Replies

1. 
   Napie | Jun 18, 2008 02:44am | #1

   Vega makes a pretty good one.

   http://www.vegawoodworking.com/table%20saw%20fences.html

2. 
   Knotscott | Jun 18, 2008 04:00am | #2

   The last fence comparison I saw was from Wood Mag....maybe 3-4 years ago. They rated the Biese Commercial number one IIRC. I think the Vega fared well too...possibly best value? Regardless, the Vega is excellent IMO, and has a great microadjust feature. It's also easy to install, easy to use, and fairly rugged.

   The Delta T2 appears to be an awfully good bang for the buck to me. ~ $150 at Lowe's and goes on sale under $130. Steel "Biese Lite" design.

   
   

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   Edited 6/18/2008 11:39 am ET by Knotscott

3. 
   forestgirl | Jun 18, 2008 06:50am | #3

   If I had kept my old Jet contractor saw, I probably would have tried a MuleCab fence on it.  Like you, a Bies was a little out of my price range (and my saw wasn't good enough to justify the cost).  The fence from Mule Cabinetmakers comes with a 90-day satisfaction guarantee, so if you use it and don't like it, you can send it back.  40" fence is $240.00, as seen here.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 
   
4. 
   [email protected] | Jun 18, 2008 07:49am | #4

   Which fence does your saw currently have?

1. 
   PenobscotMan | Jun 20, 2008 03:13am | #11

   The current fence is a UniRip. It's not bad for rough work but is frequently out of alignment and difficult to make fine adjustments on. For example, I'm making extension jambs for Andersen windows and trying (with the dado blade) to make a positive projection to fit the dado cut into the factory jambs. I'd like a nice sliding fit, and I'm either too tight or too loose. I'm probably triying to work with tolerances of less than 1/64, and the fence isn't up to that task. But the saw (Delta Contractor's) only cost me around $500, so paying more than $300 for a Biesemeyer doesn't seem like a good idea.I will check out the options you guys have suggested. Thanks to all who responded.

1. 
   dougmeyer | Jun 20, 2008 05:10pm | #12

   That is the problem the fence often can cost more then a cheaper saw. As for the Vega last I looked it was a expensive as the Beisemeyer. (IF it was cheaper I would have replaced my Beisemeyer with it) I just think that if you are going to spend that kind of money you may as well get the best you can for the money you spend. So IF you spend that kind I would suggest going with the Vega.

   Doug

2. 
   [email protected] | Jun 20, 2008 09:09pm | #13

   Look into the Delta T2 fence for your Contractor's saw.  It is essentially the Biesemeyer Home Shop fence in Delta Gray.  Lowes used to have them for around $180. 

   I had the T2 on my Contractor's saw, and really liked it.  It was easy to adjust, accurate, and stayed parallel.  The only reason I took it off was that I got a great deal on a Powermatic fence, from one of the guys at work, that has the rails for 24-inches left, and 60-inches right.  The T2 only had 12-left, and 27-right. 

   My brother now has it mounted on his old Craftsman saw, and loves it.   

   So far as adjusting the fence;  None of the ones I have used, and I have used all the major ones, are easy to do fine adjustments on.  Try using stop blocks on the front rail.  Make a test cut, decide which way you need to move the fence, and then clamp a piece of scrap onto the rail butted up against the "T" on the fence before you release it.  Then use business cards, as shims between the "T", and the scrap to fine tune the adjustment.  It may take a few tries to get things dead on. 

   If you are getting deflection of the fence, try putting a clamp on the back rail to lock the back of the fence so it can't move out. 

   I just checked the Lowes web page.  Seems the T2 is only $135.

    

   Edited 6/20/2008 11:15 pm ET by Jigs-n-fixtures

3. 
   MKenney | Jul 02, 2008 04:29am | #15

   For your current problem, there might be a less expensive solution. For example, you could place a piece of paper on your fence between the blade and fence. Run your workpiece across the dado. Remove the piece of paper and run your workpiece again. The dado will be wider by the thickness of the piece of paper. You could try different thicknesses of paper or some other material until you get the fit you're after.This is my personal signature.

5. 
   cmiltier | Jun 18, 2008 01:24pm | #5

   Keep an eye on ebay. I picked up a Biesemeyer fence complete with rails for under one hundred dollars. It was new in an unopened box. Sometimes you can get a great buy.

6. 
   Gnome | Jun 18, 2008 01:36pm | #6

   I put a Mulecab fence on a Craftsman contractor saw and I am very happy with it. It cuts great and the t-slots are an added plus. It's well worth the money to overcome the frustration of a sloppy fence. I couldn't afford to upgrade to a fine cabinet saw, so the fence upgrade was the only option.

7. 
   jlsmitty | Jun 18, 2008 03:52pm | #7

   I have a Unisaw with an Incra fence installed, also installed a router table on the saw. I believe this is the best thing that I have done in my shop as I have a great saw fence and also all the features of the router fence and all the Incra templates. It just takes a minute to turn the fence around on the saw, I love it.

   Smitty

8. 
   Tony Z | Jun 18, 2008 09:27pm | #8

   I have a Vega Pro on my old Grizzly cabinet saw.  Its like the old Timex commercial--takes a licking and keeps on ticking.  It holds alignment well and locks down well and is one of those items you never second guess.  I would buy another Vega in a hearbeat!

   T.Z.

9. 
   Don01 | Jun 19, 2008 07:27pm | #9

   I have an Accusquare (Mulecab) and a Redline. I retired the Acusquare and use the Redline exclusively. I like the attachments that are available for the Redline. I will likely be ordering the Reline bandsaw fence this fall.
   http://store.thesawshop.com/catalogue/default.php
   Both fences are simple to install and use, affordable, accurate and adaptable for attaching jigs, clamps hold downs etc.

   Don

1. 
   dougmeyer | Jun 19, 2008 07:42pm | #10

   I miss my old Vega, The Beisemeyer is nice but the Vega was nicer.

   Doug

10. 
    DonC | Jun 21, 2008 09:41pm | #14

    I remember reading a review. The Vega could take a really hard perpendicular whack and still remain square. All other fences that were reviewed failed this test. Vega also has an intergel push block device that slides on the top of the fence. It not only pushes but applys downward pressure too.