Delta 34-929 vs. POWERTEC 71142

Shopping for a new miter gauge? Compare the benefits of the Delta 34-929 and POWERTEC 71142 and make an informed purchase!

Let’s take a look at these two miter gauges: the Delta 34-929 and the POWERTEC 71142.

Features & Benefits

You can read more in our roundup of the best table saw miter gauges.

Angle Stops & Precision

Most miter gauges will have positive stops at common angles such as 45° and 90°. This ensures you are making precise cuts. Better miter gauges will have stops at more angles, and provide better precision.

The Delta has stops at 90°, 75°, 67.5°, 60°, 45°, and 30°. The POWERTEC has stops every 5° between 0° and 60°, plus 22.5°.

Fence

A fence attached to the miter gauge’s head helps steady the workpiece for more precise cuts. It may also have a stop attached to make repeatable cuts of the same length.

Both products have a 7”-long fence.

Bar Style & Size

You want to choose a miter gauge that fits your table saw’s miter slots, both in size and shape. Most miter slots are 3/4” wide and 3/8” deep, though there are variations. They can be either rectangular slots (with straight sides and bottom) or T-slots (with small indentations along the bottom edge that keep a miter gauge from slipping out). You can use a rectangular miter gauge bar in a T-slot, but not vice versa, since the T-shaped protrusions won’t fit.

The bars on both miter gauges have a width of 3/4” and a depth of 3/8”. The bar on the 34-929 has a length of 18 3/8”. The bar on the 71142 has a length of 17 3/4”. Both gauges have a rectangular-shaped bar and come with an adapter for T-slots.

Pros & Cons

Let’s take a look at some of the pluses and minuses of these products.

For the Delta:

Pros

Easily adjustable miter bar for a snug fit
Stop mechanism can be fine-tuned and stays accurate once set
Aluminum head is lightweight but sturdy

Cons

Angle stops may be off by half a degree or so out of the box, requiring calibration
Metal adjustment screws can scrape miter slots over time
On some saws (like the DeWalt 745) the head might catch on the edge of the table, requiring a nudge to slide it up and over
No fence included

For the POWERTEC:

Pros

Positive stops every 5° up to 60°
Nylon adjustment discs won’t scratch your miter slots
Supports both rectangular and T-slot miter slots

Cons

No fence included in standard bundle
Some customers report it can’t be adjusted wide enough for certain table saw miter slots
Shape of locking mechanism leaves a tiny bit of play

Comparison Chart

Below is a full side-by-side comparison of these products’ specs. You can view comparisons of the Delta 34-929 with other products

and comparisons of the POWERTEC 71142 with other products

	Delta 34-929	POWERTEC 71142

Bar Dimensions	3/4” W × 18 3/8” L × 3/8” D	3/4” W × 17 3/4” L × 3/8” D
Brand	Delta	POWERTEC
Weight	3 lbs	2.6 lbs
Bar Style	rectangular	rectangular
Fence Length	7”	7”
Stops	90°, 75°, 67.5°, 60°, 45°, and 30°	every 5° between 0° and 60°, plus 22.5°
T-slot Adapter
Pros	Easily adjustable miter bar for a snug fit Stop mechanism can be fine-tuned and stays accurate once set Aluminum head is lightweight but sturdy	Positive stops every 5° up to 60° Nylon adjustment discs won’t scratch your miter slots Supports both rectangular and T-slot miter slots
Cons	Angle stops may be off by half a degree or so out of the box, requiring calibration Metal adjustment screws can scrape miter slots over time On some saws (like the DeWalt 745) the head might catch on the edge of the table, requiring a nudge to slide it up and over No fence included	No fence included in standard bundle Some customers report it can’t be adjusted wide enough for certain table saw miter slots Shape of locking mechanism leaves a tiny bit of play
	Check Price	Check Price