I Tested Harbor Freight's VIRAL $45 Table Saw Upgrade! Bauer Miter Gauge

[@731Woodworks]

▼Click READ MORE FOR TOOL LINKS and INFO▼ Subscribe to my email newsletter for the latest content, updates, sales, and more! mailchi.mp/731woodworks/newslettersignup Watch This Video Next - Harbor Freight Dust Extractor Review - kzbin.info/www/bejne/nZ2npXWDoM6kisUsi=2pno_B7-jOJJe2_g Tools in this video: Bauer Miter Gauge - www.harborfreight.com/24-in-fence-and-miter-gauge-70692.html Vevor Miter Gauge (Amazon) - amzn.to/40O5seY Vevor Miter Gauge (Lowe's) - shoplowes.me/4hsM1hp Woodpeckers Miter Gauge - thetoolnut.sjv.io/DyWX2b Incra V27 Miter Gauge - acmetools.pxf.io/POK7kN Harvey Compass Miter Gauge - www.harveywoodworking.com/products/compass-mg-36pro-miter-gauge SawStop Miter Gauge - acmetools.pxf.io/nXN7Bx JessEm Miter Gauge - lddy.no/1l4xd DeWALT Table Saw - amzn.to/3CdsxOV If you use one of these partner and other affiliate links used in this comment, I may receive a commission on qualifying purchases. 📲 Text DEALS to 1 [phone] to sign up for my Tool Deals SMS Alerts All of my Build PLANS: www.731woodworks.com/store Greatest Free Gift I've Ever Received: story4.us/731Woodworks Jumpstart Your Own Woodworking Business with My FREE Trainings - www.skool.com/731woodworks

[@justme1958A2]

I purchased one last week, by adjusting the front set screws in the track you can adjust the angel stops slightly.

[@731Woodworks]

That's a great tip, thanks for sharing!

[@jpap123]

How accurate was it after your track set screws adjustment?

[@justme1958A2]

@@jpap123 Cutting 8 in board, barely see light.I think I can get it closer even

[@Tinker1950]

Did the angels have wings?

[@BruceStJohn007]

I bought one yesterday for $45.00. It was perfectly square right out of the box. For $45, it can’t be beat! I made some test cuts at multiple angles, they all came out exact.

[@731Woodworks]

Awesome to hear!

[@tristankayne696]

Ugh, seems that you got a lemon, Matt

[@donaldwilliams3247]

Probably a manufacturing defect in that particular one. All the other reviewers reported it was perfectly square.

[@GrantButler]

I wonder if you could adjust for that misalignment by adjusting those allen screws that keep it snug in the slot

[@731Woodworks]

possibly. I'll have to check that

[@ComfortablyNumb1969]

I was gonna mention that!

[@paulholmes672]

Only if there are Allen screws on both side of the bar.

[@74georgerogers]

I bought mine a couple of weeks ago and that's what I had to do but I also swapped mine out to nylon set screw and it made it much better

[@VAFSH4LIF]

@@731Woodworks maybe add a washer (shim of some sort, tape?) between the attachment bolts that attach the T track fence to the miter gauge. OR take a file (to the indent) and lightly file the side required for it to adjust it to square? Of course when adjusting the fence back to zero you would have to remember to keep it tight to the side you filed? Great video.

[@dm9078]

I got mine in the mail Yesterday took me about 15 minutes to get it together . i’m using it on my Skil saw 90 and 45 were dead on right out of the box. Well, worth the 4599 well 52 and some change with shipping and handling. But still well worth it.

[@Damon_Barber]

Thank you, Matt!! Most of us do this as a hobby and have limited budgets for tools. This video helps us make a decision on how we want to spend that budget. Save some money and use our time to square it up, or spend a little more and have it square out of the box. Comparing the stop blocks was also helpful! I’m with you on not being crazy about needing to have a tool to adjust the stopblock.

[@troystallard6895]

A couple of coats of Johnson wax on the bottom of the miter gauge will help it slide easier - especially if your tabletop is also waxed. I use Johnson wax regularly on all my slides, tabletops, saw blades, handsaws, etc. Considering I'm still using the factory miter gauge on my late 1940's Craftsman table saw, that Bauer would be an awesome improvement. Might be time to upgrade... Although to tell the truth, most of the time I use my compound miter saw or old DeWalt 9" radial arm saw for cross cuts anyway. I did finally break down and buy a Shop Fox fence with extended rails for the Craftsman, and wish I'd done it a long time ago.

