Ed:

I've had a chance to review your comments with the tool tester and we believe you have at least a couple of points that we could clarify in the magazine, via your letter to the editor. As I said in response to a post in our Tune-Up Tools forum at WOOD Online, space limitations prevented us from going into much detail on a few of the more robust devices, such as TS-Aligner, MasterGage and A-Line-It.

The ease of adjusting the bearings to fit different miter slots is something both the tester and I commented positively on when we first got together following his test, and I'll recommend that we use that portion of your letter in a future issue of WOOD magazine. And, of course you're right that you don't need a 45° angle gauge to calibrate the Junior and Junior Lite models. I believe two asterisks were mistakenly put on those cells in the chart, where there should have been only one. I'll recommend that we also print that portion of your letter.

As for your other observations, I've addressed them individually "in line" below in red text.

Again, thanks for your observations and kind comments.

dc

Dave Campbell
Woodworking Products Editor
WOOD Magazine
www.woodmagazine.com
515/284-3488

> ----------
> From: Ed Bennett
> Sent: Tuesday, July 22, 2003 5:07 AM
> To: soundingboard@woodmagazine.com
> Cc: Dave Campbell; Bill Krier
> Subject: Precision Tune-up Tools article (Wood #150)
>
> I enjoyed reading your recent review of Tune-up Tools (Wood #150) and
> thought your readers would appreciate a few minor corrections and
> clarifications.
>
> In your description of TS-Aligner (p.75), you said "Dial indicator rides up
> and down on parallel steel bars for precise blade-height measurements."
> Actually, this vertical motion of the dial indicator facilitates precise
> squareness and angle measurements taking advantage of the full accuracy of
> the dial indicator.  It can be locked at any  position for precise height
> (or depth) measurements (with the dial indicator pointing downward).
 
We felt this concept was too difficult to explain in one sentence, but gave TS-Aligner the highest marks possible for all alignments where the device is used in this manner.

> In the descriptions of both TS-Aligner and TS-Aligner Jr. Deluxe you mention
> the removal of the miter slot guide bearings for use with non-slotted
> machines as a "Low Point".  In truth, any miter slot guidance mechanism (bar
> or bearings) will need to be removed for such use.  While ease of
> removal/replacement might be a relevant factor, I believe your readers would
> be more interested to know how easily the different miter slot guidance
> mechanisms are adjusted and how well they perform for precise measurements
> with a dial indicator.  Miter slots vary in width from machine to machine.
> Sometimes two miter slots on the same machine are not precisely the same
> width.  So, accurate results require frequent adjustment.  The bearing
> guidance system is easily adjusted from the top of the tool while in the
> miter slot.  It provides unparalleled smoothness of motion allowing easy and
> precise measurements.  A miter bar can only be adjusted "off table" and it
> is difficult to obtain a play free fit without rough slip-stick motion which
> produces erratic readings on the dial indicator.  In addition, a bar has a
> very limited range of adjustment.  So, more than one bar is needed to
> accommodate machines with widely varying widths.  The bearing guidance
> system easily provides the same smooth play-free fit in slots from 5/8" to
> 7/8".
 
Good point.

> In your description of TS-Aligner Jr. Deluxe, you say that it does
> "Everything TS-Aligner does, except for setting cutting depth."  Actually,
> the Jr. is very well equipped for vertical measurements such as cutting>
> depth and cutter height with greater range and flexibility than most of the
> other reviewed products.  The two tools provide the same basic
> functionality.  The major difference between the Jr. and the Sr. are: ease
> of use (convenience), accuracy of vertical angle measurements, and cost.  In
> addition, it's smaller size makes the Jr. best suited for home shop
> machinery.  The Sr. is designed for use on larger industrial machinery.

I couldn't put my hands on Jr's manual, Ed, but I don't see any mention of setting cutting depth in the TS-Aligner's manual, so the mention of setting cutting depth is a bit of a bonus. If you fax (515/284-2115) me the page out of Jr's manual that describes setting cutting depth with it, we might be able to concede this point, too.

