Router Table Digital Reader

[Mario Turcot]

Anyone using a Digital Reader versus a Setting gauge versus DIY jig?

Digital Readout

Setting Gauge

DIY Setup Jig
[Show yours]

Pros and Cons?

How do you setup roundover, chamfer and flush cut bits?

 

[nclemmons]

I use a Wixey on my Festool Router table. I like it a lot.  I also have a digital height gauge that I will use.

On round over bits, I always just set them flush to the table top using a straight ruler.  No need to use the digital gauge on them.  Same generally with Chamfer, as I’ve always found them to be a trial and error on a scrap piece of wood to get the right look on the chamfer.  Flush cut, I use a similar technique to the round over bits and just use a flat ruler to index the bit height to the top of the table.

Wixey does make it easy to zero out so even on a round over or flush cut, you can reset the digital height and then tweak as needed.

The biggest pro for me is repeatability of depth of cut, particularly where you might be doing multi-step routing to get to a deeper setting. 

Biggest con - I’ve found the batteries last about a year.  They tend to be something like a CR2025 or 2032.  I have digital depth on my router table, my thickness sander and my jointer/planer and like them all for ease of setting and returning to a previous setting.

 

[Mario Turcot]

Thanks Neil. The digital readout I add here use two AAA batteries, is made especially for my router table. I also have a Wixey digital readout on my table saw and it work verry well. Havent change the batteries yet after 10 months or so.

 

[Sparktrician]

I use a Wixey on my Festool Router table. I like it a lot.  I also have a digital height gauge that I will use.

On round over bits, I always just set them flush to the table top using a straight ruler.  No need to use the digital gauge on them.  Same generally with Chamfer, as I’ve always found them to be a trial and error on a scrap piece of wood to get the right look on the chamfer.  Flush cut, I use a similar technique to the round over bits and just use a flat ruler to index the bit height to the top of the table.

Wixey does make it easy to zero out so even on a round over or flush cut, you can reset the digital height and then tweak as needed.

The biggest pro for me is repeatability of depth of cut, particularly where you might be doing multi-step routing to get to a deeper setting. 

Biggest con - I’ve found the batteries last about a year.  They tend to be something like a CR2025 or 2032.  I have digital depth on my router table, my thickness sander and my jointer/planer and like them all for ease of setting and returning to a previous setting.

 

I'd like to see a picture or two of how you set that up on a CMS.