Sometimes I wonder how technology changed our lives as it took care of every little problem of our life. I remember the days when my dad used wooden protractors in his little plumbings. But now these are all just memories since digital angle finders took over them all.
With the emergence of digital angle finders, the job is now too easy, too fun and too alluring. If you have decided to get one of them as your own, let me tell you one thing, finding the best digital angle finder in the market is not gonna be easy.
There are thousands of designs from hundreds of brands. But don’t you worry as we have got your back there. We have researched and now offering you the bests of the best digital angle finders of the market.
How Does a Digital Angle Finder Work?
Working with a digital angle finder is fun. But the tech behind it might not seem very fun to understand.
Angle finders use two hinged arms and an integrated protractor-like scale or digital device to read the angles of both inside and outside corners.
Now, all the digital ones have everything that an analog one has. But what makes it digital is a device inside the pivot where the two hinge arms are met.
When the arms are spread, various angles are created. The device recognizes the spreading and converts them to digital data. And matching the data to various preset logic levels, the readings are shown on the display.
Digital angle finders often incorporate magnets into the base that make them particularly useful for miter and bevel angles on various saw benches.
Best Digital Angle Finder
1. Bosch GAM 220 MF
If you have no worries about the price and if you are for the best digital angle finder in the market, Bosch GAM 220 MF might have the solutions for all your problems.
This versatile product is literally a jack of all trades. It will help you measure angles, calculate miters, levels. You can also use it as a protractor.
The device has a unique feature of memorizing the measurements. It will provide the same angle measurement in different areas of the job site. Thus speeding up your work.
The illuminated rotating flip display is bright enough to work in all lighting conditions. The display can show you from 0 to 220 degrees with high accuracy.
The robust housing with IP54 protection gave the tool all the durability it needs. It made the tool feel solid in your hand. The angle finder is water and dust resistant as well. So you can use the tool in literally any situation.
The tool is perfect for carpenters, remodelers, contractors etcetera. But anyone who has to measure angles in their work will find this tool handy.
This angle finder can only measure up to 220 degrees. That is one of the drawbacks. The tool is light in weight and yet feels very sturdy. Four double A sized lithium-ion batteries can serve you for quite a long time.
2. GemRed 82305
The Gemred 82305 has everything to become the best angle finder on the market. It offers you unique features and merged them nicely with real-life uses.
This is one of the most affordable angle finders in the market. Though it didn’t compromise much about its features. It has a combination of ruler and protractor which ensures easy measuring.
The durable stainless body provides the tool with a premium look. The steel is coated and thus keeps the dust away and ensures years of use. The metric readings printed on both side of the steel arms helps to get the measurement on the go.
The digital display of the tool has an etched mechanism that provides lifetime clear reading. The display has a resolution of 0.1 degree which is decent when you compare it with the price.
The tool offers you easy use with only two buttons. You can ‘zero’ your reading at any instant and continue your reading from the base again.
The tool is suitable for adjusting angles of the table saw, compound miter saw, band saw, vehicle maintenance, drawing etcetera.
This tool spares you from buying rulers since it has one built in. The steel ruler lets you measure 7 inches easily. But, the problem is, the steel arms catch scratch since they rest and move on each other.
3. General Tools 822
This specific angle finder from general Tools might seem just like the previous one from Gemred. Actually, there are no significant differences in their looks. But when we go deeper into specifications, the differences become prominent.
The tool is a combination of a steel ruler and an angle finder. The digital protractor has ‘lock and reverses’ feature, so you can lock your reading at a point and can go back as you need. This feature is useful for fast and easy measurements.
The angle finder can measure full 360 degrees. The hinge mechanism enabled it to do that. This is definitely one of the most significant features of this tool. And to support 360-degree measurement, it has a bright LCD display.
The tool supports the ‘zeroing at any point’ feature. The ability to measure inside, outside and in reverse made it a tough competitor in the market.
This angle finder is ideal for framing, custom furniture building, stair and patio construction. flooring, tiling and many woodworking, carpentry and contractor needs in the shop and in the field.
Unlike the angle finder from GemRed, the ruler of this tool will help to up to five inches which were seven in the former. The LCD will make you suffer in the dark since it has no backlight.
4. General Tools 828
This angle finder from General Tools is unique in looking and has features that will make you forget about your budget. This is one of the best angle finders out there that you can easily afford.
