Thread: How accurate is a digital inclinometer

Link don't work cos it's from your cart. Can you post the original?

I have one I bought off flea bay. 0.1 degree accuracy from 0-1 and 89-90 and 0.2 degrees at all other angles according to the literature. I also use it to set the sharpening angle for blades using my belt sander. I then use texta to coat the edge, set it up in the veritas jig and hone it. It wipes the black texta off with a few swipes so it fairly well matches the angle on the Veritas.

https://www.ebay.com.au/sch/i.html?_...meter&_sacat=0

I bought one of ebay, they all seem pretty similar. Mine is accurate enough that a Starrett combination square and a protractor can't find fault. The only downside seems to be that it chews through batteries even when its off. I just remove the battery between uses.

Originally Posted by Alkahestic

I bought one of ebay, they all seem pretty similar. Mine is accurate enough that a Starrett combination square and a protractor can't find fault. The only downside seems to be that it chews through batteries even when its off. I just remove the battery between uses.

I do the same thing regarding batteries.

There is an easy way to determine the accuracy.

Raise your saw blade all the way.
Tilt the saw blade. It doesn't matter how many degrees.
Put the angle box (Inclinometer) on the table and zero it.
Put the angle box on the saw blade body clear of the teeth reading from the operator side. Record the reading.
Put the angle box on the saw blade body clear of the teeth reading from the output side. The reading should be the same as the recorded reading.

I have 5 of these gizmos.

The $20 I purchased on eBay chews through a battery within a couple of weeks even when its turn off so it sits in a cupboard without any batteries in it

Two are the Bevel Box type from carbatech - these are supposedly accurate to 0.1º across the range.
I dropped one of these and it still works, although occasionally it produces an odd reading.
I use one to minimise the twist on the logging rails of my chainsaw mill rig.
Battery use is OK but like any battery item doesn't like being left in a hot car for too long.

The 4th one is a Tilt Box from Lee Valley supposedly accurate to 0.2º across the range.
This one gets used to set the raker angle on my chainsaw chains.
The batteries on this unit seems to last longer than the Bevel Box.

The 5th one is a Carbatech digital angle ruler. Supposedly accurate to 0.1º across the range.
This was given to me by my son and I didn't get around to using it until well after the warranty had expired and then it only worked for a month or so before it stopped working.
I assumed it was just a flat battery but replacing the battery did nothing.
I shoved it into the back of a cupboard and it sat there for some time and then I heard that these units needed a 1.55V silver oxide battery to even turn on and WHALA - it now works fine.
Because of the longer arms I use this one to check fence angles on machines.

Just out of interest, I wonder how accurate your phones 'Inclinometer' is compared to one of these things.

Lots of level/angle finding apps available for phones, but you can also just use web apps (go to a web page) to have your phone measure angles.
Here's one on my site https://www.blocklayer.com/roof-pitch.aspx (Lots of calculators on the site have this angle measuring tool)

Just hit the green 'Start Measuring' button, then the 'Speech' button to have it speak the angles.

Originally Posted by Blocklayer

Just out of interest, I wonder how accurate your phones 'Inclinometer' is compared to one of these things.

It would not surprise me if they all use the same (or same type) of inclinometer "chip/sensor"

My phone body is all slightly curved so would never be able to register on a surface to measure angles.
Regards
John

Originally Posted by orraloon

My phone body is all slightly curved so would never be able to register on a surface to measure angles.

I had the same problem with my old iPhone but I bought a case for it that had a flat back.

Originally Posted by BobL

It would not surprise me if they all use the same (or same type) of inclinometer "chip/sensor"

They do. They're tiny and cost very little. I've used a Wixey for years and found they're spot on accurate. I change the battery every 3-4 years.

I use it every year to measure control surface deflections on aircraft but the vertical rudder had to be done manually. Then a mate suggested I use the compass app on my smartphone. How good was that?

mick

Originally Posted by Glider

I change the battery every 3-4 years.

Mick,
How do you manage to achieve that kind of battery life?

I use this one from Wixey Digital Angle Gauge with Level
Has a built in level and I find it very accurate. I'm often cutting 45 deg bevels for boxes and when assembled the joints are near perfect. I use this all the time for setting blade angles and never use the visible scales on my table saw

Does the table saw have to be dead level for the gauge to work?

TT