Mitre Gauges - Jessem Mite-R-Excell II, Harvey Compass & Incra 1000HD Compared.
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- čas přidán 28. 05. 2024
- Overview and comparison of three top-tier mitre / miter gauges from Harvey, Jessem and Incra for table saws and woodworking machines. The Harvey MG-36 Compass, Jessem Mite-R-Excell II and Incra Miter 1000HD are compared and contrasted. These are likely three of the best mitre gauges for woodworkers available today.
I was not paid for this review. I was loaned a Harvey Miter Gauge from Gregories Machinery for the purpose of informing my own choice on a miter gauge as well as to assist with a review of these three miter gauges.
Link to Harvey - gregmach.com/product/harvey-m...
Link to Jessem - gregmach.com/product/jessem-m...
Link to Incra - incra.com/miter_gauges-miter1...
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Recently picked up a new-in-box INCRA 1000HD from an estate sale, for $25!!!!!!!! (Haven't used it yet.....)
The updated Harvey MG-36Pro now has a Vernier scale and a different (supposedly better) miter bar fitness adjustment. I think they've taken some of the reviewers comments to heart.
That's great to hear! I believe the Jessem now also offers a micro-adjustable stop too.
Thanks for the review I recently bought the JessEm miter gauge on the recommendation of Marc the Woodwisperer after the review he did and could not be happier. I have had a Incra 5000 jig for over 10 years it's great it is dead nut on but bulky and not as smooth as I would like. The JessEm with the plastic glide strip on the bottom of the aluminum fence makes it super smooth glide stroke among other features you pointed out make this a great jig.
Good review. Price point wasn't really discussed. I just got an Incra 1000HD for around $200 and couldn't really justify the extra $100 for the Jess-Em or Harvey. They are all great units and will improve your woodworking ! P.S. My Incra was dead square out of the box......so far very happy with it !
Great review! 👍🏻 Accurate, informative and balanced. Especially love the bit at end about leaving these two alone with a bottle of wine and mood lighting overnight! 😂
Haha, thanks mate.
I’ve had an Incra mitre gauge for several years now, and frequently use the 90 degree setting…. for storage! It really does reduce the footprint of the gauge if you’re trying to put it on a shelf or something 😃
Ha! I hadn't considered storage. Nice one mate.
I do have an Incra 1000SE (same as HD, but with positive locks every 5 degrees rather than every 1 degree), which is even cheaper.
It doesn't have the very nice "jewlery fit and finish" of Jessem products, but I do like the fact that it's part of a system, with longer fences (rigid or telescopic) available for instance (and the ability to purchase additional flip stops as well). I also find the ability to have positive stops every millimeter quite useful, as it's possible to return to exactly the same cut size day after days, without fiddling (but this means the flip stop doesn't glide nicely as a result).
There are also some simple tricks to improve its usability such as replacing the hex screws with lever screws and the ability to replace or reposition the scales for direct readings in one's situation (no math required when changing configuration)... but a dab of blue tack under the scales might be required to prevent any movement.
Interesting comparison anyways!
I love my 1000 SE it has done everything I could ask for the price point!
Excellent Review. Jessem user here. My Mite-R-Excel II is just over a year old and works like a champ. Your recommendations are spot on!
Hi Jay, good to hear. I've never been disappointed by any of my Jessem gear either. Thanks a lot mate 🙏
For any shop tool that requires a hex wrench to make on-the-fly adjustments, I use epoxy to affix a neodymium magnet to the tool, and that's where the hex wrench lives. Same goes for the chuck key on the drill press. You can buy single hex wrenches quite cheaply.
I was thinking something similar, why not just drill a hole in the handle and store the wrench there?
Very comprehensive. Thank you for taking some of your valuable time to share your thoughts and knowledge. I ended up purchasing the Jessem, thanks to you. :-)
Hey Dom, great review, Good to see you on CZcams - keep up the good work!
Thanks Grant, bit of a learning curve making video's! Practise will make...er... better.
Excellent job, very clear and comprehensive. I have the Incra, but have been quite tempted by the Jessum, who make very good tools.
A very thorough and analytical evaluation of the the three gages! Perfect for anyone in the market, and I soon may be!
