaps with clear details I can decide how interested I'd be.
 
Paul G said:
morts10n said:
Hey Kev
When I say prototype, perhaps I used the wrong term. It is completely designed with no further enhancement needed. I have a dozen and have used the same one  for 15 yrs now. I designed it way before Kapex came out. This is designed for any miter saw. Not trying to be elusive, just trying to " gauge" interest!
Cheers

Perhaps with clear details I can decide how interested I'd be.

[member=19439]Paul G[/member] nope, sorry - it's still secret squirrel stuff [big grin]
 
Kev said:
Paul G said:
morts10n said:
Hey Kev
When I say prototype, perhaps I used the wrong term. It is completely designed with no further enhancement needed. I have a dozen and have used the same one  for 15 yrs now. I designed it way before Kapex came out. This is designed for any miter saw. Not trying to be elusive, just trying to " gauge" interest!
Cheers

Perhaps with clear details I can decide how interested I'd be.

[member=19439]Paul G[/member] nope, sorry - it's still secret squirrel stuff [big grin]
I guess my interest will remain a secret as well then  [bite tongue]
 
Michael
Do you think you can get accuracy to 0.1* with a miter saw?
I said that my gauge was accurate to 1/2* because it is tough to set any saw with much more accuracy than that.
The space between the degree markings for miters between 0 and 60* on my gauge are approx.  0.25" so I suppose you could approximate angles with much more precision than 1/2* just by eye.
 
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