Wixey Digital Angle Gauge

A thorough search of the Amazon site has taught me there are a bunch of 'level cubes' for sale. Most seem to be variants of the same thing, only colored differently; some with two buttons, others with three or 4. Most will likely help a weekender level his table or angle the sawblade--for a while. There may be a handful of particularly capable, reasonably affordable makes available to serious and/or professional tradecrafters, but for this professional sharpener there is only one Wixey model WR365. I'll tell you the most important feature, last. First though, I'd like to say that Wixey must have one of the longest track records in the market. When I opened my newest sharpening shop in 2011, an angle cube was practically my earliest purchase. Wicked Edge was the emerging leader in set control sharpening technology, and it was Wixey they had found for the crucial angle setting sessions, so I made one mine. Eleven years later, using it practically every day--modifying its outside body over and over again to meet my particular needs--it served me accurate and reliable. As a genuine piece of scientific engineering, Wixey set the stage for all the wannabees that have surfaced since. >The Wixey model WR365 is still the only cube advertised (so far as I can tell) to recognize the need to view the numbers from tricky positions, with its hinged digital readout. >Compact size has made this unit my go-to in a number of tighter situations. >Fixed Absolute Level (and its readout) is invaluable and always viewable. >Further, Wixey has proved that two buttons are all that's necessary, with intuitive, logical multiple modes (and as experienced users of electronic devices will attest, buttons are a major source of equipment heartache, a good reason to minimize physical movements wherever possible). >Also, let me point out to prospective buyers of these powered instruments, this Wixey uses standard or rechargeable AAA batteries. Don't let the makers dictate to you an odd inventory of power sources. >This Wixey is also fast! It doesn't bother you with the hundredth decimal (especially if you don't need it! Besides, resolution is only to the 10th degree on any of these moderate price point models.) But since it does read to x.x, it's really nice that it centers on the mark quickly, and without penduluming. But, finally, (as this is the punchline I saved for last), it makes a great deal of difference *where on the unit the actionable buttons are placed*. You'll notice that the weekend product designers, striving mostly for a paycheck it seems, have put their buttons on the lower front like practically everybody else. This means that the user must press down hard on the top of the unit, in order to keep it from moving on them when they want a reading, and then push *sideways* to activate the button. This is unsettling--pun intended--problematic, and a good way to get a bad reading. >Now check out the Wixey model WR365. This is how you get the results that you paid good money for: press and hold down as usual to prevent the unit from moving and while doing so, also tap down on the button. What could be more mechanically efficient? This is what I'm hoping to relay to you. The venerable Wixey WR365, the jewel I bought in 2011 and the unchanged one I've finally replaced it with in 2022 is a purchase decision worthy of seriously intelligent trades persons, whatever.

Many tools, this one included, are modern takes on classic devices. Those of us who have and use the classic devices they replace (square, level, etc.) often either thirst for greater accuracy and/or efficiency in measuring. We want something that can do the job more accurately and faster. This little gem apparently does both. I can't speak to it's accuracy---I don't have a tool more accurate than this one to benchmark it. But if it tells me something's at a 90 degree angle, I'll find that my square says so too. I run a startup---a vertically integrated wood processing company. And this little beauty really pays for itself in aligning our bandsaw sawmill. It's wonderful for making sure all the sawmill's components are square to each other and the frame. It does it quickly and with a greater precision than a square (especially where a square often doesn't function well). It came out of the box, was used to calibrate the entire sawmill, and found it's home in a drawer, verifying accuracy when it's needed. Buy this if you need to make constant calibration checks, or if your occasional calibration checks require a high degree of accuracy and need to be done somewhat quickly. Buy this if you're ready to move beyond traditional carpenter's tools where it makes sense. Don't buy this tool to find it's flaws. Of course it's not the perfect tool for every situation. Of course the accuracy is only as good as the person using it. But it's an innovative, time saving device that has increased the accuracy of my measurements. For me, that results in a sawmill that runs smoother, cuts faster, and places less strain on the blade and the engine. For the cost, it's probably worth figuring out how it works for you.

Have you even been disappointed with angled cuts on your table saw? Have you ever wondered how to properly level the table on your drill press? Have you had problems checking an angle for square? Curse no more! This model is the "better" of the two Wixey angle gauges, and I figured, why end up with only some of the features. No regrets! Anyway, this unit is dead simple to use, and the feature I really like is how you can place it on a flat surface, and quickly calibrate it/zero it to consider that surface to be "level". Then you can measure angles RELATIVE TO THAT SURFACE - i.e. not relative to "true" level. Which is to say, if your bench is not exactly level, you can still measure angles relative to the (hopefully) flat surface of your bench. The unit has a strong magnet, and a nice groove so that it can straddle drill bits, pipe, whatever. I almost went crazy trying to test my drill press for squareness to the drill bit before I got this baby. The specs say it is accurate and repeatable to 0.1 degrees, and my experience says this is true. If you do any serious woodworking you know that you need this accuracy.

Need fairly precise angle to get picture frames to join up with no gaps. I use this gauge to set it up, works fine, attaches magnetically to the saw blade for precise readouts. Remember to remove it before you start the saw heh heh! Readout is clear and adjustable for exact calculations. Would recommend for price, quality, accuracy and ease of use.

