Woodpeckers has launched new 3D setup blocks – metal bars that can be used for adjusting the heights of saw blades, router bits, drill bits, and similar machine tooling.
Each Woodpeckers 3D setup block features 3 reference surfaces with the same measured dimension – a recessed cutout at the center, an extended step at the end, and a shouldered tab at the top, plus each bar has a matching thickness dimension.
Blocks like these can make it a breeze to set up woodworking machines for repeatable operations.
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I’ve seen this design before – at one point I owned a set of Kreg setup blocks, which also have 3 size reference features.
Whereas Kreg’s setup blocks stop at 3 size reference features, the new Woodpeckers bars each also have a measured angle at one end, which can be useful for setting up the bevel angle on a table saw.
The Woodpeckers setup blocks ship as a 7-piece set with steel wall hanger.
Sizes: 1/8″, 3/16″, 1/4″, 5/16″, 3/8″, 7/16″, 1/2″
Price: $140
Introductory Pricing: $120
Discussion
It strikes me as odd that Woodpeckers would be inspired to build upon such a recognizable Kreg product, but it’s possible that Kreg wasn’t the first to come up with this design.
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I have also noticed that Kreg has recently launched at least one product that seems to copy a small company’s USA-made jig. That Woodpeckers might have based their USA-made 3D Setup blocks on a Kreg product seems like fair comeuppance.
That all said, I like the idea of multi-featured setup blocks like these. However, I gave away my Kreg setup blocks in favor of keeping simpler size gauges.
Ultimately, I felt that simple rectangular setup bars or height gauges were more convenient for me, despite the difference in versatility.
These do look convenient for repeatable machine setup applications. You get a limited size range – 1/8″ to 1/2″, but the design is undeniably practical within those limits – especially for making router table bit height and fence adjustments.
The machined angles seem unnecessary to me, and are likely done for differentiation, but could be useful. The blocks’ angles range from 30° to 90°.
This is a product for woodworkers who see the application images and think “that’s exactly what I’ve been needing.” I think they’ll mainly appeal to router table users, but there are some uses beyond that.
While seemingly derivative, the new Woodpeckers blocks should be well made. The blocks look decent, although I’d prefer if they came with a drawer-friendly case instead of a wall hanger.
Even the bevel angles don’t seem original; I found 3D printable angled router table setup bars with the same bevel angle feature at Thingiverse and also Printables. The 3D printable design predates the Woodpeckers launch by over a year.
Are they worth the $140 price or $120 introductory price? That depends on how strongly you need this type of height gauge, whether you prefer USA production over imported, and how you eager you are to add more red Woodpeckers tools to your workshop wall.
According to my email history, I gave my Kreg set away nearly 10 years ago. I’ve used other height gauges to set up my router table and table saws since then, and not once did I wish I still had it. I haven’t forgotten about it though, which made the Woodpeckers design instantly recognizable.
You can find other sets similar to Kreg’s on Amazon for as low as $36, but you might be taking a gamble on their accuracy.
Jared
Are the holes anything?
Stuart
Technically, holes are the absence of anything. =)
Maybe helps with fixturing during manufacturing so that every surface can be machined?
Jared
Ha. I was trying to figure out if they were at a specific height or something. Seems like an additional reference that could be included – but maybe it’s just manufacturing, like you suggested, or so you can hang them.
John
From videos of WP aluminum machining, the holes are generally for holding the part during the CNC cutting process.
ElectroAtletico
Hanging on pegboard???
John
I’ve had those Kreg setup bars for a long time. One little unknown trick is that the end no one uses is also an interval of heights in 1/16″ increments up to 7/8″ or so (not in front of my set so going by memory) but I sharpied the sizes which come in handy often.
3D printed versions are more than enough for woodworking as stated. I even use 3D prints for welding jigs. It requires very unique tools now for me to purchase something.
