LeeValley digital angle finder guage

[perpetualapprentice]

availablilty update

From the Lee Valley site:

"Due to overwhelming response to our 30th Anniversary special offer for March, this digital angle finder has sold out. We apologize for any disappointment or inconvenience. We have ordered additional stock, which is due to arrive by the end of June. Once stock is received, we will make this offer available again."

[LCHIEN]

What is the accuracy of the HF one?

I think the resolution was .1 Degree.
Accuracy, repeatability and resolution being three different things,
I tested my Denali and the Wixey angle gauge against each over for a relative comparison, they tracked within about .5 degrees of each other at all in-between angles and both were very repeatable - they came back to the same reading at the same reference angles. The measured within .1 degree or better (usually 0) at the reference angles of 0, 90 and 45 and 30 I had using good squares and drafting triangles.

http://www.bt3central.com/showthread...t=wixey+denali

anyway, the Denali, the HF and the LV one all look real similar, making you sonder if they aren't using the same mechanism or even sourced from the same manufacturer.

[herb fellows]

Hi Herb,

I'm not sure this is correct but I'll take a stab at it.

I looked at the manual for the unit on the Gemred site.
http://web.ytnetwork.cn/gemred1/main/home/img/1A.htm

Is the ABS setting similar to the 'tare' setting on a shipping scale? No matter what your current angle is, you can set the read out to zero, then when you change the angle you are able to know the difference between that original angle and the new one.

Looks like Gemred tried to save money by using a non-native speaker to translate their manual into English. <sigh>

Am I reading your question correctly or did I miss the point entirely? I'm intrigued by this gadget but have not ordered one.

Dave

YOU READ IT CORRECTLY AND I THINK YOU HAVE THE RIGHT ANSWER ALSO, THANKS.
Sometimes (my wife would debate thwe frequency of that), things go right over my head! I'll check that out, but it sounds spot on!
Sorry you missed out on it this time, but the end of June will be here before you know it! Maybe google it under angela or angelo digital angle finder, maybe someone else carries it at a decent price?

[LinuxRandal]

I think the resolution was .1 Degree.
Accuracy, repeatability and resolution being three different things,
I tested my Denali and the Wixey angle gauge against each over for a relative comparison, they tracked within about .3 degrees of each other at all in-between angles and both were very repeatable - they came back to the same reading at the same reference angles. The measured within .1 degree or better (usually 0) at the reference angles of 0, 90 and 45 and 30 I had using good squares and drafting triangles.

http://www.bt3central.com/showthread...t=wixey+denali

anyway, the Denali, the HF and the LV one all look real similar, making you sonder if they aren't using the same mechanism or even sourced from the same manufacturer.

I remember that post now. However you had me worried that I missed it. Wixley NOW has two different sizes of these protractor/bevel gauges. A 3" and an 8".

[Tom Slick]

YOU READ IT CORRECTLY AND I THINK YOU HAVE THE RIGHT ANSWER ALSO, THANKS.
Sometimes (my wife would debate thwe frequency of that), things go right over my head! I'll check that out, but it sounds spot on!
Sorry you missed out on it this time, but the end of June will be here before you know it! Maybe google it under angela or angelo digital angle finder, maybe someone else carries it at a decent price?

ZERO is the same as TARE on a scale. you can set ZERO anywhere you'd like for comparative measurements. ABS gives you the absolute reading from the zero (beginning) of the tool's scale (0* absolute or home position). because of the way the tool's digital sensor works it always knows where it is in relation to it's home position *and* where you have set zero. you can think of ZERO as "user zero" and ABS as "tool zero". Digital calipers use the same system. older analog systems you had to re-zero the dial at the beginning of the scale if you adjusted down the scale.
If that doesn't make sense I'll clarify further.

[herb fellows]

I just looked at Harbor Freight on a whim, they have either the identical angle finder or at least one of the three made by gemred, not a lot of difference from one to the other that I can see. Unfortunately, it's $39.99, but maybe you can use the Lee Valley ad or a discount coupon or...? to bring it down to reasonable. I paid $30 after S&H, so if you can manage to bring it to there...

here's the link: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=96874

BTW, it is listed as a Cen-Tech product, which makes me believe that Cen-Tech, Chicago Pneumatic etc. are just 'brand names' created by HF under which they sell products bought from various manufacturers, thereby trying to establish what is really a non-existent manufacturer. Kinda sneaky really, because if you happen on a great product/buy with the Cen-Tech name on it and don't realize this, you start to believe that Cen-Tech is this great undiscovered manufacturer, buy another Cen-Tech product, and find out that this one is total crap! Of course, the other side of the coin is you could buy a crappy Cen-Tech product and never buy one again and miss out on something decent such as this angle gauge. Doesn't seem to be fair to the manufacturers or the consumer this way, not knowing who makes what. Maybe I'm stating the obvious here, but it never occured to me before. Anyone know for sure if that is the way it's done?

