Thanks to fred in the ToolGuyd forum, we learned that Woodpeckers is cranking out yet another one-time tool. This time they are manufacturing 6 different 45-90 stainless steel triangles for marking angles.
Right away, you’ll notice that instead of the small holes they usually have in their measuring tools, there are diamonds. Woodpeckers touts these diamond-shaped holes in the triangle as a better way to precisely mark your angle, and that they virtually eliminate parallax problems.
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Woodpeckers has mentioned eliminating measurement parallax before with some of their other tools, but what do they mean by parallax?
Parallax basically means that you see things differently depending on what angle you look at them. Measurement parallax results from trying to use your measuring device while looking at it from an angle that isn’t exactly perpendicular.
With parallax, your pencil might look to be perfectly lined up with a marking, but in reality it might be a little off.
By tracing one half of the diamond with your pencil, you get a chevron with the tip being the correct angle measurement, just like how your dad taught you how to make marks with a tape measure.
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There are two ways to mark angles with these triangles.
Woodpeckers has engraved a scale along the hypotenuse of each triangle, in 1° increments. To use this scale, line up the angle with the outside edge of the square corner. You know you’re using the triangle correctly when the 0° angle is resting along your reference edge.
The second scale consists of the aforementioned parallax-eliminating laser-cut diamond cutouts. The larger two triangles has three arcs of diamond-shaped cutouts, giving you a full range of angles in 1° increments. The smaller triangle only has the common angles of 0°, 22.5°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 67½° and 90°.
To use this second scale, you line up the angle with the inside corners of the square corner. Again, you know you’re using the triangle correctly when the 0° mark is aligned with your reference edge. The 0° cutouts help with alignment, assuming your workpiece has a straight-cut edge.
Woodpeckers also laser engraved both short edges of the triangles with either 1/16″ or 1 mm scales.
Each triangle is made from 16 ga stainless spring steel and has with a non-glare satin finish. Both sides are fully engraved with all the same markings.
Sizes and Prices
- 4-inch or 100 mm for $30
- 8-inch or 200 mm for $60
- 16-inch or 400 mm for $120.
- Set of 3 Imperial or Metric, for $200
The triangles are shipped in a wall-mountable MDF case.
As these are Woodpeckers One Time Tools, there is a short preorder window, ending Monday, May 16th, 2016. Woodpeckers expects for these 45-90 triangles to ship around September 2016.
Right now you can preorder from Woodpeckers. We expect that you will also be able to preorder them from Woodpeckers partners starting soon.
Nathan
so if I’m seeing this right – the triangles don’t have a ledge on one edge to keep square to the board. is that right?
Seems too nice not to have something like that
but still a nice point. The diamonds thing is somewhat true – but how small a pencil lead are you using for your markings?
Honestly this is probably one of the few woodpeckers tools I could get behind and I’d probably get the 8 inch. but the price is still a touch high , just a touch and I’d want it to have a ledge on the 0 reference side.
I might be odd in that desire though.
Steve
I had the same first reaction as Nathan: how do you reliably/repeatably align it to the work piece?
From their design of either aligning with the inner or outer edge I can understand why a lip (such as on their other triangles) wouldn’t work. I wonder how much of the presumed accuracy gain from the diamonds you’d be giving up through potential misalignment to the stock.
If it’s spring steel, maybe the 90deg corner flexes just enough so you can use the inner edge to register against the edge of the stock?
MtnRanch
The Alignment Accessory will be next month’s must-have One Time tool.
Hilton
This is your friend. $23 is a bargain.
http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?p=44624&cat=1,42936,42944
Nathan
it’s not spring steel though it’s plate SS – very rigid.
you know I could maybe see then putting a screw on edge guide. Now that I think about it another 2 minutes. This triangle is just as useful in the middle of sheet goods or mid board. which sometimes you need.
I’ll buy that – you don’t always have an edge reference point or alignment. but, I’d say often you do. would be nice to be able to do both for the costs.
Blythe M
They should machine a dovetail on both short edges and then have a piece of bar stock with the corresponding dovetail that could be slid on to reference and edge but also be easily removed or switched to the other side
Nate818
This would be easy to copy after buying one unlike their other tools.
BikerDad
16 gauge steel? Sorry, but that’s too light. I would want a thicker, ergo, more drop damage resistant steel.
KL
I’d generally agree but 16ga stainless is no joke. I agree w the first poster tho, needs a physical edge guide.
Michael
Looks like a good tool for many things. There is no one size fits all tool.
Joe G
Unlike most Woodpeckers products, it only costs 2-3 times what it should. Amazing!