Had to pick between a $12 digital angle finder and a $50 magnetic one for a stair stringer job

Went cheap on the digital one and it worked fine for the first few cuts but started glitching out halfway through. Anyone else had luck with the magnetic ones holding up longer?

2 comments

2 Comments

kelly_craig8d ago

Ah, the classic "starts fine then glitches" special. Sounds like we're both living that "I saved twelve bucks but lost three hours of my life" lifestyle. My luck with digital tools is so bad that I half expect my tape measure to glitch out next. But yeah, I've heard the magnetic angle finders are built tougher, probably because they don't have a screen that decides to start showing hieroglyphics halfway through a cut.

rosebarnes8d ago

You make a good point about the screens going haywire, but I actually have to disagree a bit here. I've had way better luck with my digital angle finder than any manual one I've tried. The magnetic ones do feel tougher, sure, but the digital ones give me readings down to a tenth of a degree without me having to squint at a tiny bubble level or try to line up a needle. Plus mine has a hold button so if the screen does get glitchy I can lock in the measurement right away. Maybe I just got a decent brand instead of a twelve dollar special, but I wouldn't trade digital for magnetic now. What brand did you try that went all hieroglyphics on you?