[@robbywright6010]

I have a JDS AccuMiter gauge, the predecessor to the JessEm AccuMiter. It uses a similar adjustment plunger to the Bauer. On the AccuMiter, you can loosen two screws and move the plunger assembly to set the right angle perfectly. In the over 30 years I have had it, I have never had to change the settings. I will bet you could do something similar on the Bauer unit. As for the plunger being hard to use, just cut a little bit off the plunger spring - Problem solved. Or exercise your little delicate fingers so they have enough strength.... 😉 The extension is mostly meant to be a method of holding the flipstop for longer pieces, so flex strength isn''t very important. Thanks for your good work.

[@thamantimmy]

I picked one up with a 15% coupon the day after it came out. Less than 39 bucks before state taxes. For that price can't beat it. Mine is dead on with the positive stop at 0°. Haven't had an issue. I honestly purchased it to add the fence to the same Incra miter gauge you showed im the video, which I've had for about a year or so. I haven't looked out how to dial in the Bauer since it came good out the gate.

[@MarcusRefusius]

You should consider adjusting the set screws to the OTHER side of the Miter Bar. That’s how I got mine dead on. I plan on changing them out for nylon ones. Cheers

[@omf2007]

Shims between the miter gauge body and the fence where it attaches using the red knobs. Have a delicious RC cola and cut the can up for shim strips when you're done.

[@court2379]

That or sand the side of the wedge until it is correct. Also I think you can pull back on the locking knob which would probably address his issue with the spring. Thumb on the frame index on the knob, pinch.

[@LyleAshbaugh]

Another RC cola fan! 😊

[@clayglc0206]

I do not have the tool in my hands but it seems like you should be able to shim the fence one way or the other. Deflection could have came from the track adjustment as well.

[@harrydoherty8299]

i bought the fulton 2000 miter gauge. lots if great features. a solid stop for repeat cuts , accurate and adjustable track to take out any play in the guide track. $90.

[@VAFSH4LIF]

For all Maybe add a washer (shim of some sort, tape?) between the attachment bolts that attach the T track fence to the miter gauge. OR take a file (to the indent) and lightly file the side required for it to adjust it to square? Of course when adjusting the fence back to zero you would have to remember to keep it tight to the side you filed? Great video.

[@hughcules7012]

Thank you for the review, now that I have seen you put it through the paces I was waffling on the Vevor but when this came out I was curious. I think I am going to get the Vevor. Thanks again.

[@johnnylightning1491]

I think you need to do a follow-up to see if the set screw adjustments fix the out-of-square condition. Yes, it is worth $50, especially if you can get the detents to 0 deg.

[@austinwmeyers]

I got mine put together and on the saw today, and I can get it square, but there’s some side to side slop in the part that slides back and forward into the indents. At least on mine, if you loosen the lock knob for the slide piece, you can move it ever so slightly left and right and then lock it down, throwing it out of square. It’s just a sloppy interface where they milled out the bar.

[@anthonychristy9239]

Been waiting for this review! Thanks for your frank and honest critiques of the new Bauer! I think for the amount of work I do at my home shop, the price can't be beat with the knowlege that the hard Stops run the risk of being ever so slightly off, but it can be easily worked around. Thanks for looking at it!

[@BitsNBobs-o6u]

Great review, I was thinking about the Bauer miter gauge for my kobalt table saw . I might still get it and see how it is but thank you for the comparisons and video.

[@MrCastan0]

I have a similar miter bar. You have to EVENLY adjust those little allen key grub screws.. otherwise it will be be off square.

[@georgewilmore7599]

I have the Incra HD 1000. Best fence I have used. I don’t need to go inexpensive but sounds like you have given people options.

[@YorkPADad]

Thanks for doing this review. Perfect timing. I have a budget, been in the market for this and this solution fits the bill. Now I just have to wait until it’s an available. Patience is a virtue since I expect this to be a tough find. Not available in any stores around me.

[@castlevaniaking5]

Another commenter mentioned adjusting the screws on the miter bar to help the detents. My first thought with it being so so close is maybe a slight imperfection in the aluminum itself that could be sanded/filed. My cheaper speed square had a lump in the aluminum and I didn’t notice it for the longest time, just thought i was bad lol

[@alherzog5712]

THanks for another comprehensive review. Good to know there are some low cost options that work well.

[@paulellis84]

I like the idea of the cheaper miter gauges, but if i took it back and exchanged it for another one, and it wasn't accurate, I would return it and get the Vevor. When it comes to a tool that is suppose to be built and used for it's accuracy and it isn't them it isn't worth what little they ask. I have the Harvey Compass and absolutely love the fact that it will do what i need it to do right out of the box. Thank you for putting this video together!