Doresoom
Ha, looks like Woodpeckers are the ones with the “knock off” product this time! My wife got me this nearly identical looking set from my Amazon wish list a few years ago for Christmas: https://www.amazon.com/KAGYIFLY-Precision-Accessories-Woodworking-Different/dp/B09YC9SXXS/
I’ve been pretty happy with them so far – all dimensions I’ve measured on them with calipers are within .000″-.002″ from stated dimensions, which is good enough for woodworking. Definitely goes on my list as a good value for $40.
BobH
I wonder how this compares to the Jessem set up gauges:
https://jessem.com/products/stainless-steel-tool-setting-gauge
Seems like they solve a similar problem.
The small one is only $63. The set of large and small is about the same price as the Woodpecker list price.
Jared
That’s kind of nifty! You get a much bigger range that way too (even the “small imperial” looks to go up to 2 & 1/4″). Obviously that’s more relevant for tablesaw setup than router, but it seems more versatile. Plus you’re not limited to the fixed sizes.
MichaelT
Not really adding to the discussion I guess, but my initial reaction was that given that the 5 piece Kreg set is $80 ($16 each), the introductory $120 price for seven ($17.14 each) seems shockingly low for a woodpecker tool.
Stuart
The Kreg set also has 7 setup bars. In the image, 5 are shown in the case, and the 2 smallest and largest sizes are shown removed.
Nathan
Not needed and I wouldn’t buy these. I’d agree there are plenty other options. I like the angles but you can get angle items separate and also cheaper. The length of the bars seems too unwieldy.
Mike S
Yeah – why wouldn’t I just 3D print all of these sorts of things now?
Everyone should get a 3D printer – you can get an EU printer, and USA filament )or spend a *lot* more and get a USA printer, or substantially less and get a Chinese printer), and make almost anything you would have bought that most people on the forum tend to look at and think: “why would I pay $20 for $0.20 of plastic”; and then even though WP does nice work, and their items are not plastic and are made in USA – there’s still plenty of people that just don’t want to be spending that much money on things like this. I don’t begrudge anyone that choose to buy the WP items, but a 3D printer has been an amazing addition to my toolset.
Jared
Can you 3D print with that level of accuracy? I realize Stuart mentioned Thingiverse – but I figured that was mostly to show Woodpeckers didn’t invent this.
I assumed a 3D printed version wouldn’t be worthwhile. At that point I could setup my saw or router with a caliper and just cut some references manually.
Stuart
3D printing can take some iterations to be accurate, and even then the printed dimensions might not be completely stable.
But we’re also talking about woodworking, where workpiece dimensions could change based on environmental conditions.
MM
Stability would be my concern. I’d bet that if you FDM printed one of these setup blocks perfectly and then if you came back in a month and put a straightedge across the bottom of the block, where it sits against the machine table, you’d find it is no longer straight. But it might be good enough for woodworking, it all depends on what your tolerances are.
David Z.
Is that from experience? Because I’ve found my prints to be very stable. They never go into extreme temperatures, like sitting in a car in the summer, but I imagine most workshops don’t get that extreme.
I do know certain filaments have different properties in terms of strength, flexibility, and, yes, dimensional stability. Of course for a print like these you would pick the appropriate filament. I believe adding carbon fiber adds dimensional stability to some filament types, though apparently at a slight tradeoff in strength.
Mike S
I can print to very tight tolerances – at least when it comes to talking about woodworking. I can get to under 0.1 mm accurate, which is good enough for woodworking I think. Also – you can tweak the dimensions of anything you print, so you can change the dimension(s) and print again.
The collet for the depth stop on my drill press broke a few years ago (and was never very good to begin with). I had made a replacement from wood that I never really liked but was functional. I cooked up a replacement model yesterday – its way more accurate than the original part – it precisely locates the pin in the center and keeps it there w/out letting it hit the sides. I also made 2 “knobs” to fit over the locking nuts that are almot too thin to be able to grab/move them (they were ~ 4mm thick) – the knobs hold the hex nuts precisely (press fit) and give me 15mm to get my fingers on – spins freely and works way better.
I bought the Festool Miter Hold Down Clamp thinking i would adapter it to my Milwaukee saw a few years ago. But – I never could figure out a good way to get it done. A few weeks ago – I printed a new part and transferred the parts from the Festool clamp onto my Milwaukee rod – and it works great. I precisely matched a bunch of internal geometry, and made the part as strong as the Festool part.
