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One Great Tip » Brass Set Up Gauges
Tools We Love: Brass Set-Up Gauges
By George Vondriska
Posted Sept 19, 2011
My feeling is that every time you read a ruler you have the chance to make a mistake. That’s why I love using brass set-up bars whenever I can. By feeling from the top of the cutter to the top of the bar, I know the bit height is correct. This set includes five sizes; 1/8”, 3/16”, 1/4", 3/8”, and 1/2". I use them all the time to set router bits and dado heads to the right depth, and to set the distance between the fence and cutter. You’re not limited, dimensionally, to the sizes of the bar stock. You can stack bars to get “in between” sizes. For instance 1/8” + 3/16” = 5/16”.
Once you start feeling your way to set up, instead of measuring your way there, you’ll never go back, and you’ll wonder how you ever worked without set up bars.
Source
Whiteside 5 Piece Brass Set-Up Gauges
Part #836311
$19
Woodcraft
www.woodcraft.com
(800) 225-1153
10 Comments
'nother way to compliment their use is to stack (2) of them: the bottom is the actual set height you want and the top one overhangs the bottom by some amount of its LENGTH.....bring the cutter (saw blade or whatever) up until you "feel" it JUST touch the BOTTOM of the TOP bar & bingo, you're @ the correct height. There are also nice digital "height gages" that will do this for a little more money.
Nice tip on stacking the bars to create a ledge. G
Since I followed your advice and got a set of set-up bars, my router set ups have been much easier and more accurate. In using them for table saw set-ups, it's easier to find top dead center of the blade by feel rather than trying to use my calipers as a depth gauge. Thanks for the tip
I agree that set-up bars are the only way to go, but think it's important to mention that most folks I have observered doing this never seem to remember to unplug the machine before sticking their fingers on the blades or bits. Safety First (especially with this techinque)
Have been using setup gauges for several years and still have problems when setting the distance from the blade/bit to fence. How tight should the gauge be set to achieve the correct setup - so you just feel some friction, tightly so it is somewhat difficult to move the gauge or somewhere in between?
Good info
When using the set up gauges between a cutter and fence (with the machine unplugged), I position the fence so there's a little drag between the blade and set up gauge. It shouldn't be bound up, just a little friction. G
I have been trying to find the ear protectors used by George in his instructional DVDs. No luck. Can you help?
The hearing protection I use is made by Sensgard and is available from Woodcraft. http://www.woodcraft.com/Search2/Search.aspx?query=sensgard
This business of plugging in and unplugging your machines is nonsense. it not only causes wear and tear on the receptacle and the prongs of the plug it breaks the stranded wire at the plug. this will deprive the motors of the current they require to operate in return motor burnout. solution buy a commercial electrical strip or wire several receptacles in series and use a knife switch to turn off all your machines at once. it is quicker and if you plug in a led night light next to the switch you will always know if your machines are hot or not. if you use an extension cord be sure it can handle twice the current draw of what ever your using. Happy woodworking