[@johnduffy6546]

I love your unbiased reviews

[@stephenbustos]

I have that exact same 8 1/4 Dewalt you were using in the video. I just used the miter gauge that came with the saw. Just screwed on a perfectly straight 2 1/2" tall, 1" thick piece of wood to it as a fence, and it works perfectly 😂. I don't see the point in all the bells and whistles these things are coming with. A 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" x 1" block with a small strong clamp is all I need for a stop block, and it's not going to deflect one bit. Didn't cost a penny since the miter gauge comes with the saw and the wood was scrap, and I have a million screws laying around.

[@3d-cnc245]

I bought one yesterday and tested it. Mine was off about 1.5 degrees. There was slop in the pocket that the spring loaded lock slides in. I shimmed it and it is better. Not bad for $45 but if the tolerance on that slot was tighter, it would have been a home run.

[@731Woodworks]

Yeah, that's not good. Definitely not ideal

[@jeffallen4133]

Can you adjust the rollers in the slide to make it square?

[@3d-cnc245]

@jeffallen4133 I could have, but the detention spring was what was off, so I shimmed that. And being loose, it would still fluctuate.

[@mohawk81371]

I'm wondering if the set screws that snug it up in the miter slot could put it off square. This is the 4th review that I've watched on this miter gauge, and its the only one that wasn't square out of the box.

[@TWC6724]

Anything is better than the one I have! 😂 Thanks brother. Will definitely be checking this out.

[@ReformationHomested]

As far as the spring goes you could always trim a bit off until it’s tensioned how you like it.

[@Mandurath]

Good info. No matter what its better than what came with the same. First review where it wasn't dead on. Likely a luck of the draw thing. Also seen where others area changing out the metal track adjustment screws for plastic ones if you have an aluminum table.

[@leanwoodworks]

Well Matt glad u made this video. For some reason there’s a huge miter gauge craze going on right now. I’m not buying one right now but uh glad yer channel looks at trends like this..

[@Randomwesternredneckguy]

I bought this last week. Thankfully, my zero and both 45's are dead on. I haven't checked the rest of the detents. I'll deal with plastic knobs and flimsy stop block for under $50, but if my detents were off, I'd definitely return/exchange it.

[@rswearing]

Not in stock near me yet, but I've been waiting for this review. Get your hands on the new Bauer bandsaw next!

[@rchavez5056]

Friday, if you are an inside track club member, you can get it for $36. I hope my local HF will have one in stock. They will have a 20% off coupon on Friday.

[@reyrodriguez9237]

I have the Stealth stop and put the Katz Moses stop block and to me that is the best stop block for me. Matt looked into the woodpeckers new versa fence I just got it with the side tray and you could hook up the jessem stock guides to it. I think you would really like it.

[@joelnowland2196]

Two things you can do to square it if you already have one - Shim the fence where it attaches to the miter - Or - ( carefully )File a tiny bit off one side of the detent groove, till it squares, and then hold the miter to that one side of the groove as you lock it down.

[@JamesSmullins]

The only problem with shimmig the fence is it was accurate everywhere except 90°so if you shim to fix the 90° cut then you've put all other angle cuts out.

[@hemifivepoint7]

To adjust the 0 indent You could do the 5 cut method then shim the front fence (left or right) between the extruded aluminum and the mounting face with feeler gauge strips. However, That will obviously affect the other hard indents if they were already accurate out of the box

[@w8one]

Adjust it by adding a shim to the bolts that go between the fence and the compass.

[@fredherzberger4677]

In the event that you can not adjust the Spring.Stop to correct for the fence being off, you could shim the fence.

[@Ziggysawdust-d6m]

I just got the Vevor with a 24" fence yesterday from Amazon for $59.99 (currently listed as unavailable) The one you linked to has an 18" fence (also shows as unavailable). Haven't had a chance to use it yet but it seems very solid and only about $10 more than the Bauer

[@laukc7085]

I've got a powertech miter gauge, which looks just like the incra one. I also purchased a powertech 24 inch t track fence to go with it. Around 80 bucks for both. I've had no issues with either piece up to this point. I think that bauer one is killer though, especially for 50 bucks. Be curious to see if all of them have that accuracy issue.

[@andrewmorris8531]

Thank you for the review! As always, great review and love all the content!!

[@731Woodworks]

Appreciate the kind words!

[@paularnold6616]

You could fix this alignment issue like I had to do on my Milwaukee metal chop saw, I used shims as needed between the two parts. You would not want to change where the fence is mounted after.

[@jimgoliver8598]

For 50 bucks I would take the extra time to set it up I think it's worth the money seeing how I'm on a small budget Thanks for the review

[@EnthusiasticTruck-xh7ss]

I have an old Craftsman table saw I wonder if it would fit that thank you for the video

[@LivingTheLifeRetired]

That’s a pretty generous review of a mitre gauge where the angles are off. Isn’t that the point of a mitre gauge?

