Finding the best setup bars suitable for your needs isnt easy. With hundreds of choices can distract you. Knowing whats bad and whats good can be something of a minefield. In this article, weve done the hard work for you.
Reviews
1. Rockler Precision Brass Setup Bars-Master Set
Description
Trying to set your bit height or blade height with a tape measure can be an exercise in frustration. The graduations on the first six inches of your tape are often worn out, the first 1/4'' is obscured by the hook, and the wobbling of the hook can affect your accuracy. Therein lies the beauty of our Deluxe Brass Setup Bars. With an expanded range of eleven dedicated sizes from 1/8'' to 3/4'' in 1/16'' increments, you can save yourself a lot of squinting, and also minimize math errors from needing to stack bars. Of course, the bars can be stacked if needed to achieve sizes larger than 3/4''. No hands are requiredsimply set the bar on the table surface and raise the bit or blade to match. The dimension of each gauge is laser-etched into the brass and screen-printed onto the included molded case. Use the bars to check dados and rabbets, set up jigs and fixtures and much more! With convenience, accuracy and a large range of sizes, you can rest easy knowing that your setups are spot-on. Features: Solid brass machined to an accuracy of +/- 0.005'' Easy-to-read laser etched labels in both fractions and decimals Durable plastic case with molded high-density foam insert for protection2. Kreg PRS3400 Precision Router Table Set Up Bars, Set of 7
Feature
Set Up Bars come in a portable case with 1/8", 3/16", 1/4", 5/16", 3/8", 7/16" & 1/2" barsThe step on the top edge of each bar acts as a gauge to test the depth of your completed cuts
Bars are made from a soft aluminum which is designed to prevent damage to your router bit or saw blade if contact is made during setup
Unique design straddles the Router Bit or saw blade to allow for more precise height adjustment
Step on the top edge of each setup bar acts as a gauge to test the depth of your completed cuts
Step on the end of each setup bar used to test the fence depth of a table saw blade or Router Bit
Made from a soft aluminum designed to prevent damage to your Router Bit or saw blade if contact is made during setup
Description
Set Up Bars Come In A Portable Case With 1/8", 3/16", 1/4", 5/16", 3/8", 7/16" & 1/2" Bars And Can Be Used To Make Adjustments To Router Tables, Shapers And Table Saws. The Step On The Top Edge Of Each Bar Acts As A Gauge To Test The Depth Of Your Completed Cuts, While The Stop On The End Of Each Bar Is Used To Test The Fence Depth Of The Table Saw Blade Or Router Bit. Bars Are Made From A Soft Aluminum Which Is Designed To Prevent Damage To Your Router Bit Or Saw Blade If Contact Is Made During Setup.3. Whiteside Machine 9800 Brass Set Up Gauge Blocks
Feature
Square Gauge Blocks are a quick way to make many easy, accurate set-ups.A great way to make exact depth movement on plunge routers. On table routers, they're perfect for setting distance from the fence to the cutter, or for checking the bit height above the table.
Supplied in 1/8", 3/16", 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" squares blocks can be stacked to cover a wider range of sizes
Description
Whiteside Machine 9800 5 piece brass set-up gauge blocks x 2-1/2 long blocks are 1/8" 3/16" 1/4" 3/8" and 1/2" squares- may be stacked for wider range4. BL-123 Pair of 1" x 2" x 3" Precision Steel 1-2-3 Blocks
Feature
Precision ground. Case hardened.Cross-drilling design for extra strength and minimum weight.
Five 3/8-16 tapped holes are provided for clamping.
Description
Heat treated above 48 Rockwell "C"; .0001 to .0003 over allowance for nominal lapping. Squareness of all sides is within .0002 per inch.5. Machinist's Thin Parallel Bar Set - 10 Pair 1/8" X 6"
Feature
Our Part # ALL-54100Each parallel is 1/8" thick x 6" long with 2 holes
Includes 10 pairs of the following heights: 1/2", 5/8", 3/4", 7/8", 1", 1-1/8", 1-1/4", 1-3/8", 1-1/2" & 1-5/8"
Made from high quality tool steel- stress relieved against distortion, precision ground and hardened Parallel and accurate within +/- .0002" and made from high quality tool steel- stress relieved against distortion, precision ground and hardened
Description
Thin Parallel Set 1/8" 10 Pair 0.0002" Steel6. Whiteside 9810 Brass Set Up Gauges, 5 Piece Set
Feature
Brass height guages4-Inch long (1/8, 3/16, 1/4, 3/8, 1/2).
