I have a Wixey and I can't do the auto calibrate without a fiddle. I put it up to the blade, auto calibrate it, do a test cut and it is ALWAYS off by a small margin. I then put it back to zero plus or minus the error and then it is spot on. The auto callibrate is easy but certainly in my case it doesn't work as intended. BTW it might take two minutes to do all this so it is not a drawn out procedure by any means and also not often needed.
Chris
Everything I like is either illegal, immoral or fattening
Roger, when you remove the fence the readout stays with the saw, but when you put the fence back on the saw how do you know its in the same place it was so you don't have to re-calibrate it. Maybe I am missing a step or something, sure you can velcro the readout back on but how does that still make it calibrated? Thanks
No. It means that there is no positive way to setup zero with the Wixey. It needs to be set as close as possible by eye or feel then measure the cut at any given figure and measure that cut comparing the measurement with the actual readout. So if I set it to zero by eye and did a test cut at 50mm on the readout it might measure 50.4mm. I would then set it back to zero on the readout then minus the .4 so the readout actually read -.6. By doing this I would then have an exact 50mm cut at 50mm on the readout. It sounds fiddly but is in fact very quick to do when you get your head around it. The first time was a bit of a hassle but that is only because I had to work out which way the error went.
Chris
Everything I like is either illegal, immoral or fattening
Chris, sorry if I'm a little slow, but I want to make sure I understand this as I am considering buying one. I think in your example you would set it to -.4 and not -.6 unless I am missing something.
1) Move fence till touching teeth of blade and 0 out (as per instructions)
2) Move to any positive setting and make a cut (again say 50mm).
3) Using dial calipers on the test cut piece measure it.
4) If the test cut is larger than the wixey setting (say 55.4mm) (not sure this is possible)
a. Lower the blade completely.
b. Position the fence till it reads negative the difference
between the original wixey setting and the actual
measurement (in this case -.4)
c. zero out the wixey
If the test cut is smaller than the wixey setting (say 55.4mm)
(likely if runout at blade makes kerf larger than the contact point
of the fence at the blade in the original 0 out process)
a. Position the fence till it reads the difference between the
original wixey setting and the actual measurement (in this
case .4)
b. zero out the wixey
That would be the ideal. Cut a piece, measure and then set the measured value as the reference, it would be so much easier. I think the Digifence has some advantages ov er the Wixey but as it is not available in Oz I bought the Wixey and have not been disappointed in any way.
Chris
Everything I like is either illegal, immoral or fattening
The Wixley also comes with a free tilt gauge too. regularly 49.99 I believe. That even sweetens the pot more.
What you listen to is your business....what you hear is ours.
Hi Alan;
I saw your post on sawmill creek about the wixey on a unifence. My sone gave me one for Xmas for my new unisaw with the newer unifence. I'm having a hell of a time trying to figure out how to install it. When I saw your post I thought I had it beat but came up against two things.
The T slot on my fence seems to be too far back so the wixey is pulled back to the point that the calibrator will not move freely. It also appears that you have to drill holes in the Wixey to attach it to the T slot, if I could figure that out. Would you have any pics of it installed on your unifence. That would be greatly appreciated. I don't want to do anything until I think I know what I'm doing. The Wixey instructions are minimalist at best. My e-mail is comissid@symatico.ca and yes, I'm in the Toronto area of the great white north. Believe it or not there are wood chucking canuks .. and I am also a retiree with too much time and too many tools that I don't use very well.
Thanks for any help
Regards,
Dave Comissiong
Well after pouring through these posts and having at the moment very shallow pockets I sprung for the Wixey. From Woodcraft $99.00 + $11.35 s/h and the free angle guage. The only thing I haven't figured out yet is the zero part. In other words when I set it to 3" I would expect the cut to be 3". But having said that I have not installed it yet. I purchased a 20 year old Pm 66 and Delta DJ 20 that where never unpacked. I just finished setting up the DJ 20. From another thread I purchased the Lee valley 50" aluminum straightedge, again couldn't afford the longer steel one. Clyde, my buddy that is a machanist poo pawed it a first(being that it is aluminum) but after taking it to work and checking it on some sort of Starret Machine, he told me it was as close as it would get being that it is aluminum. Anyway, After i make and install the PM 66's extension table I'll install the Wixey and probably beat everyone's ear off for help J K. I suppose they are all the same but reading the directions mine uses a magnetic mount for my Biesemyer fence. It also states that the fence can be removed without losing zero calibration, thats nice to know.
Jim
A simple and accurate way to calibrate a Wixey on a Contractor's saw is to use newsprint between the fence and blade as a "Feeler" gage. Rotate the blade by hand and move the fence closer to it until the newsprint is hard to move at the closest blade to fence relationship. When you've done this, zero the Wixey. The relationship of the 0.00 readout to the true gap will be a lot closer than is needed for woodworking.
Setting a Cabinet saw is a bit more difficult but when done will also be closer than is needed.
Carry on, regardless.