Comparing TS-Aligner Jr. Lite to a dial indicator on a stick
TS-Aligner Jr. Lite represents TS-Aligner accuracy at a breakthrough price for the budget minded home shop woodworker.
Pricing
Indicator/Stick TS-Aligner Jr. Lite Base Model $15-$20 $63.48 Offset Bar Not available Included Angle Attachment Gage Not available Included Dial Indicator
Included $13.60 - 169.38 Total: $15-$20 $77.08 - $232.86 Dial indicators are available from most woodworking catalogs. For example, here's a nice model from Hartvelle Tools.
What is included
Well, really nothing is included. You can probably find a good stick in your scrap pile. Use a wood screw to attach the dial indicator as shown in the photo. Use your miter gauge for miter slot guidance. Here's another example I found one day while surfing the web. This is a great way to learn about dial indicators and perform basic alignment without much of an investment. When you're ready for more functionality, you can easily upgrade to TS-Aligner Jr. Lite and use your own dial indicator.
Comparison of standard features:
Offset Bar
This feature allows measurements to be made very close to the table surface (about 1/4"), enhancing the accuracy of blade alignment and making precise adjustments to the miter gauge much easier. You won't have an offset bar with your dial indicator on a stick. If you mount the dial indicator as low as possible, you'll be able to get the stylus tip about 1.1" from the table surface.
Angle measurement
TS-Aligner Jr. Lite uses the dial indicator in conjunction with the Angle Attachment Gage in two methods for measuring angles. It takes advantage of basic trigonometry to achieve remarkable accuracy. This degree of accuracy is necessary for cutting precise, tight fitting miter joints without the need for test cuts. A tangent table is included to translate dial indicator readings to angular measurements.
Optional angle blocks can be used to further increase accuracy and ease of use. The dial indicator on a stick cannot measure angles at all.
User's Manual
TS-Aligner Jr. Lite comes with an extensive 37 page printed manual full of photos and illustrations. You're welcome to download a copy and use it to help you get the most out of your dial indicator on a stick.Last revised: January 29, 2008.