It has an interesting sliding arm, made of commercial grade steel and is T-bevel in shape. The ABS handle is impact resistant and has the digital protractor within it.
The outlook of the tool seems lousy as it has 5 different buttons for 5 jobs. The buttons let you do on-off the device, zeroing, flip the display and stuffs that you will find in the manual. The steel locking knob on the top of the moving hinge lets you lock the angle on the swing.
The tool has another unique feature that many other angle finders in the market lack. The tool shuts itself off automatically when it stays idle for a long time. The feature increases the battery life and thus prolongs the use of the device.
The tool is specially designed for the woodworks. It is ideal for measuring, storing and transferring inside and outside angles when building cabinetry, furniture, and picture frames.
The stationary arm has a pointy arm that may cause you some trouble. Be careful while handling. The device has an LCD display that is okay in daylight, but not suitable in the dark. And since it has a moving arm, the efficiency decreases overusing.
5. Wixey WR300
The Wixey WR300 is a digital angle gauge that uses a whole new concept for measuring angles. Unlike the angle finders, this tool does not have any moving arms. Instead, it uses the deviation of the magnetic field for the measurement purpose.
The device is made of aluminum extrusion with strong magnets fitted in the base. The tool is very tiny and fits your pocket just fine.
Now, as mentioned above, the LCD displays of the other angle finders didn’t have any backlight. Guess what, this angle gauge from Wixey has an LCD display and it has a backlight. Hence the display is easy to read and doesn’t hurt your eyes in low lights or no light conditions.
The tool has a wide range of use in Mitre saws, table saws, planner fences, tilting angle plates, angle tables and etcetera. This tool is useful when you need to move something from an angle to another.
The calibration of the tool is very easy. You just have to place it in a magnetic surface and press the reset button. The body of the device is made of plastic. It made the device very fragile. And the bright backlight of it reduces the battery life. But that won’t be anything to worry about since the battery can be easily replaced and they are not that costly.
To get ideas about this tool from WIxey, you can check out this video from YouTube.
6. Neoteck LCD
If you ask me how good an angle finder can really be, I will suggest you take a look at this particular tool from Neoteck. This is a combination of all great features an angle finder can possibly offer.
This digital angle finder has a permanent magnet on its base. And you guessed it right, it does not have any moving steel arms.
It has the capability to measure whole 360 degrees. The measurement of relative angles and tight spots angles was never been this much fun. Just stick it to the metal surface and you will get the reading you asked for.
The LCD display shows you precise and accurate readings sacrificing only ±0.2 degrees at most. The LCD has a backlight as well. Like I told you, it compromised nothing.
The tool is powered by two AAA sized batteries. The display goes off after three minutes of operation. This gives the tool a decent battery backup.
The tool has its use in metal workshops and all cutting tools. If you are going to work with a circular or straight saw, this is the tool you need to buy in the first place.
The plastic body is rigid and water resistant. But the build quality is not rigid. The small and tight structure makes it convenient to carry. And also the operation is easy since it does not have too many buttons on it.
7. AccuRemote Digital Electronic
The AccuRemote Digital Electronic is one of the best magnet based angle finder in the market. This tool looks like the others of this type. But it does three different jobs for you while the others do just one. This tool is a combination of a relative angle finder, a protractor, and a bevel gauge.
Three magnets are embedded on three sides of the cube-shaped box. Thus making it easier to attach it on any surface of a steel object.
The super large LCD display covers 60% of the front side. That’s big enough to fit big digits to give you more clear reading. The display provides you with a high degree of accuracy with a satisfactory resolution.
The tool allows you to measure the whole 360 degrees of relative angle. It can measure relative bevel and tilt with a fair degree of accuracy. The interesting thing is, there is no switching button to shift one measuring mode to another. The detects the movement and understand what’s going on and what to measure.
This tool is widely used in workshops with circular saws, straight saws, wood shaper etcetera.
The built-in 9V battery can serve you for a long 250 hours. The display can be flipped in any direction for better viewing. And of course, you can zero your reading at any instant.
8. 7434 AccuMASTER
The 7434 AccuMASTER is a combination of class and expertise in what it does. The tool offers you two different services and is equally good at both of them.
