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Thread: Best after market laser guide?

  1. #1

    Best after market laser guide?

    I'm thinking of adding a laser guide to my Delta chop saw. Any opinions as to which of them is the best?

    Thanks in advance.

    cheers, Paul

  2. #2
    think mine is a irwin, replaces blade nut, just remember light is right beside where blade cuts, takes some getting used to. Aaron

  3. #3
    Join Date
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    Quote Originally Posted by Paul Erickson View Post
    I'm thinking of adding a laser guide to my Delta chop saw. Any opinions as to which of them is the best?

    Thanks in advance.

    cheers, Paul
    Ditto on the Irwin. It seems to go on sale often and is sometimes given away with blades. I usually line it up like 1/32 over the line and get perfect cuts. Very nice addition to my saw.

  4. #4
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    I have the

    "Laser Kerf" saw guide and wouldn't think of using anything else. First, you buy it based on the width of your blade. Then, when it is mounted, it shows the actual saw kerf. The beauty of this is that the guide works for either side of the blade. Additioally, it does not require the blade to be spinning for the light to operate. That is a big plus when you are doing finished trim.

    Ed

  5. #5
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    Irwin is inexpensive and well reviewed (my dad likes his). Laser Kerf is more but much more developed.
    "A hen is only an egg's way of making another egg".


    – Samuel Butler

  6. #6
    Quote Originally Posted by Ed Peters View Post
    "Laser Kerf" saw guide and wouldn't think of using anything else. First, you buy it based on the width of your blade. Then, when it is mounted, it shows the actual saw kerf. The beauty of this is that the guide works for either side of the blade. Additioally, it does not require the blade to be spinning for the light to operate. That is a big plus when you are doing finished trim.

    Ed
    Hi Ed,

    Thanks for the response. As it turns out, the Irwin will not work with my saw because they require an arbor bolt, and mine has a nut... Will look into the "Laser Kerf".

    Thanks again.

    cheers, Paul

  7. #7

    Thumbs down

    I bought a Laser Kerf for my Dewalt saw and it worked great for my first project. The second time I put it to use I noticed something wasn't quite right and discovered that sawdust coming off the blade had broken the material covering the laser (glass or clear plastic).

    To have the laser indicate exactly where the blade cuts it is mounted directly behind the blade in harm's way. Not a good idea when the unit isn't designed to take the abuse. I considered paying to have the unit repaired, but knowing the same thing could happen again with the next cut—bad idea.

    The Laser Kerf website shows units like the one I purchased. Unless the product has been upgraded to withstand being blasted with sawdust on every cut, I would definitely NOT recommend the unit.

  8. #8
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    It kind of defeats the purpose of a laser if its 1/32 away from the cut. just my opinion. I got a laser on my Hitachi that is dead nuts. only reads on one side of the blade though. I also have one on my ridgid. that is useless.
    Last edited by Dave Bureau; 02-29-2008 at 8:02 AM.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
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    NE Ohio
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    Hello,
    I have a number of tools - CMS, DP, jigsaw and circ saw that have lasers.
    I never use any of them. - well the DP one sometimes - but when I get around to making a decent table for it, my guess is the laser won't be used anymore.

    I've become a real fan of a high quality stop-block system over a laser for most tools.
    "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans." - John Lennon

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