Thank you for this CZcams video Dominik!
Thanks so much Richard 🙏
@@bluewrentimberworks6780 You bet!👍
Great video, thanks a lot, learned a lot about miter gauges, tried to get the Jessem for my DW7492 but couldn't find them in Greece., Thanks again.
Thanks for the review, comprehensive and great clarity on your delivery, well done Sir. I think all three manufacturers will be paying attention, I would plump for the Jessem, albeit your suggestion of a Harvey/Jessem offspring has made me think I should wait to see if either Harvey or Jessem will rise to the challenge. Look forward to future videos on kit and your work.
Thanks heaps Paul. Having left the two in a dark shop for many nights I'm starting to feel that offspring won't happen organically. The Jessem is a good choice and the one I have tended to use most.
Good review of all three gauges, but you forgot to remove the fence on the Incra and then rotate the gauge 90 degrees to gain access the third set of washers to set the miter slot tightness. Ron
Great review! I am looking at getting one of these and this review helped a lot.
Nice review! Been using the Harvey on the superb Alpha table saw for about a year. Rock solid products, never needed to cut under one degree bevel so that has not been an issue. But, the micro adjust on the fence has really saved a lot of time and is super accurate and repeatable. Fantastic for the money.
Good to hear mate.
I appreciate your review of the 3 top US miter gauges.
It makes me comfortable with my choosing a Wnew miter gauge. From banggood
It is more basic than the ones you reviewed with 27 pre-sets and no Vernier style adjustment. And no extension.
But it has features the others don’t. Brass knobs. Phonelic sacrificial face. Built in box joint jig. Stainless steel with extruded aluminum.
I think a good value.
My Grizzly cabinet saw is imported. And in this case the Taiwanese and Chinese work together fine.
Which model did you get?
@@LutherBuilds there is only the one model of the Wnew miter gauge.
It is sold in parts. The protractor & slide, the fence and the stop.
There is a choice to buy it all as a unit. But when you click on it, it shows up in your shopping cart as 3 pieces. Very confusing.
But I haven’t bought anything from banggood before so I’m not familiar with their website.
Jessem is Canadian made ;-)
Great video my man! Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe the Harvey fence will fit on the Jessem. A lot of great info. When I choose the Harvey it was primarily for the fence & micro adjustment of the stop. But you did bring up some valid points with the adjustments to 90 with the Jessem. It was these two that took me months to decide on, eventually it came down to price, which honestly wasn’t much, but Harvey had a sale price of 279.00 over Jessem’s 299.00 and the wife pulled the trigger on it for me for a birthday gift. Like you said, I think it does boil down to one’s needs & wants. Looking forward to the next video!!
Nice, i don't think you can go wrong with either one. The beveled/tapered fence and flip- stop with micro adjustment are the two big benefits to me personally over the Jessem too. Hard choice. Thanks for watching and the positive feedback my friend - video's will improve - shorter and more punchy next time!
I have used an Incra 2000 for several years. Just recently purchase a 1000HD because of being able to work right or left. I do have the Incra Sled which has served me well. I do use more than a 45 deg setting (56 deg) so the Incra is my choice. For normal flat work the 90 deg is adequate, but I do segmented work, and get into some screwy angles. I think you are correct about the finish, but from my standpoint, Who cares, if it's accurate and durable. Good review.
Good job on this review. Much appreciated.
Thank you for a great and detailed comparison.
Thanks for watching and the feedback 👍
I have the 1000 SE which the Jessem bumped to right-of-blade and router table use. I returned the Harvey after assembling and a cursory inspection. The Jessem really ticks most all the boxes.
I'm seriously looking at the Harvey so appreciate the review of the three.
You're missing the whole point of the Incra HD1000, though. Look at the setup instructions again. Once you set it up the ruler on the three parts they need not be moved again. The rulers are then accurate. The silver bar is a very important part of this.
You can replace the cap head hex screw on the HD1000 with 1/4-20 thumb screw and forget the hex driver. Really, only one is needed for the bar extension. It's the single screw next to the two for the extension piece. Once set, none of the other screws need to be touched until you want to re-calibrate the gauge.
I find the "incra" adjustment to be too cute by half. It's exactly in 1/32" increments but it's a PITA for most uses.
