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Miter gauges can seem like very intimidating accessories to your table saw. Don’t worry, as they’re actually not.
What you need to understand is that if you ever need one you better pick the best model you can afford. Otherwise, you might end up wasting a lot of material.
Hoping to cut right to the chase? Below are the best table saw miter gauges:
Comparison of the Best Table Saw Miter Gauges
Product | Specs | Price |
|---|---|---|
PowerTec 71005  | ||
DeWalt 5140032-78  | ||
Delta Deluxe Miter Gauge  |
What is a Miter Gauge and What Does it Do?
The miter gauge is an essential component for table saws that you need in order to make miter cuts. Miter cuts are angled cuts done on the face of the workpiece in order to create corners. These are also known as miter joints and are often used in making cabinets.
The simple explanation of a miter gauge is that it’s a guiding accessory used to guide the material being cut. It slides into a miter slot on the table saw and its locking mechanism allows you to pivot the miter gauge. Miter gauges allow you to create miter cuts at various angles, as they usually pivot 45 degrees, both left and right.
What Should I Look for When Buying a Table Saw Miter Gauge?
There are some buying considerations you need to pay attention to before deciding on a miter gauge for your table saw.
The Fit
Not all miter gauges are compatible with all table saws. Between their sizes and clamping or locking mechanisms, what works on one saw may not work on another. Sometimes it’s easy to figure out what works if you check the table saw’s manufacturer recommendations in terms of accessories.
The Accuracy of the Gauge
Believe it or not, not all miter gauges are 100% accurate. Of course, short of inspecting a miter gauge, you can never be really sure if it’s a good one or not, or it if will perform well on your table saw. It will help if your table saw’s table is perfectly leveled. That will give you a good baseline to start testing various miter gauges.
The Ruggedness Factor
Call it quality control if you want. The point is that without a rugged miter gauge you won’t be able to make very precise angled cuts. Not comfortably anyway. Many stock miter gauges are quite flimsy and aren’t robust enough to properly guide the workpiece through the saw blade.
Simplicity Helps
You may be tricked into believing that a very complex miter gauge is somehow going to make your life easier and cuts look professional. That’s not always the case. The more markings it has, the more complex it looks in design, chances are it’s going to be more difficult to use. Sometimes less is more.
Review of the Best Table Saw Miter Gauges
To better understand what separates one miter gauge from another, here are some reviews of the top rated table saw miter gauges currently available. Hopefully, this should put things into perspective.
Best for the Money:
PowerTec 71005
PROS
CONS
Our Review
Right off the bat, this is clearly not a miter gauge you’ll want for the long run. The materials are somewhat flimsy so you may not want this for medium to heavy-duty work.
That said, the PowerTec 71005 is very easy to use. It also comes with positive stops at popular miter cut angles which will help improve your accuracy. The fit is surprisingly good too, on a variety of table saws. Plus, you’re not gated by a T-slot miter slot either.
It’s a solid improvement over many factory miter slots that come with today’s table saws. It’s also affordable and great overall as an entry-level upgrade.
What Makes This Product Stand Out?
Its simplicity and ease of use is what makes the PowerTec 71005 miter gauge impressive. That along with its low price tag make for a very good combination, especially when you consider the broad compatibility with both types of miter slots.
Hold up, are you interested in other topics related to table saws? If so, these might be something to check out:
Best DeWalt Table Saw Miter Gauge:
DeWalt 5140032-78
PROS
CONS
Our Review
This piece is a bit different than the others on this list. It’s not a complete miter gauge system but in fact just a gauge replacement. This makes it cheap, very easy to install, and perhaps just what you need to increase the accuracy of your angled cuts.
Is it as compatible as others with many other brands? Probably not. But it either works for you or it doesn’t. And this is very easy to find out.
You may also appreciate how simple the gauge is and the fact that it doesn’t lure you into making micro angle adjustments. It’s a simple tool for simple projects that also happens to have a good build quality.
What Makes This Product Stand Out
What makes this particularly appealing, apart from the DeWalt branding, is the fact that you can check its compatibility with a variety of table saws. As an OEM replacement piece, you can check tables online or just search for a match by inputting your saw’s part number. This should save you plenty of time when shopping for an upgrade.
Best Delta Table Saw Miter Gauge:
Delta Deluxe Miter Gauge
PROS
CONS
Our Review
Whether you’re a Delta power tool loyalist or you simply need a sturdy miter gauge replacement, this is something worth checking out.
The gauge has been designed to work equally well on T-slots and with straight tracks. It also features two holes at the end of the bar so that you can add an extension. This might come in handy when you want to guide longer work pieces.
The pricing is also fair given the simplicity and the ruggedness of the gauge. In terms of accuracy, it may not be 100% but it comes very close.
What Makes This Product Stand Out?
Although it may not be the cheapest OEM replacement part, the build quality is outstanding. Not only is this a lightweight gauge but it’s also very robust and should handle even longer and heavier pieces of wood. It’s a breeze to use even though you may not be able to benefit from it on all table saws.
Honorable Mention:
Kreg KMS7102
PROS
CONS
Our Review
The Kreg KMS7102 epitomizes the meaning of precise measurements, even when it comes to the tiniest of angle adjustments. We find this to be the best tool for professional woodworkers because of its accuracy and overall convenience.
