Write a Review
Get Paid!

Table Saw Miter Gauges

Okay here you go again. You’ve invested in a table saw and you’re not happy with the way your precision miters are turning out. You learn that the OEM miter gauges included with most saws leave a lot to be desired. Some are little more than a strip of metal with an adjustable plastic head that fits into slots on either side of the table. The accuracy of the adjustment on some of them is a joke. So now you must yet again turn to the wonderful world of aftermarket table saw accessories to find a more accurate miter gauge. Why can’t all the manufacturers just include better ones with their saws?

If you think about it from their point of view they’re aiming for a mass market with features and accessories that will appeal to the largest number of potential buyers. Typically they focus their design and construction expertise on the major features of the saw, not the accessories. Why? While everyone needs a solid table surface that won’t bend and a blade that is easy to align and adjust and a stand that won’t dance around the workshop floor, not everyone needs a precision miter gauge. The rationale is that the table saw operator who really needs superb precision in rip fence systems and miter gauges can get what they need as aftermarket accessories. Some manufacturers’ OEM accessories are better than others so if a friend or neighbor asks you for advice when looking into table saws, tell them to pay more attention to the quality of the accessories than you did! Let’s look at some of the better miter gauge systems available in the aftermarket.

The DeWalt DW7470 Miter Gauge

As is the case with many table saw accessories, many aftermarket offerings will only work with specific saw models, usually made by the same manufacturer as the accessory. The DeWalt DW7470 works with the DeWalt DW746 table saw, but the expansion slots in the miter bar allow this gauge to be expanded to fit any table saw with 3/4 – 38 inch miter slots. Although this gauge has some admirable features, like the large 24’ inch fence and presets at 0, 15, 22/12, 30, and 45 degrees, this saw gets mediocre reviews at best. It’s a low cost offering – it retails on Amazon for $160 -- but many users feel it’s only marginally better than some of the better OEM gauges on higher end table saws.

The Incra 1000SE Miter Gauge

This is the gauge preferred by most reviewers and it actually retails for a little less than the DeWalt 7470. Incra is revered for its highly regarded dovetail and box-joint jigs and they live up to their reputation with this gauge. It is arguably the most versatile aftermarket miter gauge available, and it comes with a telescoping fence which has flip stops, allowing the operator to lock the fence at any point for duplicate cuts. Best of all, the Incra’s ingenious adjustable disk system allows the gauge to be expanded or contracted to fit the miter slot on any table saw.

Incra also has the pricier 5000 -- $279 on Amazon. This model has the telescoping fence and other features of the 1000 but it is actually a miter saw sled. The wood is secured to the sled and the sled then glides through the slots enabling extremely precise mitering and cross-cutting.

The Kreg KMS7102 Precision Miter Gauge System

Considering the features of the 7102, the Kreg is tremendous bargain for $140 on Amazon. It can be custom fit to any table saw and comes with a solid cross-cutting fence, although not telescoping like its Incra rival. What makes this system shine is its accuracy and adjustability. It uses a vernier scale that allows micro adjustments no other system can match. You can adjust 1/100^th of a degree at a time!

Delta 34-928 Miter Gauge

At the low end of the price spectrum are miter gauges like the Delta 34-928 and the Incra V27. These two are basically very high quality miter gauges without the cross-cutting fences found in the higher end models. Although they look similar to most OEM miter gauges, their construction is much better with more adjustability and greater accuracy and precision. You can get them for under $50.