Excellent video. Very informative. Thanks for doing this.
One minor suggestion would be to provide a link to the items you are reviewing. Yes we can all find them but it does make it more convenient.
Thanks mate, much appreciated. Yes, good idea, i will do that!
Hello, Bryan from Canada, I've had my Jessem for almost 20 years, and its it's still accurate, and love it's fit and finish. A joy to use. Great review and i subscribed, thankyou!
Good to hear and thank you.
Great review. While I was initially leaning towards the Incra HD1000 and, after acquiring several Jessem products over the last couple years (Stock Guides for my router and table saw and their Rout-R-Lift II), I'm seriously considering the Jessem miter gauge now. They make some quality products.
Yes, it has the least amount of angular abilities, but as you stated, how often do you need more than 45 degrees? I think it would be a great combo with the Incra MiterExpress sled for larger stock.
Great review Dominik, exactly as I expected it was comprehensive and thorough. I don't have any of those mitre gauges but I certainly appreciate the effort you put into explaining the differences. I am most definitely looking forward to your next video!
Thanks a lot Mark really appreciate it. Too long and too dry but I learned a lot making it and will get better!
Thank you for this video - very helpful.
The micro adjuster on the Harvey is the same as the Precision Fence for the JointMaker Pro V2 where it is very useful. Thanks for great review.
PS There is a bit of controversy at the moment [Feb 2022] about some of the features of the Harvey, so nice to see a very factual explanation.
Thanks Colin, much appreciated. I call it like I see it - but that's not to say my opinion / observations can't be wrong. I heard that the Wood Whisperer wasn't impressed by the Harvey and I believe I made several of the same observations.
@@bluewrentimberworks6780 Marc reviewed 10 Mitre Gauges - 3 versions of the Incra. In reply to his comments on the Harvey, Stumpy Nubs looked at some of the issues as he is sponsored by Harvey. When all views are taken in context with as little emotional attachment as possible they all do a good presentation. It is a great way to preview items before buying.
I have several Jessem products - they are so well done. I'd buy more if they made metric versions of some of them.
Hope to see more videos from you. Great to see an Aussie putting something on CZcams.
Excellent video full of useful info. Good that you point out that proper testing of each guide is beyond the scope for the vast majority of us.
I have the incra and have similar misgivings. Use a rare earth magnet attached near the handle to keep your Allen wrenches close. Also, the incra stop does allow micro adjustment but you’ll need a Philllips screwdriver. The incra instructions are excellent; what about for the Harvey and Jessel?
Thank you. Good idea with the magnets. Yeah, the instructions are actually very good for all three. The Harvey doesn't really requite instructions as it's all very intuitive. The Jessem has more little details that I did need to refer to the manual to discover - much like the Incra.
My 2 year old Incra 1000SE uses 1 ball end hex screwdriver for everything.
Nice video. These miter gauge reviews have kinda been the talk lately. Thanks for your feedback!
Excellent review mate!
Thanks Matt!
Great review, ordered the Jessem :-)
its true the new Harvey miter gauge now comes with eccentric adjusters, however there is a design flaw in their miter bar and Harvey readily admits to this. There are no eccentric adjusters in the back of the rail which causes for some slop issues in the back which is obviously not desired. The Tech support person I spoke with says they are redesigning the bar to make it longer in the back to accommodate another eccentric adjuster. I would hold off purchasing a Harvey until they have implemented the new fix.
Thanks a lot for the update mate. That's a little disappointing - hopefully they do update the rail as otherwise it's a great gauge.
@@bluewrentimberworks6780 I really want to buy that Jessem miter gauge, but it needs to go on the right side of my blade. I have the Incra 5000 sitting on the left. When all I need is a quick cut, id prefer to pull out the Jessem or whatever I end up with rather than the incra sled. I view the incra 5000 as a sled so I need a miter gauge to accompany it on the opposite side
Here’s a video that demonstrates the design flaw that causes slop at the rear of the guide rail. czcams.com/video/v10kpZbSnCM/video.html
The Harvey has been updated with the rear adjustments. Was included in my new Alpha saw
Good review! I went with the Canadian made Jessem
Wood Whisper does a really good review of these mitre gauges and really picks them apart and found slop in the presets stops and deflection on the stops etc...