[herb fellows]

ALERT
: Just realized somEthing after actually reading the instructions (I know, I know, I was supposed to throw them away)

You need to hold the 'off' button for OVER 8 SECONDS to shut it off. If you just click on the off button, the lcd dissapears, making you think it is off, but it would still be eating up your battery. WHY YOU WOULD WANT TO JUST SHUT OFF THE LCD IS BEYOND ME. It says battery life is 2,000 hours, that's a total of about 90 days that you thought you had it shut off, and whoops, new battery needed!

IMHO, this is a really wierd quirk, but I guess as long as you're aware of it..
Think I'll put a magic marker note on mine.

As they used to say on Hill Street Blues, 'be careful out there'!

[eccentrictinkerer]

I just looked at Harbor Freight on a whim, they have either the identical angle finder or at least one of the three made by gemred, not a lot of difference from one to the other that I can see. Unfortunately, it's $39.99, but maybe you can use the Lee Valley ad or a discount coupon or...? to bring it down to reasonable. I paid $30 after S&H, so if you can manage to bring it to there...

here's the link: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=96874

BTW, it is listed as a Cen-Tech product, which makes me believe that Cen-Tech, Chicago Pneumatic etc. are just 'brand names' created by HF under which they sell products bought from various manufacturers, thereby trying to establish what is really a non-existent manufacturer. Kinda sneaky really, because if you happen on a great product/buy with the Cen-Tech name on it and don't realize this, you start to believe that Cen-Tech is this great undiscovered manufacturer, buy another Cen-Tech product, and find out that this one is total crap! Of course, the other side of the coin is you could buy a crappy Cen-Tech product and never buy one again and miss out on something decent such as this angle gauge. Doesn't seem to be fair to the manufacturers or the consumer this way, not knowing who makes what. Maybe I'm stating the obvious here, but it never occured to me before. Anyone know for sure if that is the way it's done?

You're right, they have created a "brand" to help their marketing. But remember "Craftsman", "Ridgid" and "Kobalt" are brand names used in exactly the same way. The products offered are not necessarily manufactured by the brand owners.

As always, "Caveat Emptor".

[LCHIEN]

...BTW, it is listed as a Cen-Tech product, which makes me believe that Cen-Tech, Chicago Pneumatic etc. are just 'brand names' created by HF under which they sell products bought from various manufacturers, thereby trying to establish what is really a non-existent manufacturer. Kinda sneaky really, because if you happen on a great product/buy with the Cen-Tech name on it and don't realize this, you start to believe that Cen-Tech is this great undiscovered manufacturer, buy another Cen-Tech product, and find out that this one is total crap! Of course, the other side of the coin is you could buy a crappy Cen-Tech product and never buy one again and miss out on something decent such as this angle gauge. Doesn't seem to be fair to the manufacturers or the consumer this way, not knowing who makes what. Maybe I'm stating the obvious here, but it never occured to me before. Anyone know for sure if that is the way it's done?

Their house brand labels are
Chicago Electric (power tools)
Central Pneumatic
CenTech for measuring tools
Pittsburgh for hand tools

They're all made by third party manufacturers I'm sure and packaged and labeled with the HF brand names. Any "afficianado" of HF will recognize them!

[LarryG]

also:

Drill Master (bits)
Storehouse
Central Hydraulic
Central Machinery (stationary tools, dust collector)
Haul-Master (trailers, etc)
US General (I think this is exclusive to HF, not sure)
Central Flex (tape)

and probably still others.

[LCHIEN]

absolutely, larry, you are so right. I forgot those, I knew there were others, I just couldn't remember off the top of my head.

You must be an HF afficianado, then.

[herb fellows]

ZERO is the same as TARE on a scale. you can set ZERO anywhere you'd like for comparative measurements. ABS gives you the absolute reading from the zero (beginning) of the tool's scale (0* absolute or home position). because of the way the tool's digital sensor works it always knows where it is in relation to it's home position *and* where you have set zero. you can think of ZERO as "user zero" and ABS as "tool zero". Digital calipers use the same system. older analog systems you had to re-zero the dial at the beginning of the scale if you adjusted down the scale.
If that doesn't make sense I'll clarify further.

Thanks, Tom, I'll have to chew on that for a while! i can read something ten times and go 'doh' much like Homer Simpson, have to try it for myself to really 'see' it!

[perpetualapprentice]

Herb,

If it helps, Tom affirmed what I thought the answer was. It can always tell you the angle from zero or you can reset it at any time, move the arm, and it can tell you the angle from the reset point.

Dave

[BigguyZ]

Dang, I wish I was able to have jumped on this deal, as I do a lot of moldings....

The HF might seem like a good alternative, but at twice the price, the appeal is lessened dramatically, IMHO.

[justaguy]

Dang, I wish I was able to have jumped on this deal, as I do a lot of moldings....

The HF might seem like a good alternative, but at twice the price, the appeal is lessened dramatically, IMHO.

I picked up the HF model with a 15% off coupon last night. Out of the box it read 1 degree closed and 176 degrees open flat on the CI top on my table saw. I tried the reset button and it now reads 0.5 degrees closed and 175.1 degrees when open at 180.

I also compaired it with my Wixey and the HF units error is not uniform or even repeatable. I tried resetting the unit more than once and I get a different reading when closed, at 90 degrees and at 180 each time I reset the thing.

I'll be returning the HF unit today

YMMV