[@robertcoad2233]

I wonder if it could be mated with the shopsmith hold down miter gauge.

[@sambannister8925]

I bought one also, haven't used it yet. Also have the Vevor, works fantastic

[@darwinboor1300]

With 2 of these and 2 T-track linking bars with screws you could easily build a collapsible bottomless crosscut sled for less than $100 and get back the full cut depth of of your saw blade.

[@knee2tarmac23]

Great taste in watches, btw. Omega and Tudor are also my favorites. 🤙🏼

[@731Woodworks]

Appreciate that! I’m a huge fan of both myself.

[@stevenlengyel9701]

I have the harbor freight Hercules table saw, I may give this one a try

[@ttfweb1]

You could shim the fence with the detent engaged and get it dialed in.

[@GaryGains]

Maybe you saw my request but thank you for doing this review. Question for you. Could you shim the fence to keep the positive stop to get it Aliened.

[@731Woodworks]

yeah I think you could or possibly adjust the set screws on the miter bar to adjust it slightly. I'll need to play with it some more

[@serenityhillhomestead5392]

My problem is that I have a Delta table saw I bought in 1997. It won't take the 3/4" accessories, so I end up having to make my own jigs. Someday I'll have the money to spend on a newer saw, but until then I'll just keep making my old dependable Delta do the job.

[@jzavalaef]

@731woodworks Great video! Any chance on reviewing the new BAUER 12 Amp, 6 in. Benchtop Jointer from harbor freight

[@davidhodgson3574]

Ditto

[@mrpunisherguy]

that video link is for dust extraction....i purchased the vevor miter gauge and had the squareness issue the bauer has. detents are not square to my blade. dewalt 7485. blade and fence are square to miter slot but to resquare to the vevor pulls everything off by at least a 16th. i had 1 blunger bead start shaving metal out of the slot after the bead jammed inside itself.

[@corypeter739]

Mine has the same issue with the 0 stop being just out of square, so it's not just a one-off problem. I'm also not a huge fan of the set screws to snug it up in the track, they seem to scrape a little on my saw and it took me awhile to get it adjusted just right. But, like was mentioned several times... it's only $50 for a miter gauge with a fence ($40 with my discount). Hard to be mad because of the price.

[@DJK2469]

Just to let you know the Vevor that you have is $64. They also have a 24" without the extension for $54 and a 18" for $50 on Vevors website but unfortunately they are out of stock currently and have been for a long time. When you reviewed the Vevor one a while back, I went directly to Vevors website and they where out of stock then. Still on the notify me list, hopefully they will get them back in stock soon 🤞.

[@proaudiorestore8926]

That 0° being slightly out could be adjusted via the adjustment grub screws for the main T-Slot. To me that sounds exactly where your problem is

[@danquigg8311]

What if ya shim the mounting bolts to attach the fence to the angle display device? Pg 7, step 5 says: "5. If Angle Indicator does not align with 0°, use screwdriver (sold separately) to loosen Screws holding Angle Indicator. Align plate, then retighten Screws. "

[@totaleclipse518]

Possible that one of the adjustable screws on the miter bar could have been slightly off causing the zero detent to be off. Could easily be compensated for the ways you did here too.

[@tpaulsmith7194]

Playing card between the fence and knob holding the fence to the gauge?

[@KillerSpud]

I would like to see a review of the new Bower band saw. I'm really tempted to get that.

[@nickopetra]

its possible the detent is good but the error in 90 is coming from the tensioning of the track slide. I have found that to be the case even in some higher end miters.

[@christianb7657]

Any chance for a review on the hongdui miter gauge?

[@JEEPLIFE121]

Maybe the inaccuracy of the stop-loc is due to the adjusters that you needed to tighten up on to keep it from wobbling??

[@qwaj6985]

What if you put a shim between the mounting plate and the fence on the side where it’s off square?

[@RHicks-zw2kv]

Always good content and I like your shirt

[@rcbax434]

Wouldn't the Allen screws in the guide bar, depending on which side you set it with affect the accuracy? I think so. Try changing those since it seems to only be out just a touch anyway. I look forward to hearing a reply on what you found. Thanks.

[@JoeNorero]

Such a great comparison of the products exactly what I needed than you so much

[@andybynum5365]

Will this work on the skil 10" jobsite table saw?

[@josephgodfrey9123]

I have an incra miter gage and need a miter fence. Would the vevor fence mount on it or should I stick with incra.