I own a number of Wixey products for my table saw, planer, router, etc. I would say that they are of good quality and value, especially when you catch them bundled or price reduced. The support is excellent as I have had several problems and have gotten almost instant response and solutions from (supposedly) Mr Wixey. I owned the predessor to this model and it worked well until recently. I found it esential when I used the bevel on my table saw. How do you know when you've returned the table to exactly perpendicular after you've done a bevel, most likely 45 degrees. For a few dollars more than simply replacing my original, I purchased this model. Several things caught my attention. One was that it uses bigger batteries so that I wouldn't have to replace so often. The second was the "magnets" in the base. What I can now do is attach this device to my 4 foot level that has a magnetic strip on one side. So, I can read level without referring to the "bubbles". What may be missing is an indication of "plumb". For many years, I have used a short (and cheap) Zircon level for level and plumb. If one could dulplicate this with a 4 foot (or longer) level, it would be great. There may be levels like this out there but they may be much more expensive than these Wixey devices when one already owns a long level. That is why I'm suggesting a device, like this, that could be attached, magnetically, or taped, or whatever, to an existing 4 foot or longer level. Another thing I like about THIS device is that it is small. When I'm doing plumbing (hopefully, rarely, now as I am retired), I can put the device on a pipe to determine it's slope. Other levels, even though they are short, are just to long.

I bought this to insure my tablesaw blade was set to the correct angle. I have since found all kind of other uses for it such as insuring the tablesaw fence rails are parallel to the tabletop, checking my dinner table level (just for fun), setting my mitre saw angle etc. The key feature that makes this tool so versatile is that it measures absolute level and relative level. Absolute Level: If you place it on a bubble level, to provide it with a long flat surface, you can determine absolute level and absolute plum (90 degrees from level) - this is much easier than trying to determine whether a bubble is in the middle of its range. Relative Level: this is extremely useful when you want to make something exactly 90 degrees (or whatever degrees) from a reference surface. My tablesaw is a good example. It sits on a floor that is not absolute level (e.g. level relative to the earth). However, I need to make sure my blade is exactly 90 degrees from whatever the tablesaw top is. I place this device on my tablesaw top, zero it to make it show that my tablesaw top is level, then when I place it on my blade it shows me exactly how perpendicular my blade is (to within a tenth of a degree) from my top. I had no problems with the magnet sticking to anything magnetic so maybe they improved it based on some comments I read. I will never use any of my bubble levels again without this thing sitting on top of them!

Works great now. When I first used it, it was very obviously not in calibration. Sent a note to Wixey and got a prompt reply from Barry. This is a must have tool for any craftsmen. The internal Level setting is calibrated at the factory and should not need to be re-set, but if you do need to recalibrate it yourself follow these 5 steps: 1) Hold the ON/ZERO while replacing the battery cover. 2) Place the gauge on a flat surface, against a corner. The number “1” will appear on the display. 3) Press the ON/ZERO button taking care not to move the gauge.The number “1” will begin flashing. After a few seconds the number “1” will change to the number “2” 4) Rotate the gauge exactly 180 degrees. 5) Press the ON/HOLD button taking great care not to move the gauge. The number “2” will begin flashing and when it stops the display will go back to normal and the gauge has been calibrated. In the end it appeared to me that the more accurate I got to 90 degrees and the more still I held it the better the accuracy.

The manufacturer's website clearly states that 'most' of their angle sensors use mass/pendulum capacitive encoders (one fixed PCB, and another on a bearing that rotates due to a mass sensing gravity- where that rotation is read as with a digital caliper- far more stable/accurate than MEMS). They presently make 3 angle sensors. The WR300 Type 2, the WR300BT, and the WR365. None of these systems use capacitive encoders- they are all MEMS accelerometer based. This isnt some minor thing. It is like advertising a 2WD car as 4WD, hoping that you see 4 wheels and assume the performance/capability will be what you paid for. If you want a MEMS angle sensor- get a $10 version. These are probably all coming off the same assembly line in China anyway. If you want a capacitive encoder type, Wixey are flat out lying that 'most' of their products use this technology. NONE of their products currently shipping do.

Excellent item where I can easily check the level of a table saw blade or drill bit to the tool table even if the table is not level to the world. My garage has a slope towards the overhead door but I "zero" this digital level on the tool table, then I can check the blade or drill bit & not have to worry about the sloping garage floor. Highly recommend this gauge if you like to know your tools are square.

It's great. The two AAA batteries are easy to remove when not in use, even though the Wixey "hibernates" when not in used. (Other makes use button batteries and there are too many different sizes of button batteries and they're too easy to misplace.) In addition to using it to set the blade bevel on my table saw, I discovered that the vertical blade stop was actually 90.7 degrees. I've adjusted the stop so that the blade is now vertical. Easy to use. Love the "level feature". Just wish my 4 foot, aluminum bubble level was steel so that I didn't have to manually hold the Wixey to the level.

Easy to use product. Does what it’s intended to do. I like built in level feature and that it uses regular AAA batteries

Awesome product. Very accurate. I used it for miter saw and table saw.

Great for setting table saw blade first use I found out my saw would only adjust to 46 degrees