Reddit mentions of Wixey Digital Angle Gauge Type 2 with Magnetic Base and Backlight

A mitersaw is probably going to be less accurate/repeatable than a table saw. One thing you can do is get a angle gauge for your table saw so you can actually dial in the 45 degree angle, chances are the indicator on your saw is off and causing the issue not the fact that you're using a table saw. The next thing I'd suggest is a sled for your table saw, which is pretty easy to make... if you're doing 45s for things like frames a sled like this would be useful as well.

It has 4.10's so I'll have to swap (or pay someone to swap) the front gears to match. I mocked the axle up in the Jeep with perches just sitting on top and measured all the angles with an angle finder.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00T6YZ0K6/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Then I pulled it out and welded it up.

try one of these digital angle gauges. I bought a cheaper version of this (about $15 iirc) from HF and it has saved me hours of headache. I've used this on a cheap jobsite saw and managed to get perfect 90 degree cuts every time.

Hard to say for sure without knowing his shop, so you'd probably want to try to scope out any recommendations for specific stuff to see if he already has something similar before you buy.

A good suggestion that I think always works well for any budget is to go to a local hardwood dealer and just pick out a selection of interesting exotic lumber, any woodworker will always appreciate getting cool woods to use in their projects.

If you want to have some ideas for stocking stuffers / tools though I'll list some cool things that I think are not super common that I enjoy owning or make my life easier.

Tiny-T Pocket rule

6" precision t rule

A really nice miter gauge

Router setup bars

A nice marking knife

Marking gauge

Magports

Tapeboss

Grr-ripper

Dozuki & Ryoba

Alexa (Alexa, what is 5 and 3/8 times 16... Alexa set reminder for 30 minutes to spray the second coat... Alexa order shop towels... etc, it's actually really useful, and it plays music too)

Shop apron

Quick sanding strips

Digital Angle Gauge

Digital Height Gauge

Anything from Woodpeckers is pretty much guaranteed to be great, albeit kinda pricey

This is a really solid starter kit. Regarding Turn Left at Orion-- it is a good reference book, but I find myself using the mobile app "Sky Safari Pro" every night I get a chance-- it's a very easy and intuitive app to find objects in the sky and get detailed information on each. When you find an object and click on it, it will tell you its exact coordinates in the sky... when paired with something like a Wixey Inclinometer:

https://www.amazon.com/Wixey-WR300-Type-Digital-Backlight/dp/B00T6YZ0K6/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_469_t_0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=F5YD2EXBRDSNZF1R10JS

...It makes it very easy to find things. As long as the Wixey is calibrated properly, you just adjust the telescope's inclination readout on the Wixey to match the inclination of the target object on the app, and then simply rotate the telescope to the general area of sky you need to be in. The app can also serve as a map for doing "star hopping". (Make sure to have some clear red tape to cover the bright green lighted screen, otherwise it can hurt dark adapted eyes).

The Z8 or AD8 are much better, solid choices over the Orion. You're an awesome wife! I asked my wife for a telescope for Valentine's and she got me one.... I wound up getting crazy obsessed and now have 5 telescopes. i hope you can enjoy the hobby with your hubby!

Clamps are important, and when it comes to clamps never buy an odd number. Get a mix of different types: quick grips are great for quickly clamping things together one-handed; f-style clamps are great for their reach and pressure, and pipe clamps are wonderful for their length flexibility and pressure. Down the line, consider panel clamps, band clamps, corner clamps and parallel clamps.

Get a speed square and a framing square. For the table saw, consider a digital relative angle finder like this. Get a tape measure and research how to use it effectively (eg why is the tab on the end loose). Learn how to mark wood accurately with a pencil, and then learn how to do it with a knife.

Get a set of inexpensive chisels and a mallet. Get a cheap block plane. Get a combination square. Get a shop vac and make sure your tools can connect to it.