[@zendell37]

Is that detent screw knob not there to lock the detent back? The push handle locks the angle once tightened, right? So theoretically if everything works like it should, you leave the red knob loose to just use the common angles. But to fine tune, you'd pull the knob back and tighten it "open", right?

[@markb42569]

You can use an angle grinder to widen the "0" stop. You'll just have to make sure to push the "pin" part to the side of the slot you cut down.

[@frrapp2366]

i was wondering if a piece of paper/tape shim between the fence and the main frame on one side or the other depending on which direction you need to go?!? for 50$ OR less i think is an OK deal especially for a knock around job site saw!!!

[@FerretPD]

Did you try "stepping" the slide/slot/guide set screws to compensate for the angle difference? (in the example you showed...the set screw closest to the square would be furthest out, and the far screw would be flush [or even depressed] )

[@WoodworkerDan]

You could make up for the misalignment by putting a shim between the miter gauge and the fence. It would be a pain in the neck, but you would only have to do it once.

[@bastian1847]

would this be usable on a bandsaw?

[@cbartek63]

Do you think the screws for tightening in the curve could have made it out of square?

[@RobertHerrera-s4v]

Thanks Matt, I think it will be perfect for my Kobalt .

[@tonyg1958]

Just wondering if it is possible to use shims on one of the screws that attach the fence to rail to fine tune the stops? Real shims would probably cost as much as half of the miter gauge, but stacking a few thicknesses of aluminum foil might do the trick.

[@martinparmer]

I was wondering if you could file just a hair off the proper side of the stop notch and then every time you go to zero, make sure you push it to the proper side a fuzz. I think it would be on the left side of the notch and that would swing the cut back to the right out in the field. You'd just have to take out the tinyest amount as you file it down to make sure to not go too far. I like saving the $ and I'm not trying to build furniture to end up in the Smithsonian someday. You do you. Very good video, BTW.

[@chitala383]

Were you able to find the Vevor stop blocks available individually? There's no link in the description that I saw. I looked all over and couldn't find them. I reached out directly to Vevor as well and never heard back.

[@danielhiller9165]

is the blade square to the miter track? if it is not that could cause the miter gauge to be off.

[@luisraulvelazquez5114]

Question: How you could can upgrade the Bauer fence ? Any recommendations?

[@jimmiemahathey7209]

Before you say it works on job sight saws you my need to look at Ryobi Job sight, I had one a few years back and it had tabs on the miter slots I could not use any other miter gage on that saw other than the cheep one that came with it. I ended up returning it because it would not cut square no mater what I did. I could not adjust enough to get it square. I bouight a Delta 36-725 T2. Much better saw all together yes I understand the massive differences between the two. If I buy a Ryobi product again I will have to research it deeply. Thanks for your content.

[@Randomwesternredneckguy]

@@jimmiemahathey7209 sounds exactly like my table saw journey...POS Ryobi to Delta T2. I gave the Ryobi away, but felt bad about it. Should've put it in with a dump run.

[@stevestevenson8886]

Are all the detects off?

[@starkey0417]

Appreciate this. The Bauer had caught my eye, but I think I'll just do the Vevor.

[@frankshannon3235]

The locking detents CAN be accurate on any miter gauge that has detents that don't wiggle. You just shim it on the back on one of the bolts.

[@drs850]

If a miter gauge cuts an angle that it is set at consistantly it is a good miter gauge. It does not matter how much or how little it costs, You can pay alot of extra money for a bunch of options and gadgets if thats what you like.

[@Bunk599]

You could consider carefully filing one side of the male detent pin until it is correctly aligned...should not take much due to the distance ratios...and hope the other female halves of the detents are correctly positioned. The out-of-the-box misalignment of the detents would rule this miter out for me at any price.

[@leanwoodworks]

It way better than what comes with most saws.. 45 bux yeah it’s a good if ya need one..

[@kevinjensen9817]

If everything is off the same in each indents, could you use a thin piece of metal behind one of the two fence mounting bolts to adjust it to square?

[@MrUbiquitousTech]

Good review, thank you. Honesty surprised it's $50. Not that it's not worth it, but usually Harbor Freight's accessories don't run that high.

[@hellyeah141]

How about comparing it to the temu or aliexpress 50$ aluminium miter gauge?

[@mikemccabe2758]

My question is does it work on a Ryobi table saw, i have found out nothing fits in the slots.

[@timothysmith5818]

Does it fit the Ryobi contractor table saw? Always an issue.

[@731Woodworks]

not sure

[@RnRWoodworkings]

When I eventually upgrade from the Skil table saw I’ll be sure n the market especially for the vevor or woodpecker