I wish I had seen this before I purchased the Incra. I really like the Jessum.
Sorry mate. The Incra is a good gauge though and will serve you well I hope.
Nice work. I have subscribed. My one piece of constructive criticism would be to improve the audio recording quality. There is a bit of a noticeable echo. Very insightful video. Nice bench, too. Keep it up!
Thanks mate, yes I am working on figuring out and improving the audio quality - definitely a priority.
Just got a Harvey compass with their table saw. They now have eccentric adjusters, so no slop at all. While I haven’t actually used the miter gage yet, it feels great and compared to a standard table saw miter gage, infinitely more accurate and useable.
Good to hear!
If you need more than, say 60 degrees, one way of solving that is to saw a block or sheet at 90 degrees minus the angle you desire and put that part between the mitre gauge and the piece that you are about to saw. Some may think it tedious , but the question is how often you need it.
Great review but the poor 15 year old Incra 1000 design was outclassed somewhat by these newer competitors - Incra might have compared more favorably if you had used the Miter 5000 which is more in the same price range as the other two but given that it’s more of a sled than just a miter gauge I understand why it wasn’t reviewed. I have the Incra 5000 as well as the original miter gauge that came with my saw. It’s ultra accurate but you’re right about the need for tools and all the fiddling required to dial it in. It’s also heavy, clumsy and a pain to store....I only use it for those rare occasions when a lot of repeated precise cutting involved.
Every woodworker has their own way of doing things but truth be told I think I could almost count the number of times that I used a miter gauge in the past year on one hand. I use various sleds for almost all cross cut applications - it just seems safer and easier to control. Do love that Jessem though - they make top flight and in my opinion reasonably priced tools. Harvey is the new guy in town and their stuff generally looks really, really good but the jury is still out.
Thanks for the detailed comparo.
Great review! Agree that if you could get the Harvey or the Jessem with both vernier AND micro-adjust flip stop you would have the best miter gauge on the planet! Subscribing to your channel.
Thanks mate! Yes indeed!
Exactly what i was looking for, i will probably go with the incra for versatility and price point, i'm sure with a few mods it will be more convenient to use... the only other miter gauge i would have like to have seen in this line up is the osborne.
You won't be disappointed, my Incra, (Mitre 1000SE) is nearly twenty years old and has never let me down in terms of accuracy and ease of use. I use it at the Table saw and the Router table and using the tool is as quick in practical terms as toolless, though toolless is obviously more convenient.
May sound crazy but what about lopping off a 45 degree cut on the Jessem for a bevel? I was getting the Incra till I was getting the Harvey till I think I may be going with the Jessem. Very informative, thanks for taking the time.
Love my incra hd it just impresses.
Thank you for the review! I need some advice. I have the Harvey and have found it very challenging to use the stop when cutting 45 degree angles for frames. The first cut is simple because the side of the board against the stop is square to the length of the board. It seats nicely against the stop. The second cut however, has the freshly mitered end against the stop and because it is is mitered, it sort of wedges the stop right up - making it no good as a stop. I want the board secure as I push it into the blade and I know the blade will try to move the wood on me. Any idea how to get around this? Maybe an aux fence with a "shoe" to hold the freshly cut mitered end in place? Needs to be set once and then work for both the first (flat) cut and the second (mitered) cut.
Well the brass locating pin should help reference off both a square and mitred edge, however if you apply force it will raise it up like you say - so some pressure would need to be maintained on the fence flip stop to hold it down or the piece would need to be predominantly held to the fence once it is located rather than relying on the stop to provide the holding power. Not sure there's a magic bullet unfortunately. Sorry if i wasn't much help
Hi, if you're basically cutting frame pieces I'd suggest making a sled. Plenty to be found here on CZcams... A miter sled is by far the most cost effective and precise.
Most aftermarket miters like the ones reviewed here have issues, like slop and non practical engineering.
A sliding table addition would add more then just precision. But this depends on what saw you use / own.
Thanks. The exact three gauges I'm trying to decide between. Jessem it is unless that baby comes first.