> You also mention (as a "Low Point") that the "Angle Attachment Gage requires
> calibration using an accurate square every time it's installed."  This is
> true, all accurate measurements require an accurate reference (even the
> "Knife Edge" on MaserGage Classic requires calibration with a square as
> outlined in its manual).

True, Ed, but the TS-Aligner family requires this calibration every time the angle attachment gage is installed; MasterGage Classic's knife edge will need to be calibrated only if dropped or otherwise abused.

>I believe that most woodworkers considering the
> need for a precise alignment tool will own (or be interested in buying) an
> accurate square.  I would expect your readers to appreciate the ability to
> make accurate squareness and angle measurements using the full accuracy of a
> dial indicator (rather than sighting tiny gaps between gauging surfaces).
> After all, accurate angle adjustments are among the most challenging of
> machine settings.  Perhaps your admonition on p.76 would apply here too.
> "Opt for the TS-Aligner Jr. Deluxe and spend some of your left over money
> ($120!) on an accurate square (which every shop needs), and you're set."
>
>
> On p.75, step 4 "Squaring the miter gauge and blade" the procedure shown
> will not necessarily produce square cuts.  Proper alignment requires the
> face of the miter gauge to be square with it's *motion* in the miter slot
> (using a square as described in the TS-Aligner manuals).  While the
> difference may seem subtle, it is actually quite profound.  A lot of
> frustrating accuracy problems are easily resolved by using the correct
> procedure.  Alignment tools which can perform the correct procedure should
> have earned higher performance grades in the table on p.79 than those which
> advocate the common (but incorrect) procedure.

If you follow the steps in order, the miter gauge's motion will be parallel to the blade because we've already made the blade and slot parallel. So, making the face perpendicular to the blade also makes it perpendicular to its travel.

> Also, in the chart on p.79 several inaccuracies need to be pointed out:
>
> -  The footnote indicates that TS-Aligner Jr. Deluxe "Requires a 45 degree
> angle gauge" to set the 45 degree bevel stop on a tablesaw.  Once the Angle
> Attachment Gage is calibrated using a square, it "...easily sets any bevel
> angle", including 45 degrees .  The Jr. Lite performs the exact same
> measurements in the exact same manner and should receive the same
> performance grade for both 0 and 45 degree settings.

An apparent error in the chart that we'll correct.

> - All three products perform the miter gauge alignment procedure in the same
> manner (using a square) and should therefore receive the same performance
> grade.

Used in the manner described on page 26 of its manual, Lite's lack of bearings and a base make it more prone to error, in our opinion.

> - Under "Mitersaw", the Jr. Deluxe and Jr.Lite perform the exact same>
> functions in the exact same manner and should receive the same performance
> grades.
>
> - Under "Jointer", the Jr. Deluxe and Jr. Lite perform the "Fence Square to
> Tabletop" alignment in the exact same manner and should receive the same
> performance grade.  However, the Jr. Lite cannot perform the "Knives Level
> to Outfeed Table" because it does not include the Upright Bar so the grade
> should be blank.

In both of the above points, the Lite was downgraded half a grade owing to it's lack of a stable, flat base. Also, we were able to tilt the indicator enough on the cross bar of the Lite to achieve good results setting jointer knives. Because of the angle, we couldn't raise the knives .003" based on an observed .003" change on the indicator , but we could use it to tell whether the knives were parallel or not and which end was high or low.

> Overall, I believe that your readers are best served with alignment tools
> which can perform functions which are not easily reproduced in the typical
> woodshop.  Tools which can provide more capability than a simple square
> and a primitive dial indicator setup should have earned higher performance
> grades than those that can't.
>
> Again, thank you for a great article!
>
> Ed Bennett
> ejb@ts-aligner.com