TESTED: Infinity lock mitre gauge

Review and photos: Damion Fauser

OK, I’m impressed. Seriously impressed. Lock mitre router cutters are invaluable for creating fast and strong mitre joints with increased glue surface area and mechanical advantage – once the cutter has been dialled in. Dialling in these cutters requires absolute and precise symmetry in both the cutter height and the fence settings, both of which are influenced by the thickness of the stock being worked. And that has historically been the challenge with these cutters – often requiring many frustrating test cuts in valuable test material to achieve the required results.

I’m officially calling problem solved. This device from Infinity Tools is ingenious in its simplicity. It is a diminutive anodised aluminium gauge that has three key design features. Firstly, there are two magnets set into the face for securing the gauge to the router cutter. Secondly, there are two positive registration elements relief cut into the face – a 45° alignment edge and a central indexing key. These two features combine to make registering the gauge onto your cutter easy, fast, precise and secure.

Finally, there is a clear and accurate, contrasting white setting scale on the two exterior edges. Once you’ve marked the centre of the thickness of your stock, you line this up with the horizontal scale to set cutter height and with the vertical scale to set the fence.

I did a test cut in some 19mm stock, and that’s all it took to convince me that this tool is accurate. This first cut resulted in a clean and flawless assembled joint, with a positive and seamless lock. Importantly, it was also perfectly symmetrical, as evidenced by the sharp knife-edge corner at the intersection on the two elements – no overlaps, no flats, just a clean and crisp knife-edge.

For the record, I used a Torquata lock mitre cutter, and the Infinity website states that these gauges ‘work with most brands of locking mitre bit (we haven’t tried them all)’.

Two sizes are available. The smaller one at $90 allows for stock thickness from 9.5mm to 19mm, the larger from 15.9mm to 30.1mm. As a set they cost $160.

This is one of those insanely clever devices that has solved a tricky woodworking situation. If you work with lock mitre cutters, then as far as I’m concerned these gauges are an absolute no-brainer. You’ll likely recover your purchase expense the very first time you use it.

Review gauge and cutter provided by Timbecon, www.timbecon.com.au