😂
Thanks for the thoughtful review. You didn't say why you prefer the miter end on the Harvey. I currently use an Osborne Miter gaga with a mitered end, fitted with a mitered sacrificial fence. I like that it slides under my overarm dust collection with minimum lift, which optimizes dust collection. Did you find the ball and groove of the Harvey effectively eliminated "slop" as Harvey advertises? Like you and others here, I am in the market for an upgrade and (no pun intended) on the fence!
Thanks Michael. Sorry I thought I had mentioned the reason I like the beveled fence and it's the same reason you highlight - it allows me to adjust it closer to the blade while still slipping under my custom overhead dust collection hood. It's also a benefit when cutting with the blade tilted. The ball and groove works very well and there is no slop in the mechanism / angular detents at all.
A major piece of information that was missing was a cost comparison. Additionally the Incra 3000SE should have been used for a comparative opinion. But I do agree having to use a separate tool to make adjustments is a pain.
phenomenal video. Oddly, youtube deletes my positive comments from this video. I will go jessem as a result of this video. Sounds like a winner
I have heard nothing but good about incra. I owned the way overpriced Harvey for 11 months and the more I used it, the more I couldn’t trust it. The re is way too much deflection in the flip stop. I do however love the micro adjust. Too bad it’s attached to such a flawed miter gauge. The JessEm in my eyes is hands down the best. And is worth the price. I can’t say the same for the Harvey. It’s such a shame because it looks great. Too bad looks don’t cut perfect 45’s
Great to hear some long term feedback. I haven't noticed issues with rigidity in the flip stop affecting my cuts but not saying it can't. I agree that the Jessem is the best made overall and is what I ended up keeping. Sorry to hear about your experience with the Harvey.
Thanks for the review. I’ve been weighing the options of the Harvey vs. JessEm miter gauge for a few weeks now, and your review was very well done and informative. Not sure if you said, but if you had to choose one what would it be? Thanks!
Thanks mate. Honestly, I still can't choose. It's a coin toss for me.
The only advantage of the Harvey is about being pretty and the flip stop. Flip stop is the one with most flex tho. The woodwhisperer released a review of ten Miter gauge this week including the ones here. czcams.com/video/wBQtzhCiMhY/video.html
I have the JessEm miter gauge and I'm wondering if there were any design changes made to this. product. The reason I'm asking is because in the one I have, there is some ( slight ) slop when the pin snaps into the hole ( 2:26 in the video ). Looking at the design closely, it seems the pin / hole should have been tapered to eliminate this problem - my unit is not tapered.
Top and detailed review Dom. Which one have you found yourself reaching for over the course of the year?
Thank you. I've found myself using the Jessem the most. Not necessarily because it's better - that's just where i gravitated
@@domd2304 I find that test the best judge ;)
Very nice video! Subscribed 😊
Thanks so much my friend 🙏
Great review. Thank you. Would the Jessem be overkill for a jobsite table saw like my deWalt 8492 you think? Is it too big? I am a hobbyist woodworker with limited space in my garage for a bigger table saw.
Thank you. Hard for me to say mate, i've never had a jobsite saw, but if it has a standard sized mitre slot I don't see a reason why it wouldn't be a good addition.
Well done review the only add I would put in is origin of manufacture not sure how many that maters to but l do like to know where my tools are made. Incra made in the USA, Jessem made in Canada, Harvey is made in China. No pro's or con's of any I just like knowing for myself.
Good point. Country of origin is important to me too. Thank you.
Good video. Any chance the Harvey flip-stop fits on the Jessem or could easily be adapted?
The flip stop does fit on the Jessem, but only works on the main extrusion because the extension is only a lower/smaller extrusion, unlike the Harvey where the flip stop can be used on the extension. Most of my use involves slightly longer stock that would require the flip stop on the extension, but if you do lots of small boxes or similar it could be useful.
Good review!
Thanks mate
I just got recommended the Jessem today by my machinery man as i was looking at the Harvey. The Jessem is so much better but yes it does need the micro adjuster on the fence!
Micro adjuster update for JessEm is about to be released. Looks like a winner. Wood whisperer gave a not so good review on the Harvey.
Gentle comment... Telling something is flat / square / aligned is different than showing it. I'd suggest you show flatness etc.
