Great Gear: IGauging On A Planer

Adding a digital readout to your planer can be an easy, inexpensive way to upgrade your tool so you get precise workpieces every time. In this video, Logan takes installs this version from I-Gauging on a Dewalt planer.
Subscribe to Woodsmith to receive tips, plans, projects, and techniques both in print, and in video. It’s all at www.woodsmith.com.
Follow us at / woodsmithmagazine
www.woodsmith.com

[@jerrywilson1303]

I just installed mine. The parts for the 735 and 734 were mixed up, so I kept trying to figure out how to get a nut behind that metal block. Nope, the block for the 735 is threaded - but the smooth one was in the bag labeled "735." And when you put the metal plate onto the back of the gauge, you have no idea where to position it until you fit up that block, or the blade won't be straight. And you have to hold the tiny screws with the tiny plastic washers and slippery little spacers all together, because you can't just put in one - you'd have to find a way to get the second spacer behind the plate if you did that. It's all together now, and I think it's going to be a big help, because I often need to make more drawer sides of the same thickness after I thought I was done.

[@dougk5456]

These things are nice additions, however, I don't work in my shop as much as I once did (gettin' old). I have one of these on an ornamental mill. I use it maybe once in a few months. Every time I go to use it the battery is dead and I have to go buy a new one. It would be nice if there was a way to plug in a power convertor like you use to charge your laptop and have a rechargeable battery in the scale.

[@Pete-xe3il]

About 3 months late Doug, but battery life in these off shore produced digital calipers and this bar scale is always a problem. Since I don't know for sure which batteries your read out uses, I'm not sure the following is of any use to you. But most of these displays seem to use the same size and battery type. Usually a LR 44. If yours is the same? Try using a SR 44 battery and you'll get far longer life. It still won't be great, but certainly better than the LR's due to a different composition within the battery itself. That ongoing battery drain is due to the poor electrical design these cheaper displays use. While the display does shut off when the off button is pushed, there's still an excessive drain so the dro remembers it's position. My much better Mitutoyo digital metrology equipment almost always gets a minimum of 3- sometimes 5 years before a battery replacement is required. I've done quite a bit of checking, and afaik there isn't any rechargeable available for this type of battery. If you know enough about electronics or know someone who does, it's not impossible to delete the factory battery type and use a separate battery pack that does use something like the AA rechargeable . There is a difference in voltage between the two, 1.2v for the AA and 1.55v for the battery and that's where the electrical knowledge is required to make it possible.

[@dougk5456]

That is the battery. I will try the SR and see what happens. Thanks for the reply.@@Pete-xe3il

[@dennisschulze439]

Nice installation video, however, iGaging doesn't show the readout on their website and you do not have provide a link.

[@dpmeyer4867]

thanks

[@ozguzzi]

what? no link?

[@sunalwaysshinesonTVs]

The DRO for the DeWalt mounts like runny poo. Didnt take long for me to nudge the gauge and knock it off centre. Im gonna drill into the OEM height gauge and mount using screws. FFS....

[@timothybaker8234]

My older Makita lunchbox style planer, the bed moves instead of the head, model 2012, not 2012nb. Would I use the heavy duty model?

[@nordggn]

Do you have a model number for the one that fits the DeWalt 735X?

[@wildnativekc]

Can’t find this model online

[@glenlivingstonegl]

Two issues i have with their DRO's 1) they need a better design for head mount i have a couple of the units and both loosen up with time and use even with a lock washer its the plastic mount on the back of the readout itself not the rail 2) if you are going to use this DRO for this same planer which i have it needs a second bracket on the top of the rail or it is susceptible to being bumped out of position also would like to see a unit that you don't have to bend down to read putting your face near the feed opening and flying chips lets be real nobody mounts their planer at face level when standing upright

[@psychedelicguitarartbyjima3850]

You have to write in the video explaining that the first hole you drilled was in the wrong place. Your mistake cost me to make the same mistake where I found out that I couldn't lower the planer blade because the nut stopped the movement. I finally placed the bracket in the top hole where I had total movement of the planer. Please be clear about the mistake you made so others don't have to waste an hour fixing the problem. Otherwise you did a pretty good job.

[@Sigmadog1975]

I think it is iGaging EZ Planer Precision DRO - 35-607

[@abad_gtr1123]

iGaging...