Slowhand writes:
>
>I just read your article on fences in the newest wood working mag. Very
>nicely done.
>
>And after all these years I thought that biesemeyer was the *only* fence
>available.
>SH - duckin and hidin <g>
>
Yeah, me too at first. I sure wish my copy of that WWJ would arrive. I haven't
seen the piece in print yet and now you and a good friend of mine down in VA
have told me about it.
Charlie Self
"A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance
of being right." Thomas Paine
This was a great article - never saw so many fences
compared in a single article like this.
My situation is probably shared by many. I have a fairly
good open stand TS (AMT - out of business now). I have built
up the crappy fence that came with it. It operates OK - not
to .001 or even to .01 (I'm not even sure of 0.1) - but I have
gotten by with it for almost 15 years now. Many projects
have come out of it - most pretty acceptable I think.
To spend $200-$300 on a fence for this machine seems
absurd to me. I think I paid $325 for it (FOB Royersford PA).
What to do? Love to have that Biesmeyer on a 3 or 5 HP
Unisaw but would it improve my woodworking?
I don't think that putting a $300 fence on a $300-$500 machine
makes sense. Almost bought that Vega once on sale for around
$200 - maybe I should have.
My 2ç
Lou
loutent asks:
>My situation is probably shared by many. I have a fairly
>good open stand TS (AMT - out of business now). I have built
>up the crappy fence that came with it. It operates OK - not
>to .001 or even to .01 (I'm not even sure of 0.1) - but I have
>gotten by with it for almost 15 years now. Many projects
>have come out of it - most pretty acceptable I think.
>
>To spend $200-$300 on a fence for this machine seems
>absurd to me. I think I paid $325 for it (FOB Royersford PA).
>
>What to do? Love to have that Biesmeyer on a 3 or 5 HP
>Unisaw but would it improve my woodworking?
>
>I don't think that putting a $300 fence on a $300-$500 machine
>makes sense. Almost bought that Vega once on sale for around
>$200 - maybe I should have.
How long have you had the saw? 15 years, you say. How long will you have it? If
you have no plans to change in the near future, it seems to me that one of the
lower cost but good fences would make such a difference in your saw use you
mightnevre consider changing. There are several in the article that are well
under the $300 mark, a couple, IIRC, about $200.
Keep a check out for used of any of the brands listed: if one doesn't show up
in a reasonable time, then go new. You really won't believe the difference in
accuracy and repeatability.
Charlie Self
"A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance
of being right." Thomas Paine
> How long have you had the saw? 15 years, you say. How long will you have it?
> If
> you have no plans to change in the near future, it seems to me that one of the
> lower cost but good fences would make such a difference in your saw use you
> mightnevre consider changing. There are several in the article that are well
> under the $300 mark, a couple, IIRC, about $200.
>
> Keep a check out for used of any of the brands listed: if one doesn't show up
> in a reasonable time, then go new. You really won't believe the difference in
> accuracy and repeatability.
>
> Charlie Self
Thanks Charles - that makes a lot of sense. If I REALLY was forced to
make a decision today, I would probably get a quality saw (Unisaw,
Powermatic, etc) with a quality fence. Figure I got 20 more years
to use it!
Again, great aricle...
Lou
lou responds:
>Thanks Charles - that makes a lot of sense. If I REALLY was forced to
>make a decision today, I would probably get a quality saw (Unisaw,
>Powermatic, etc) with a quality fence. Figure I got 20 more years
>to use it!
Once a saw is set up--whether contractor's or cabinet--the fence is the
dominant daily impression maker. Whether you've got a name saw or not, it is
well worth checking out the results with a good fence. See if you can locate
someone who has one of the fences in the article mounted and working. Get a
look at it in use, bring some wood (if you can) and make a few slices.
You will then either buy the new fence or force yourself to buy the saw that
has one of the top rated fences.
Someone probably needs to do a test on the really finicky fences like the one
from Taylor Designs. They are wonderful in their own ways too.
Charlie Self
"A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance
of being right." Thomas Paine
On 24 Apr 2004 07:12:09 GMT, [email protected] (Charlie Self)
wrote:
>loutent asks:
>
>>My situation is probably shared by many. I have a fairly
>>good open stand TS (AMT - out of business now). I have built
>>up the crappy fence that came with it. It operates OK - not
>>to .001 or even to .01 (I'm not even sure of 0.1) - but I have
>>gotten by with it for almost 15 years now. Many projects
>>have come out of it - most pretty acceptable I think.
>>
>>To spend $200-$300 on a fence for this machine seems
>>absurd to me. I think I paid $325 for it (FOB Royersford PA).