Description
Whiteside Machine Company has been in the router bit business for over 30 years providing customer with quality products while at the same time striving to achieve complete customer satisfaction. Several woodworking magazines have tested Whiteside versus the competition and selected Whiteside as the winner for best router bits available in the market. Whiteside Machine Company was founded in 1970 as a general purpose machine shop in the basement of Bill & Bobbie Whiteside's home. Located in Western North Carolina near the furniture manufacturing town of Hickory, the company was often involved in making repairs or special parts for the furniture and woodworking field. A strong commitment to customer problem-solving, a can-do attitude, and innovative ideas, along with a growing core of dedicated employees, helped the business evolve into a manufacturer of woodworking equipment and tooling. Primarily through repeat business and referrals, the tooling business continued to grow to meet a demand for quality production router bits as well as custom application tooling. Today, Whiteside Machine occupies a 40,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility and produces a complete line of solid carbide and carbide tipped router bits. Whiteside's quality, innovation, and customer commitment is still present in our superb product line, in the design of custom tooling to fill special customer requirements, and in the development of special machinery and tooling for our own manufacturing use. As always, Whiteside Machine is continuously striving to improve our product through new technology, improved production techniques, and ongoing research and development efforts; along with rigid quality control, vital customer feedback and extensive field testing. Whiteside Machine Company. Made in America. Family owned and operated. Committed to Quality. Come on - give us a try7. Rockler Precision Brass Setup Bars
Feature
Sold on AmazonDescription
Machined solid brass setup bars allow you to accurately set depth of cut, fence to cutter distance, material thickness and more without using calipers or tape measure. Features: Accurately machined to within .005" Set includes six 2-1/2" long bars measuring 1/8", 3/16", 1/4", 5/16", 3/8" and 1/2" square Can be combined for additional heights Accurate to +/-.005" Slightly oiled for protection Comes in protective plastic storage case Combine bars for additional heights; ie. stack 1/8" and 5/16" to get 7/16"8. 2 in 1 Router & Table Saw Step Gauge
Feature
2 in 1 design that allows you to set up the table saw and set the Router depth, using the same toolIdeal for setting up blade height on table saws and Router bits depth
Made of Aluminum with laser engraved marking for ultimate clarity and long lasting durability
Setup Router Blades: from 1/8" through 1" in increments of 1/16"
Setup Table Saws blade hieght From 1/8" to 2" in increments of 1/8"
Description
2 in 1 design that allows you to set up the cutting depth of table saws and Routers, using the same tool, eliminating the guess workRange for Table Saws 1/8" to 2" in increments of 1/8".
Range for Router from 1/8" up to 1" in increments of 1/16".
Made of one solid piece of 3 mm thick aluminum and laser engraved markings for ultimate clarity and extra long durability, a must for every wood working shop...
9. HFS Ultra Precision 1-2-3" Blocks 2pcs/pair , 0.0001" (Plastic Case)
Feature
Size within +/- .0001"Flatness and parallelism within .0001"
Squareness on all sides is 0.0003" per inch
Pairs are matched to a tolerance of 0.0001"
Used for set-up, layout and inspection jobs
Description
Product descriptionSize within +/- .0001"
Flatness and parallelism within .0001"
Accuracy and squareness on all sides within .0001"-.0002"
Pairs are matched to a tolerance of 0.0002"
Product application
Used for set-up. layout and inspection jobs
Product features
Has 23 holes with 5 holes tap to 3/8-16 threads for clamping and 18 untapped holes
Made of hardened tool steel and precision ground on all six sides
Cross drilling design allows efficient use of lower weight with maximum strength
Heat treat and hardness 56 to 60 RC
2 pieces per set
Weight: 2.1 Lbs
10. Bosch Deluxe Router Edge Guide With Dust Extraction Hood & Vacuum Hose Adapter RA1054
Feature
Precision fine adjustment control. works with following products: MRF01, VAC006, MRF23EVS, VAC021, 1618EVS, 1617, 1617EVSTB, 1617EVSPK, MRP23EVS, 1619EVS.Guides cut along the workpiece or up to 8" in from edge.
Easily converts into circle guide for making arcs and circles up to 32" in diameter.
Includes router guide, pivot plate, dust extraction hood, vacuum hose adaptor, attachment hardware.
1-year warranty