Also very much doubt the Harvey miter to be accurate in angle repeatability.
Maybe show results of a five cut, this will proof the accuracy of the set miter angle.
Thank you!
Thank you for watching! I hope it helped a bit.
I have just come upon your channel - wondered why you have so few subscribers then see you are very fresh to the game!
Sensible to present it on your bench which clearly establishes your skill credentials.
Your review was comprehensive and thoughtful - but too long! Instructional videos might stand that length, but I suggest reviews should be over in 15 minutes.
Well done, though - I have subscribed and look forward to your next presentation.
BTW, who on earth in woodwork is looking for a fraction of a degree accuracy - not in my experience in the real world!!
This is a totally different reviewing style, but you might find it interesting - czcams.com/video/88BLcDgEVRI/video.html And your audio is tinny and could be improved - sorry to go on!
Nice video and I have the Jessem Mitre and have a way to use stop on both sides so maybe I’ll make a short video ( first video) on how to do it. I don’t know if you’ll have any success breeding the two mitres so this would be an alternative.
Beautiful Roubo btw!
Thanks mate. It's a beauty. Maybe i'll do a short overview vid?
Myślałem ze masz na imię Dominik a nie Tom :)
Powiedz mi, czy przez „szparę” między skałą a znacznikiem kąta w Harveyu nie miałeś problemu z dokładnym ustawieniem kąta ?
the Harvey saw has a deeper table size that would make the gauge stay straight better than you were showing in the video. possily the table shown is only 27 or 30" wide where the Harvey is 31.5
Yes, the Harvey Saw I have is only 27", so a 31.5" would improve things. Thanks for the info.
i have a saw stop table saw and i love it. i like using a wooden fence on my miter gauge. can i do that with the Jessem Mite-R-Excell II. after you make just one mistake and touch the blade to the aluminum fence, you will do the same. thanks, great review.
You can definitely put a sacrificial wooden face onto the Jessem fence 👍. The locating pin on the fence also minimises the chance that you'd accidentally set the fence too close to the blade. Thanks mate.
Thoughts on the Kreg?
I just realized why the numbering on the Jessem fence extension was numbered in the opposite direction . . . doh 😝
Yep haha, for a very good reason!
Just got the Incra HD 25% off from Rockler
Cutting neck scarf joints in luthiery. i routinely want cuts that are 10 to 15 degrees away from a full 90 degrees, with the neck blank clamped to the fence. The Incra is the only fence in the batch that is at all useful to me.
Nice video though.
I have the incra. Im generally happy with it, but I could have spent the money on other things in the shop. I dont like the extension and stop compared to others.
You could probably sourced it somewhere else cheaper (like Amazon, :wink: :wink:) but the prices of the gauges from the links in the description are much higher than the price of my table saw. 🤣😂😅
"The incra really is let down by..."
When it costs roughly half as much but is perhaps 10% lesser in fit/finish for greater practical functionality, needing a fridge magnet to keep an allen key close (which literally everything needs these days anyways, be glad it's not a phillips head set screw like kreg!) is hardly a sacrifice if it makes this tool actually attainable by us plebians with a jobsite saw.
The three of us who stuck around 😂🙋🏾♂️
There should be no play in any of them if you tighten the sliders in the rails. What you do need is enouph sliders touching the edges of the t-slots while in use to keep it square to the blade.
I was really surprised how much cutting power (and torque) this saw had out of the box. I've used other (10" saws) previously and was pretty surprised with the speed and cutting ability of this Dewalt saw.I have bolted mine to a table to minimize movement which I highly recommend.This is a Great saw czcams.com/users/postUgkxPeGkHOMe05FySypTOvYumxMn-xi39oRe with a light to see your cutting line (not a laser line).I'd recommend this saw fro anyone looking to upgrade from a 10" miter saw.
Bear in mind you do not need to pay more than $300.00 for any of these ...
WNew from China for me hell of a lot cheaper and well made to
I didn't actually see you using these tools. What's going on here? Did they lend them to you as long as you promised not to use them or something like that?
Is Harvey made in China?
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Honestly all then for the money you paid is is is waste money sorry to say personally I don’t wanted even for free money thanks