Bosch DWM40L Miter Finder 17-Inch Digital Protractor : Amazon Sales Rank: #91334 in Home ImprovementBrand: BoschModel: DWM40LNumber of items: 1Miter finder/digital protractor/angle finder toolFour measuring tools in one--angle finder, compound cut calculator, protractor, and levelAluminum housingIncludes 1 combination measuring tool and 3 AA batteries17 by 2-1/2 inches; 2.6 pounds; 1-year warranty
Bosch DWM40L Miter Finder 17-Inch Digital Protractor Review
Bosch has really broken ahead of the pack with their new miter finder/digital protractor/angle finder. The handiest thing, in our opinion, you can do with this tool is calculate miter and bevel angles for crown molding cuts easily and efficiently--using the molding spring angle and the corner angle as your input. It's also great for remodelers who often need to cut trim at odd angles to achieve a good fit. The tool's digital display is large and easy to read, and there's also a hold function that freezes the measurement. The finder also has an old-school leveler, so you know you're operating in pure horizontal reality. Plus, it fits lightly in your hand. Really, this is a very cool and unique tool, one we think finish carpenters and remodelers will find invaluable in their quest for quick, perfect fits. --Michael ShillingThe Miter Finder digital protractor/angle finder is a one-of-a-kind product that measures angles accurately and quickly. Its onboard electronic brain makes it the perfect complement to a compound miter saw. With the simple push of a button, the Miter Finder calculates exact miter and bevel angles for crown molding cuts, using the molding spring angle and the corner angle as input. It's ideal for performing the following calculations: compound crown molding cuts, measuring exact trim cuts for remodeling, checking and transferring angles for remodeling, cabinet installation, counter installation, measuring roof angles, fitting up windows or doors, aligning wood forms for concrete pouring, fitting up of carpeting and parquet or tile floors, aligning and checking of banisters and rails, checking for correct fit-up to any angled surface, and much more. It features digital readout on both the front and back, and has a hold function to freeze the measurements.Bosch DWM40L Miter Finder 17-Inch Digital Protractor Customer reviews
Most helpful customer reviews123 of 125 people found the following review helpful.Quickly becoming indespensibleBy Todd J. NibloInitially when I looked at this tool, I thought that it was a bit pricey for a digital protractor. Now I find myself using this tool for framing, trim work, and saw alignment. It has been invaluable in checking miter gauges for accuracy, you could use a protractor or speed square, but this is more accurate than a speed square and much quicker than either, especially if you need to make adjustments. This tool impressed me when I was checking alignment on my sliding compound miter saw. I wanted to verify its accuracy out of the box so I dialed into 90 / 0 degrees, the BOSCH protractor read 90.3, flipped it over and measured the other side of the blade and it read 89.7. Definitley much quicker than the conventional way, and you can easily use this with the table saw. Typically over time ( about 5 months now ) this tool reads between 0.0 and 0.1 accuracy, and like most scales you can check its accuracy and know what your margin of accuracy is. The back spring angle feature is very handy for crown molding, and for checking corners the back edge is rounded so as not to foil your reading in an inside corner measurement. This tool does so much more than I have mentioned, these are just tasks that I have used repeatedly and successfully. A carrying case would be nice, as this unit is nicely machined, it has a level built in which is handy and for quick checks, it saves holding two tools. So far, I am very satisfied with this tool.59 of 60 people found the following review helpful.This is a mind blower. What a toolBy Bob FeeserTo those of us, who are new to the molding world, in addition to accurately determining the angle in degrees to a tenth of a degree on anything you need a measurement on, it has this cool built in crown molding feature. First you determine the spring angle, (which is the angle the crown molding sits on the wall). With the tool in place you press the button, it memorizes the spring angle which is shown in degrees, and the letters SPR appear. Then place the tool on the corner where the molding is to be installed, it displays the corner angle in degrees, press the button again, the letters CNR appear. Simply press the button once again, and it automatically calculates the Mitre Angle to set your Mitre saw, and by pressing the button once again, it gives you the bevel angle to set saw to as well. Lay your molding flat on your COMPOUND mitre saw and cut perfect moldings every time. If your saw has dead on accurate gauge settings according to the scales, then all you have to do is dial it in, and cut away, if not this Bosch unit will give you the ability to set your saw accurately as well. Another reason why this tool is so important, is that a lot of walls are not really set at a true 90 degrees, so a detent setting on your saw, at the common crown molding setting, is not always the proper angle. It is great for setting up any kind of saw. All of these things can be done with a square, bevel gauge, and protractor, but not with the ease, time savings, and micro accuracy of the Bosch. (Not that we need a tenth of a degree to cut a molding.) The unit is actually 17 inches long. The inexpensive, optional extension available for this unit, will increaase your usability, and give you the capability of measuring on shorter surfaces. One other feature is that it has a hold button, so if you are on a scaffold, or ladder, and reaching for a measurement, you can hit the hold button while in place, and it will hold the display of the measurement, even if you bump it to a new setting. All in all the tool is super well engineered. After hearing everybody raving about it, and checking how high it was in the Amazon sales rank, I decided to give it a try. I am glad I did. What a universal tool. Precision made. Lightweight, since it is housed in Cast Aluminum, and built for strength and durability, even in a harsh environment. The directions say, if you get it wet from submerging it in water, it must be dried out, before it gives you accurate readings again. You have to respect that kind of durability. One final note, it does not come with a carrying pouch. It has built in bubble levels, both for vertical and horizontal at the same time, but I would treat this with more respect than an aluminum level you may throw in the back of the truck. Therefore the Yellow Smart Tool carrying bag from MD Building Products makes a good addition to your purchase. It is a longer carrying case than the Bosch, but it fits it in every other dimension like it was custom built for it. It showed up when I added the Bosch to the shopping cart, as an item that others most frequently bought with it. It is a profit maker in the time it will save, and the quality of the product it helps to produce. This product, brings the task into the 21st Century. I like the old ways, but just think in 50 years, this will be the old way. :-)46 of 49 people found the following review helpful.Carpenters, Welcome to the 21st Century!By A CustomerI purchased the Bosch DWM40L Digital Protractor/Angle Finder to install baseboard, shoemolding, and crownmolding in an older home. Naturally, there wasn't a square corner in the entire project. The Bosch tool made exact measurements for calculating miter angles for each piece of trim. You take its measurements and calculations and then transfer them to your compound miter saw. Nothing could be easier. It took hand fitting and guess work out of the job. This a fabulous invention and it's miles ahead of the older, but timeless tools such as a square, bevel, and protractor. It also doubles as a carpenter's level. This Bosch tool is also extremely well built and cosmetically pleasing--its heft feels good in your hands. My toolbox is now in the 21st Century--what would my Grandfather think? He'd probably say that I have it too easy now that I own the Bosch DWM40L Digital Protractor/Angle Finder. Sorry Grandpa.See all 65 customer reviews...Bosch DWM40L Miter Finder 17-Inch Digital Protractor
