What is Reddit's opinion of General Tools Digital Angle Finder Ruler #822 - 5" Stainless Steel Woodworking Protractor Tool with Large LCD Display?

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Out of curiosity, would something like this work? I can get a square at Home Depot this weekend probably but it seems like that kind of angle detector might be useful in more situations. Not worth it if it wont work for this though

Definitely go with the pine over the MDF. That stuff is just junk. Mitering baseboard can be a pain because your walls are seldom ever square. You need to learn how to cope the corners in if you want to have the best looking job. That said, you can indeed use the squared stock with butt joints. Just be aware that if the corners are not square you may still get some gaping. I'd invest in a digital angle finder gauge. https://smile.amazon.com/General-Tools-822-Digital-Finder/dp/B00563TM32/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1504089848&sr=8-5&keywords=angle+finder to get an accurate measurement of the inside angle. Then you can get a better miter or butt joint. The problem with the square stock is that it's a dust collector since it's just a flat top. You can stack a molding on top of it later though if you decided it just isn't working to make it look more like a traditional baseboard. Squared trim will be a more modern or contemporary look compared to the colonial style trim to linked to.

I think there's a really high chance that your miter saw isn't doing the angle you think it is, which is just a function of tools not being perfect. It could also be that your window trim isn't dead on 45 degrees. I would recommend trying something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/General-Tools-822-Digital-Finder/dp/B00563TM32

Set your miter saw to the angle based on an external tool, not the fence (unless you know for a fact your fence is dead nuts accurate). I had a huge problem doing this with some trim work until I started using an external guide instead of assuming the fence was right.

square posts are "traditional" for picket fences but it's easily doable w/ round posts and/or rails. just use google images and you'll see there are infinite variations in design. you can buy pre-drilled fence posts at most big box stores or buy a hole cutter and make your own.

to do mitres for square posts hold your rail up to the post and use an angle finder to find the proper cut.

this is intro to carpentry stuff. is this your first diy project?

A tool like this will do the trick: https://www.amazon.com/General-Tools-822-Digital-Finder/dp/B00563TM32/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=woodworking+angle+gauge&qid=1627405115&sr=8-5

Analog angle finders work well to.

Miter saw, square, angle finder(amazon) ........ slow down.

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edit: added angle finder and link

engineers protrator or something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/General-Tools-822-Digital-Finder/dp/B00563TM32

Agreed - what looks like 90 degrees but isn't? Every single corner in every house I've ever lived in.

digital angle finder

analog angle finder

 

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https://www.amazon.com/General-Tools-822-Digital-Finder/dp/B00563TM32
this may not be exactly what he's talking about, but it'll work