The tool can measure both relative angle and tilt gauge. The strong magnetic base of it firmly attaches to saw tables, fences, blades, and any other metallic surfaces. The magnets are on all three sides. So you can always keep the display facing you.
Now, for the display, it has a large, super bright stay glow to display that stays on as long as you’re using it. The bright display ensures perfect visibility in any lighting condition and increases usability.
The tool took the accuracy to a whole new level. It has MEMES Sensor that gives it better accuracy along with better battery life. Two AAA-size batteries powers up the tool.
The tool is useful in any beveling, woodworks, steel works etcetera. The working field is increasing every day. So, you can’t tell actually when you are gonna need an angle finder. So why not keep one in your toolbox already?
The AccuMASTER 7434 has certified IP54 dust and water resistance. And like other great angle finders in the market, it has battery saving auto shut down feature when it’s not in use. For the protection, it has a protective case with belt loop. That certainly increased the durability.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Digital Angle Finder
Display
Of course, the display is the first thing to consider. The best digital angle finders have LED or LCD with back light. The LEDs will draw more power and certainly have the brightest display.
Meanwhile, the LCDs need less power to run and have displays that you will find trouble to check in the dark. And then, the backlights come in handy.
Range
The highest an angle finder can find is 360 degrees, of course. No angle finder will help you beyond that. it’s not mechanically possible.
Since the range is 360 degrees, the best angle finders are capable of measuring up to the fullest. But, with the increase in range, the more mechanically complex the tool becomes and the higher the price goes.
Resolution
It’s the smallest unit the tool can measure. This is a consideration for your precise and reliable measurements. A tiny deviation from the optimum might make you regret later. Measure appropriately and for that be choosy about the resolution of your tool.
Accuracy
This option doesn’t need any introduction. You obviously want absolutely accurate measurements. But, here’s a little problem. No device will get you a hundred percent accurate results. But you can get close to that.
The best angle finders can get you up to 99% of the actual value. That’s more than enough to work on with. An accuracy is an option that you don’t wanna sacrifice.
Zeroing at any range
This is an interesting and important feature that your angle finder must have. Suppose you’re working with a wooden box. The box has a complex edge with two angles. The first angle is 55 degrees and the latter is of 35.
How would you accomplish that? Well, that’s easy when your angle finder has this particular feature. You first reach the angle 55 degree and then set the tool to zero. Then you spread the arm until you reach 35 degrees.
You can also do that in two steps. But, that won’t give you the satisfaction that a special feature of your tool will offer.
How to Calibrate a Digital Angle Finder?
During rough weather or due to any kind of misuse, your digital angle finder may not work as you expect it to do. The angles won’t be accurate and your whole project may fail due to this. That’s when you need to calibrate your tool.
To calibrate a digital angle finder, all you need is a carpenter square. Carpenter squares have three edges, one of them is of 90 degrees. So the other two edges are of 45 degrees.
Now, leave the square on a plane surface and set the angle finder at one of the edges. When the two arms are placed accurately, reset the tool by pressing the ‘zero’ button. It will set the reading to zero.
Now squeeze the arms and align the two arms until the reading shows 45 degrees. After reaching there, press the reset button again. There you go. The calibration is complete. You can double check the calibration by measuring the right angle of the square.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. When do I calibrate the tool?
Ans: The tool needs to be calibrated when the readings are not zero at the initial.
Q. The display is dimming. What’s wrong?
Ans: Have a check on the batteries. You might wanna replace them.
Q. Which one do I choose? The ones with the arms, or the ones with the magnetic base?
Ans: The functions of the two are a little different. The first ones measure simple angles whereas the latter measures relative angles. It depends on your work which one you need.
Q. The angle finders cost more for features I don’t need. Is it worth paying for them?
Ans: You don’t buy a tool for the present only. You don’t know what you are going to do tomorrow. Maybe you will need that feature you don’t need now and you won’t have the time to buy another angle finder. So, plan ahead.
Conclusion
A perfect digital angle finder might be the only tool that your toolbox is missing. The one tool that can speed up the work you do, save precious time that you can spend with your family later. The one tool that makes your workplace complete.
Digital angle finders are a need of time. You have to follow the trends to increase the efficiency the world needs now. Sticking with the obsolete ones won’t offer you any better unless you want to be the guy everyone mocks about.