Thread: igaging Planer DRO

I don't have one, and I know you didn't ask for opinions of them, but I reckon they are a gimmick. I thickness my timber to rough dimension using the dodgy adhesive ruler on the side of the thicknesser, then fine tune using digital callipers. The bonus being I can use the callipers on other jobs.

I bought one a few years ago and only now am considering installing it. It would have been handy before to return to a previous setting without additional trial cuts. As luck has it my machine is likely going to be for sale soon anyway.

Greg

Originally Posted by jack620

I don't have one, and I know you didn't ask for opinions of them, but I reckon they are a gimmick. I thickness my timber to rough dimension using the dodgy adhesive ruler on the side of the thicknesser, then fine tune using digital callipers. The bonus being I can use the callipers on other jobs.

Opinions are fine, perhaps I should have added some more detail.

I have a dual interest in such a gauge;
1: so I wont have to bend down to read the current measure
2: I am looking for something easier to read

I think the Wixey read out may be a better viewing angle, but not sure.

Originally Posted by verawood

1: so I wont have to bend down to read the current measure
2: I am looking for something easier to read

Both are very good reasons!

I’ve used the Wixey and the Igaging units. The Wixey is installed on my thicknesses and is fantastic. The iGaging unit was in a router lift and I sent it back as it had problems as did its replacement. I bought the Wixey from England.

I have the wixey on my carbatec thicknesser

It has made a huge difference to how i use it. It saves so much time (and bending over).

It really comes into its own when reproducing a known thickness as it eliminates all the trial and error.

It really would not need recalibrating very often after initial install but I do it before most jobs anyway because it is so easy to do.

Possibly the best machine mod I ever did. I posted a WIP thread of my installation somewhere on the forum.

Originally Posted by Lappa

I’ve used the Wixey and the Igaging units. The Wixey is installed on my thicknesses and is fantastic. The iGaging unit was in a router lift and I sent it back as it had problems as did its replacement. I bought the Wixey from England.

Haven't had the iGaging unit but highly recommend the Wixey unit... also bought mine from the UK.

@jack: far from a gimmick, they remove the dependence on calipers when you need to come back and cut to the same thickness, I own three digital calipers that get used around the shed all the time. It seems people who haven't used one think that are a luxury or a gimmick and most who install the luxury will not be without it again.

What i will say though is that the digital gauges (either brand) will immediately expose the amount of back lash that exists in the threaded rod setups of the thicknessers..... mine is close to 1/4 of a turn when reversing direction..

Cheers
Phil

I have the Wixey installed on my thinknesser and love it. It pays to just recalibrate every so often but that take all of 5 seconds.

Peter

On second glance, I have a Wixey too. iGaging tools are cheaply made in my limited exposure. I have snap gauge which I bought for convenient router bit height setting. It has a plastic body which flexes a bit...rendering the accuracy in the 0.1mm range which is not suibtable for that kind of "precision" tool.