What tool/device has improved your accuracy the most?

[wow]

For me the TS55 plus the accuracy of the mft/3 has helped tremendously.  The ole circular saw and speed square just wasn't ever really cutting it.  Pun intended.

Its funny, I used my track saw to cut the top off a 4x4 last week on a small deck.  Smoothest cut on the top of a post I have ever made.  Now thinking I need  the bigger track saw.

Sounds like a valid justification to me!

 

[rustym]

Len,
Get some Eneloop batteries from Amazon.  The best rechargeable batteries out there. They will pay for themselves in no time.

Rusty

For me it was glasses also, hard to be accurate when you can't see the lines on the rule or tape.

 

[grbmds]

Get some Eneloop batteries from Amazon.  The best rechargeable batteries out there. They will pay for themselves in no time.

Rusty

My accuracy improved greatly with digital measuring devices, including thickness gauges, a planer thickness gauge, height gauges (for router bit height), angle gauge, etc. It's not so much that they are as accurate as they are but these digital tools make me more conscious of accuracy. I also have been making recent use of Woodpecker's Story Sticks instead of measuring for repetitive lengths and widths. That takes one more area of human eye error out of the mix.

Batteries are a problem. Unfortunately I only find AA's, AAA's, C's, etc. on Amazon for eneloop batteries. These digital tools (at least all of mine) take watch/camera type batteries which, as far as I know, don't come as rechargeables.

 

[semenza]

Get some Eneloop batteries from Amazon.  The best rechargeable batteries out there. They will pay for themselves in no time.

Rusty

My accuracy improved greatly with digital measuring devices, including thickness gauges, a planer thickness gauge, height gauges (for router bit height), angle gauge, etc. It's not so much that they are as accurate as they are but these digital tools make me more conscious of accuracy. I also have been making recent use of Woodpecker's Story Sticks instead of measuring for repetitive lengths and widths. That takes one more area of human eye error out of the mix.

Batteries are a problem. Unfortunately I only find AA's, AAA's, C's, etc. on Amazon for eneloop batteries. These digital tools (at least all of mine) take watch/camera type batteries which, as far as I know, don't come as rechargeables.

I'll second the Eneloop batteries. They are waaaay better than a couple others I have tried.

Seth

 

[Len]

Len,
Get some Eneloop batteries from Amazon.  The best rechargeable batteries out there. They will pay for themselves in no time.

Rusty

For me it was glasses also, hard to be accurate when you can't see the lines on the rule or tape.

Rusty, thanks for the heads up on Eneloop.  New to me but I going to give them a try.

 

[Roseland]

Festool: Guide rails.

Non Festool: Incra T Ruler: http://www.incra.com/product_t-rules.htm

Andrew

 

[grbmds]

Get some Eneloop batteries from Amazon.  The best rechargeable batteries out there. They will pay for themselves in no time.

Rusty

My accuracy improved greatly with digital measuring devices, including thickness gauges, a planer thickness gauge, height gauges (for router bit height), angle gauge, etc. It's not so much that they are as accurate as they are but these digital tools make me more conscious of accuracy. I also have been making recent use of Woodpecker's Story Sticks instead of measuring for repetitive lengths and widths. That takes one more area of human eye error out of the mix.

Batteries are a problem. Unfortunately I only find AA's, AAA's, C's, etc. on Amazon for eneloop batteries. These digital tools (at least all of mine) take watch/camera type batteries which, as far as I know, don't come as rechargeables.

I'll second the Eneloop batteries. They are waaaay better than a couple others I have tried.

Seth

Do they sell 2032 watch/camera type batteries that are rechargeable? I didn't see any on Amazon. I have found that I have the most problem with these batteries which is what is in most of my digital measuring devices. I think it's mostly because they don't get constant use and just sit between uses. Even the devices which seem to have incorporated decent sleep features still die relatively quickly.

 

[PaulMarcel]

Do they sell 2032 watch/camera type batteries that are rechargeable? I didn't see any on Amazon. I have found that I have the most problem with these batteries which is what is in most of my digital measuring devices. I think it's mostly because they don't get constant use and just sit between uses. Even the devices which seem to have incorporated decent sleep features still die relatively quickly.

I used to use a digital caliper from Harbor Freight and if you listened carefully, you could hear it munch on batteries.  I swear it was a weekly thing to swap out the batteries, which is why I bought them by half dozen.

I later replaced it with a Mitsutoyo digital caliper and have had the same battery for over 3 years and have left it 'on' with display many times for a couple days.  Granted the cost of a Mitsutoyo caliper vs a HF caliper can buy a lot of batteries.

When John Economaki was picking a caliper to use in the AMPv2 angle finder, he tested a bunch of quality brands.  All the quality brands had the repeatable accuracy needed, but only the Mitsutoyo Absolute had the battery life.  That's why I got it. 