Safety is of course top priority. Get good quality eye protection, respirator (even when using dust collection) and hearing protection (routers and planers are loud). Wear them every time.

For around the shop, make sure you put everything on casters because that perfect shop design you make on paper won't work in practice. Add more outlets and lighting. Build a good flat level workbench.

Just a few thoughts from someone who's been doing it for fun for over a decade. Not necessarily the right way for everyone, but those are what I wish someone had told me when I first started.

There's 14 sections, they were 3/4" wide at the bottom and were angled at 12.9° (360° / 28 surfaces = 12.86°). I stuck my digital angle gauge on the table saw blade and tilted it until it read 12.9°.

After it was glued up, I rounded the outside on a benchtop belt sander and the inside with a drum sander chucked in a drill press. I really wish I owned my lathe then, it would have drastically sped up the process.

You can get digital angle finders pretty cheap that are incredibly accurate. I use one like this to set precise angles on my table and miter saws all the time.

https://www.amazon.com/Wixey-WR300-Type-Digital-Backlight/dp/B00T6YZ0K6

Buy an inexpensive angle gauge at Home Depot (digital is better but costs more). Place on jack stands. Remove brake caliper and bracket, but leave one lug nut on tight. Place the magnetized portion against the rotor. Note the angle of the rotor. Do all the work and put the angle gauge back on and adjust the strut bolts until you get close to the original angle. Do the same thing the following week when you do the struts. This will get you close to the same ballpark each time. Then get a real alignment.

https://www.amazon.com/IRWIN-Tools-Magnetic-Locator-1794488/dp/B005XUHKSM/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1499728247&sr=8-5&keywords=angle+gauge


https://www.amazon.com/Wixey-WR300-Type-Digital-Backlight/dp/B00T6YZ0K6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499728474&sr=8-1&keywords=angle+gauge

I looked at 5 or 6 different stores wanting one of these before I broke down and odered it on amazon. The home depot near me doesn't have much as far as precision jigs in general either.

https://www.amazon.com/Wixey-WR300-Type-Digital-Backlight/dp/B00T6YZ0K6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1512074427&sr=8-2&keywords=wixey

Wrap the back edge of the knife with tape and make sure your clamp is parallel.

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Use an angle cube to make sure you have a consistent angle through out the blade edge or you can use an app on a smart phone to zero and measure it. You can also use paper binder clips to make a moveable angle guide for more accurate angles throughout the knife's length. Here is my set up

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Use a marker on the blade edge to see your progress and where you are cutting or to get an idea of where your knife's blade angle sits. If you cuts are far from the edge, your angle is too small and you will have to remove more material if you want to get to the very edge. When you start cutting the edge it will start to form a burr that is very noticeable, then you can move on to finer grits. Just make sure that you do equal strokes on both sides to have an even bevel.

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And of course make sure you use honing oil on your stones to prevent plugging.

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If have an accurate common angle (20/25degrees) you can use a Lansky Turnbox to maintain the edge with a ceramic rod and quickly do some small repairs with the diamond rod. and it is easily portable.

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Hope this helps

ok I got this https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00T6YZ0K6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 and I'll give it a shot or I'll return the Ryobi I guess.

When's the last time you calibrated the saw? tighten the blade, made sure the fence is square, etc. Pick up a digital angle gauge which can help

They're challenging but not impossible. If you've done the brick pattern one and you are satisfied with it, I'd say that you could do the Q-Bert one. I think the two hardest things for me were accurate planning for material (I had another reply here that goes into more detail) and actually getting the confidence to start; once you're doing the work, you can constantly refer back to his videos and basically see step-by-step how to do the things, and the steps make a lot of sense.

The one piece of equipment I would say is a requirement for this is a magnetic angle measure for your table saw (I have this one and it works well). And an accurate and sturdy rip fence that doesn't wobble. Two. The two pieces of equipment I would say are requirements. I mean, I personally wouldn't attempt this without my benchtop planer, but it's totally possible to use hand planes and/or sanders.