With five stop positions and a well-designed build, this miter gauge should slide in tightly into a standard miter slot. This translates to having no wobbling or unwanted lateral movements while you’re guiding the wood through the blade.
It’s also worth pointing out that even though the fence bar reaches up to 24”, the KMS7102 will handle wood up to 30” long with ease.
What Makes This Product Stand Out?
The fact that the gauge requires little to no calibration out of the box, and that the accuracy of the measurements is on point, is what makes this model stand out from a crowd. It’s also quite versatile when it comes to micro angle adjustments, which just makes it even better.
Editor's Pick:
O’skool Miter Gauge
PROS
CONS
Our Review
Visibility is always a key aspect and the scale on the O’skool miter gauge is very easy to read. The included fence has a solid design and although small, it can handle a variety of work piece lengths.
We liked the use of 13 preset angles, using the most common angles in cabinetry design. The aluminum build gives it some nice weight and stability. This miter gauge is compatible with standard 3/8”x3/4” slots.
Due to the presence of the locking washer, this miter gauge should be compatible with a broader range of table saw T-slots.
What Makes This Product Stand Out?
Besides being sturdy and accurate, as well as easily adjustable, what makes this model stand out is the seven positive stops between zero and 90 degrees. These are popular angles and this design feature ensures less unwanted movement of the miter gauge when cutting through thicker work pieces.
Quick Take: Best Table Saw Miter Gauges
- PowerTec 71005
- DeWalt 5140032-78
- Delta Deluxe Miter Gauge
In summary, here are the best table saw miter gauges:
How to Use a Table Saw Miter Gauge
Using a miter gauge is pretty straightforward. The only thing that can complicate matters is having too many features on your gauge, too many available angle adjustments, or not having a clearly defined locking mechanism. Here are the steps you should follow for a successful cut every time:
- First and foremost, remove the rip fence if you want to use your miter gauge.
- Set the desired angle on your miter gauge either using the preset angle positions or by making your own custom adjustments.
- Put your piece of wood against the miter gauge bar and secure it, if it has some sort of locking mechanism.
- Tighten the gauge’s locking mechanism to make sure that it’s secure and doesn’t move.
- Turn on your saw and slowly push the miter gauge to guide the workpiece through the saw blade.
- Use both hands, one for guiding the miter gauge and one for keeping the work piece in a fixed position. Never leave the workpiece stand on its own and push it only with the gauge.
- Turn off the saw once the blade goes cleanly through the wood at the angle you selected.
- If needed, use the push stick to guide the wood through the last inches of the cut.
You can also refer to this video in order to have a better understanding of how it should look like as you’re performing these steps.
Pros and Cons of Miter Gauges
This shouldn’t come as a surprise but, there are more advantages to using a miter gauge and having one on your table saw than not having one.
Opens Up More Cuts
If all you need to do with your table saw is rip long pieces of wood, then you probably don’t need one. But if you plan on doing more and taking on angled cuts, creating square cuts, and working on complex cabinetry pieces, then a miter gauge will be your best friend.
Constantly Challenges You to Learn
Another benefit of being able to make a wider variety of cuts is that you can hone your skills as a woodworker a lot faster. Having a miter gauge will force you to try new things and get better at your craft.
Needed for Accuracy
It’s hard to make any angled cuts without a proper miter gauge. Whether you have a store-bought miter gauge or you’ve made your own, you’ll still need one to make precise, professional, angled cuts.
Downsides of a Poor Miter Gauge
The only thing that will affect your experience of using a miter gauge is using a bad one. If the miter gauge measurements are slightly off, you can ruin entire projects. Even being a fraction of a degree off can result in your angled cross cuts not fitting. For someone building furniture, this can be both time consuming and a waste of money.
Conclusion
Although OEM miter gauges might be easier to find and swap in, it’s always a good idea to check out a variety of brands. Some miter gauges are just more accurate and are designed to be more adaptable and secure, no matter what table saw you install them onto. At the end of the day, quality should trump convenience, if you want to end up with professional-looking angled cuts.
People Also Ask
Comparing a few miter gauge models might give you a good baseline to start hunting this accessory on your own. But it might not always be quite enough. Here’s some more useful information to consider before buying a miter gauge for your table saw.
Do You Need a Miter Gauge?
Not necessarily. A miter gauge isn’t a mandatory component on a table saw. You only truly need it if your workpiece needs additional stability and guidance into the saw blade. Or, if you want to make precise angled cuts. But it’s not a necessary component of a table saw like the rip fence is.
Do Table Saws Come with a Miter Gauge?
Some table saws do come with miter gauges. Very few of them won’t feature as part of the package. However, the quality of many stock miter gauges can be questionable. Even when paying top dollar for a table saw you might still find the need to upgrade the default miter gauge.
Are Miter Gauges Universal?
No, they’re not. While it’s true that the majority of miter gauges are designed to be slotted in 3/8”x3/4” miter slots, there are exceptions. Some miter gauges are customized for specialty table saws. You should also know that miter gauges are usually undersized. The idea being that you can tighten them according to your needs. Therefore, not all miter gauges have the same size or fit.