 

[Oldwood]

What tool/device has improved your accuracy the most?
Without a doubt the CNC router  [big grin]

Gerry

 

[grbmds]

Do they sell 2032 watch/camera type batteries that are rechargeable? I didn't see any on Amazon. I have found that I have the most problem with these batteries which is what is in most of my digital measuring devices. I think it's mostly because they don't get constant use and just sit between uses. Even the devices which seem to have incorporated decent sleep features still die relatively quickly.

I used to use a digital caliper from Harbor Freight and if you listened carefully, you could hear it munch on batteries.  I swear it was a weekly thing to swap out the batteries, which is why I bought them by half dozen.

I later replaced it with a Mitsutoyo digital caliper and have had the same battery for over 3 years and have left it 'on' with display many times for a couple days.  Granted the cost of a Mitsutoyo caliper vs a HF caliper can buy a lot of batteries.

When John Economaki was picking a caliper to use in the AMPv2 angle finder, he tested a bunch of quality brands.  All the quality brands had the repeatable accuracy needed, but only the Mitsutoyo Absolute had the battery life.  That's why I got it. 

I guess that means no rechargeable watch/camera type batteries?

 

[Birdhunter]

I guess I have nearly every Woodpeckers measuring device they sell and a full compliment of Starrett stuff, but my biggest accuracy improvement has come from the use of jigs, story sticks, and trial pieces that are subsequently used for set-ups. I simply don't measure much any more.

For example, I just made 8 identical benches out of Ipe. I spent more time building the cutting jigs and the drilling jigs than anything else. The jigs eliminated the need to measure as I cut and drilled the pieces. Ditto for making the Domino mortises. If you don't measure, you don't make measurement errors. Having all the pieces the same speeds assembly.

I'd also credit simple blue tape and a Marks-a-lot for reducing mistakes. Every piece of every bench was labeled as it was cut as to which bench it was for and its orientation on the bench.results..... No "oops" parts.

I also build a prototype for the bigger projects.  Nothing exposes an error in the drawing or process planning for a piece faster than reducing the the plan to wood. I will use a very nice grade of pine for the prototype. The prototype gives the client something real to see and feel. Design changes occur then rather than after all the production pieces are built.

I'm a tool junkie so I've got all the electronic stuff, and the super accurate squares and I do use them, but it is mostly to set up the machines and build jigs and story sticks.

 

 

[Kev]

Repeatable patterns are a key to uniform quality. Even using the same measuring device is better than risking several different ones - variations do happen.

Developing a "production methodology" with jigs makes perfect sense ... particularly when you reuse them over time. Some business models core value is their range of templates, jigs, patterns, etc.

I think it's the natural evolution in efficiency.

 

[TheWarrior]

^ I appreciate that Kev!

I'd have to say for me its the use of a precision straight edge. That helped me to start working comfortable in 1/32 and 1/64. It is my hope that the TS55 thats on its way to me will add to that while combining great efficiency!

 

[fdengel]

Do they sell 2032 watch/camera type batteries that are rechargeable? I didn't see any on Amazon. I have found that I have the most problem with these batteries which is what is in most of my digital measuring devices. I think it's mostly because they don't get constant use and just sit between uses. Even the devices which seem to have incorporated decent sleep features still die relatively quickly.

Funny that they don't die all that quickly when used in watches...

I just did a Google search for "2032 rechargable" and came up with a few hits right away.

 

[grbmds]

I did look also. I'm trying to figure out, over time, whether the number of batteries used justifies the cost of the charging device and higher cost of the batteries. It's one of those puzzles which doesn't seem to have a single answer and depends on some factors that are variable. Recently I noticed that the 2032 in my digital thickness gauge (caliper) seem to have been lasting much longer. The worst one was the Wixey planer gauge, but Wixey fixed the initial problem and offered an inexpensive upgrade. Again, these seem to be lasting longer now too. The cost justification isn't as easy to determine, but I appreciate your input.

 

[Tinker]

I have had a couple of battery powered measuring tools.  I get a couple of uses out of them and the battery goes dead.  By the time find a place that has the batteries, i have spent more in the search than I spent for the original tool.  I have quit reaching for the bat operated and gone back to the old fashioned, and reliable, that I have, mostly from my father.  I don't think I know anybody who worked with more precision than him. I don't have the patience for quite the precision that he worked with, so the non battery measuring is ok with me.  Besides, there is always expansion and contraction with any wood project.  Paying close attention to that I think is as important, or more important than measuring to the .001mm. No matter what measuring tool I use, I don't think i ever get that close. [huh]
Tinker
 

 

[rst]

I no longer leave the batteries in my measuring devices, most reasonably priced electronics allow too much voltage bleed through their switching.  My batteries now last years.

 

[pugilato]

I'm with the Woodpeckers 1281 square... The TS55 and especially its guides make everything much better.

 

[tjbnwi]

I'm going to go with the various clamps. If nothing else I have learned how important clamping items to work on them is by using the Festool system.

Tom

 

[SittingElf]

Incra flexible rules and their micro adjustable fence. [smile]