All,
I recently had the pleasure of reviewing the TS-Aligner Jr and I have posted it on my website. Let me know if you have any questions.
Definitely a very useful tool to have around the shop.
Nice tool and nice review Stoutman. Reading your comments about being able to set a 45 degree angle accurately makes me wonder how that works exactly. On some TTS's the blade actually moves left and or right from where it rests when at 90 degrees. Basically, if you securely taped paper over the opening and cut a slot in it by raising the blade while the saw is running, and then tilted the stopped blade the blade would tear the paper as it moved left or right from that slot. Mine stays in the exact same location, my previous saw would have torn the paper. If the blade is not perfectly centered over the pivot point of the trunion it will move left or right. You get that effect on one side when using a dado set and tilting the blade The arc that the top of the blade travels when choosing a bevel cut in is not round, it is more oval on some saws.
I absolutely love my TS-Aligner Jr!
Your review was exact and to the point. You didn't mention how it can also check for runout on both the tablesaw and your drill press (with the included rod). There really is so much you can do with it, I now consider it a must-have for large power tool owners!
Ed knows what he is talking about and deals with all situations/problems from a technical problem-solving viewpoint; this leads to unbiased answers in all cases. I believe this is the same approach that has empowered him to design his products. Good technical solutions are simple solutions and that can be found in the TS-Aligner Jr.
Stoutman wrote:
Yup - another confirmation of the usefulness of this alignment tool. And if you have a sliding table that needs to track parallel to the miter slot (the reference for the saw blade and rip fence) and remain coplanar with the saw table top . . .
Should you have a dovetail miter slot, the two fixed and one adjustable bearing on the bottom do the job of eliminating slop in the fit.
You can make jigs to do some of the things the TS-aligner Jr. does. At minimum wage for your time, to make a jig for each of its many uses, it's still a good deal. And as noted in the review - the customer support/service is right up there with Lee Valley - and that's saying a lot.
charlie b who also thinks the Glen Drake Tite-Mark is in the same league
charlie b
Ok, I answered my own question. The Aligner uses a two point method like your jig. Cool.
Very nice tool if you need it.
I watched the video at Ed's site. Did you by any chance also review the angle blocks for more accurately and more easily setting up bevel angles?
I'm sorry, that came out wrong. If you need it to set your miter gauge or blade bevel every time you change the setting. I do fine with out it. I end up back at 90 with out a problem and the same goes for the 45 degree bevel. In between I use a Bridge City adjustable protractor. I did use a dial indicator for initial set up of my TS but have not had to make any readjustments since new. I use Dubby miter sleds and similar to using a dial indicator the scale from 0 to 50 degrees is about 20" long. The space bewtween each miter degree is about 1/4" so there is no mistaking what your miter is set at and you have to move the fence a lot to move plus or minus a degree.
Yeah! I need a DT Jig.
That's the one I was talking about.
I thought I saw one of those sitting in the background of one of the box pictures. Nice tool, isn't it?
Doesn't matter where the blade moves to. The angle is measured between the upper and lower contact points. The tool is not in the miter slot at the time, it's sitting on the table.
Definitely. I think it will get used frequently in my shop!
You are correct with regard to the contact points. The tool is still in the miter slot when measuring TS blade angle. The cross bar (attached to the dial indicator) is able to slide left or right so that the dial indicator plunger can make contact with the blade. There is a knob that you tighten to prevent the cross bar from sliding during measurements.
See here to see the cross bar and knob in action:
Very nice review of the TS-Aligner Jr. Brings affordable, precision tool set up to the home shop!
Rick
Thank you for taking the time to share with us such a detailed insider's view. Very helpful. There are other contributors here who share their work here, and I just wanted it be known that I appreciate it as I'm sure others do as well.
btw.. did anybody ever check this out?
style and it is more than refreshing to hear the opinion of someone who does not have any financial interest in the reviewed tool or the retailers who sell it. I'll be getting a TS Aligner Jr. thanks to your review.
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