>>
>>What to do? Love to have that Biesmeyer on a 3 or 5 HP
>>Unisaw but would it improve my woodworking?
>>
>>I don't think that putting a $300 fence on a $300-$500 machine
>>makes sense. Almost bought that Vega once on sale for around
>>$200 - maybe I should have.
>
>How long have you had the saw? 15 years, you say. How long will you have it? If
>you have no plans to change in the near future, it seems to me that one of the
>lower cost but good fences would make such a difference in your saw use you
>mightnevre consider changing. There are several in the article that are well
>under the $300 mark, a couple, IIRC, about $200.
>
>Keep a check out for used of any of the brands listed: if one doesn't show up
>in a reasonable time, then go new. You really won't believe the difference in
>accuracy and repeatability.
>
>Charlie Self
>"A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance
>of being right." Thomas Paine
if you keep an eye on
http://www.biesemeyer.com/specials/index.htm
you can get some great deals on a great fence. I bought the fence
there and fabricated rails from locally purchased steel.
[email protected] (Charlie Self) wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Slowhand writes:
>
> >
> >I just read your article on fences in the newest wood working mag. Very
> >nicely done.
> >
> >And after all these years I thought that biesemeyer was the *only* fence
> >available.
> >SH - duckin and hidin <g>
> >
>
> Yeah, me too at first. I sure wish my copy of that WWJ would arrive. I haven't
> seen the piece in print yet and now you and a good friend of mine down in VA
> have told me about it.
>
> Charlie Self
> "A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance
> of being right." Thomas Paine
I was just reading that article last night. Great article - probably
the most fences I have seen in a single review.
Only thing was that it left me wanting more. I'm not a "align it to
0.001" kind of guy - but I would like to see some objective
measurement of the different fences as to how well they remain
parallel across their movement. Also something about how well they
hold parallel when the tail end has say 50 lbs of force applied.
Other piece of info I was looking for was if they have a way to adjust
their alignment.
Dan
http://www.woodworkersjournal.com/
Greg Millen wrote:
> I don't know what the game is, but everyone so far has successfully avoided
> mentioning the *name* of the WWJ.
>
> Would you please reference it for the rest of us that would like to get it?
>
> thanks,
>
> Greg
>
> "Slowhand" <I'm@work> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>>I just read your article on fences in the newest wood working mag. Very
>>nicely done.
>>And after all these years I thought that biesemeyer was the *only* fence
>>available.
>>SH - duckin and hidin <g>
>
>
>
"Charlie Self" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>
> Yeah, me too at first. I sure wish my copy of that WWJ would arrive. I
haven't
> seen the piece in print yet and now you and a good friend of mine down in
VA
> have told me about it.
>
> Charlie Self
The article is on page 78. I glanced at it, but I've not gotten back that
far yet. Until now, I hadn't looked to see who wrote it.
I like articles that bring out alternatives tot he few heavily advertised
tools. If asked, I'd have guessed there was maybe 5 or 6 makers of fences.
I'd have never searched out the other brands.
Ed
[email protected]
http://pages.cthome.net/edhome
I don't know what the game is, but everyone so far has successfully avoided
mentioning the *name* of the WWJ.
Would you please reference it for the rest of us that would like to get it?
thanks,
Greg
"Slowhand" <I'm@work> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I just read your article on fences in the newest wood working mag. Very
> nicely done.
> And after all these years I thought that biesemeyer was the *only* fence
> available.
> SH - duckin and hidin <g>
Greg Millen asks:
>
>I don't know what the game is, but everyone so far has successfully avoided
>mentioning the *name* of the WWJ.
>
>Would you please reference it for the rest of us that would like to get it?
Oops. Bad habit. It's Woodworker's Journal.
Charlie Self
"A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance
of being right." Thomas Paine
I've got a fence by a company named Voss that I don't think is made anymore.
It's their Evolution I fence. Even though it's a little known brand it's an
incredible fence. The accuracy is just astounding and it is very convenient
and easy to use. I would never trade it in for anything else.
--
Jonny Durango
http://www.soundclick.com/ratcitymusic.htm
"Of course the people don't want war. But after all, it's the leaders of the
country who determine the policy, and it's always a simple matter to drag
the people along whether it's a democracy, a fascist dictatorship, or a
parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can
always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have
to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for
lack of patriotism, and exposing the country to greater danger."
-- Herman Goering, Hitler's Reich-Marshall, at the Nuremberg trials after
WWII.
"Slowhand" <I'm@work> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I just read your article on fences in the newest wood working mag. Very
> nicely done.
>
> And after all these years I thought that biesemeyer was the *only* fence
> available.
> SH - duckin and hidin <g>
>
>