I’ve designed and printed several parts a week since getting it.
My only regret – is not getting a 3D printer sooner!
The modeling software was also a thing I worried about it. I tried Fusion but didn’t take to it. I saw a YT video from a woodworker saying they had tried them all and decided to use Shapr3D – and based on that, I gave it a try myself. I love the software. I’m having a balst designing and printing items!
Mopar
For most things these would be used on, I think they or the Chinese Amazon versions would be accurate enough. We’re talking woodworking, not machining. Repeatability there is usually more important than precision, IMNHO.
fred
Amen to repeatability. If I’m making a chest of drawers – I want to make all the drawer sides exactly the same, cut the rabbets and dados the same etc. It is also often better to “under-cut” then “sneak up” on the final fit. Inlay cabinet double doors come to mind – where some final planing can get you to having equal reveals all around – or using a shoulder plane to trim a tenon for a snug fit in a mortise. With “picture frame” decorative moldings for painting and walls – a miter saw then glue and putty will do ahead of painting. But for furniture and staining it’s better to cut just a tad oversize then trim on a shooting board or with a Lion Trimmer to get a perfect fit.
Mopar
“A Lion Trimmer”
Now THERE is a tool I have not seen in probably 45yrs or more. It was in the shop right next to the foot-pedal operated miter chopper that looked something like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbXKDllZ3yc
JR Ramos
It’s really non-consequential but it’s odd that a bunch of machinists would round off the decimal measurements for the common fractions, and use a mix of 1- , 2- , and 3-digit readouts. The import versions do the same, though.
The angles are a nice addition to a common tool. I can’t see these getting put to good use for me…too many other tried and true methods/tools (a lot cheaper, too).
I wonder if Woodcraft stores will pick these up for in-store sales. Ours has a surprising amount of Woodpeckers measuring products in stock now (replacing their black Pinnacle line, which I was told was actually manufactured by Woodpeckers…).
Phranq
Has woodpecker abandoned the one time tool model?
Mike S
I’m dying to know this as well! It does seem that they have – there hasn’t been one of them for many months now.
Stuart
Looks like it. There haven’t been any in a while, and there’s no mention of One Time Tools on their website anymore. A lot have been repeats, making them more small batch tools than “one time” tools. They could always start it up again.
Dave P
These types of set up blocks have been around for quite a while and the rectangular sets have been around for many decades. Nothing even remotely new here.
I have both the style pictured (I only prefer them for setting the height of a router bit) and the rectangular set up blocks, which I prefer for everything else, which is many times daily when I’m in my woodshop.
A person can have both sets that are quite accurate for well under $100, and they will be a wonderful addition for woodworking tasks.
Mine (of the style you feature) have a 45 on one end, and the rectangular set also has a 1x2x3 block which is also very useful for woodworking setups.
I wouldn’t use anything as short as these types of blocks for setting a saw angle; I have occasionally used the 45 just as a rough reference point but not for setup–just too short to set stuff up to be accurate(no matter how accurate they themselves are).
I wouldn’t want a set of plastic ones.
MikeE3
I searched and found about 20 ‘new tools’ from Kreg but nothing in the area of setup blocks or gauges. Any hint you can give about what the product is, re: this line in your article “Kreg has recently launched at least one product that seems to copy a small company’s USA-made jig”. THank
Stuart
Kreg launched a cabinet hardware jig (KHI-XLPULL) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CPTHH4VF/?tag=toolguyd-20, that looks to be just another imported imitation of the True Position Tools jig https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003E46SVO/?tag=toolguyd-20 . The True Position jig is described as “the Original,” and has apparently been on the market since 1996.
I learned of the True Position jig a few years ago and then started seeing lots of imported no-name clones pop up at Amazon and other online marketplaces. It was patented – https://patents.google.com/patent/US5807036A/ – but expired a few years ago.
MikeE3
Thank you for the prompt response. I did see that as one of their new offerings. I was thinking you meant something to do with setup blocks and gauges.