Need upgrade fence for Craftsman 10" table saw.

[JNB]

I have a 10" Craftsman table saw with a 20" deep saw table (most others I have read about are 27" deep}. I need to replace the rip fence, as the head broke on the original fence. I have seen a number of different fence upgrades, but have yet to find one that will fit this narrower depth table.

Does anyone have any suggestions on where I might find an upgrade to fit my saw?

Has anyone on the forum already done such an upgrade on this size table saw with the narrow table?

Any help would be appreciated, as I am dead in the water without a usable fence.

Thanks in advance for any feedback!

 

[gungatim]

most aftermarket fences mount to the front of the saw only; the depth of the table is not relevant. A good (not great) less expensive to a Biesemeyer is the Jet fence. the fence itself is just aluminum square and can be cut to length with a hacksaw. Alternatively, a Unifence is completely adjustable for lenth as it has a sliding clamp to the main piece, again, no rear rail (good fences don't need 'em).

If you are wanting to spend less on a fence than what that saw cost, you're better off selling it and buying a new saw, unless you make a fence out of wood and clamps...

 

[drivesitfar]

JNB: some of the guys have parts of these old awesome Craftsman saws laying around they might be willing to sell or trade you for something. can you post up a few pictures of your saw and your broken fence so we can see which one you own?

also if 7 pictures in one post isn't enough and you have more make another post because we do like pictures on this forum.

also can you put a location in your profile and if you don't want to say the city then maybe a state or a location like i did with Pacific Northwest so maybe a member is close to avoid having to pay shipping?

Welcome to our forum and i hope you enjoy your stay

 

[woody 73]

see if this helps you out:

http://askwoodman.com/2012/09/24/diy-biesemeyer-fence/

 

[JNB]

Thanks for the awesome suggestions. I live in Houston, TX and since I am new to this forum, I may need some help in adding photos of my saw and broken fence, although now I see there is a link to add an image.

Note: I thought the fence needed to be mounted to both the front and rear of the table, as in the original setup. However, if that is not the case, perhaps I could still use one of the other fences I have seen.

I will take some pix and post them shortly.

If it were not for the fact that this saw belonged to my father, I might consider going with something different. I hate to spend a ton on a new fence, but from all that I have read about the upgrades, they are worth it.

 

[Rock knocker]

I would be nice to see a photograph of the saw, and to know the model number.

It would also be nice to know your budget. You could buy a Beismeyer of similar knock-off and replace everything on your saw. This is kind of spend, but it replaces the old semi unusable fences that came on some saws BITD.

You may be able to find parts or an vintage replacement on-line. A good place to look is the Old Working Machines web site ( www.owwm.org )

Here is my late fathers Sears 8" TS, with a Delta fence we installed in 1997. Some of the photographs are before I restored it this summer, and some are obviously after the resto.

We could probably better recommend a course of action if we knew what you have.

 

[retfr8flyr]

I don't know how much you want to spend on the fence but this is one of the best fences you can get and will fit about any saw. Incra has everything 10% off right now.

http://www.incra.com/product_tsf_lsts.htm

 

[foghorn1966]

Delta 36-t30 t2 fence if you can find one. Good bang for the buck. Have one to go on a saw after the holidays.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000H0R1S2/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[dale500]

No one has mentioned checking Sears Parts for the parts to repair or replace the original fence. Unless the saw is super old it may be an easy way to fix what you have.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Check round on the web, especially on YouTube. There are a few DIY fences that are pretty good.

The "Gold Standard" is Biesemeyer. They are good, but you have to ask yourself if they are really worth 3-5 TIME what you paid for saw new !

 

[Fugio]

Funny, I've been using my fence off my old 10" Craftsman saw (that I burned up and threw away) on the 1940's Montgomery Ward's Table saw I found in one of my dad's sheds. He says it was my grandfather's saw back in the day. Love this saw!

The fence was too long, so I just drilled a hole in the back and put in a bolt as a spacer. Works great! 2 years later, over Thanksgiving, I found the actual fence for the saw. Funny thing is, it's broken in the same spot and grandpa "fixed" it by welding half of a wrench to it.

I bet no one has a clue what I just said. No matter what you're thinking it loos like, I bet you're wrong. Sorry, my descriptive powers elude me tonight.

 

[JNB]

Thanks to all for the awesome suggestions!

Note to Drivesitfar and Rock knocker: I am having a little bit of difficulty uploading the pictures because I have a very slow computer and when I attempt to select the photos to upload it goes into a dark hole in cyberspace!?!?!?!

Please forgive the length of this post, but I am attempting to respond to several posts at the same time.

The model number of my saw is 113.240421 and it was manufactured 10/75. It belonged to my dad who is now deceased (miss him a lot for advice, chats, etc.). My goal is to upgrade the saw, and the difficulty I am having is in trying to decide which upgrade would suit me best for the money. I doubt I will choose the Biesemeyer even though I see from the many details it is probably the best on the market. I have located a

Vega U50 Table Saw Fence System: 36-Inch Fence

that I am considering purchasing. It is a bit pricey as well as others, but not as much as the Biesemeyer.

Note to dale500: I searched thoroughly all the Sears stuff and they have no information on this original fence, all information shows it and the parts are no longer available, and that was when I made the decison to search for other options. At the end of the day, what I am seeking is a much more precise setup that does not require double checking every measurement front and back to ensure the cut is square that is easy to install and won't send me into bankruptcy.

The Vega fence mentioned above is priced at ~$250.00. I have also found some older Delta and other higher end used fences, but the details are incomplete and not sure if the additional research will be enough to make a decision.

Note to foghorn1966: I have been considering the Delta fence and have found some online, but have not had ample time to research installation steps. Is that fence easy to install? Does it require front and rear mounting?

Note to retfr8flyr: Good suggestion on the Incra fence. I will research it. Does it have both front and rear mounting? Is it a precision fence in the category of the Biesemeyer style, i.e., quick setup and accurate?

Note to gungatim: Can you tell me more about the unifence? Is it a front mount only, accurate setup?

 

[JNB]

Did I fail to mention that I already feel like I have met a bunch of kindred spirits that share a love for woodworking and/or other hands-on skills?

Thanks to all for welcoming me into the forum. I appreciate all the suggestions thus far.

 

[rsanter]

What are your fabrication skills?
Can you weld,or,have a friend that can?
You can make a knock off,of the biesmeyer quiet easily

Bob

 

[404]

Unifence is front mount and is accurate. Has a funny shaped extrusion for the fence part that can be flipped around for different heights.

With some care and determination you can make a copy of a Biesemeyer type fence using the table saw you have now.

Part of the fun of having tools is using them to make more tools.

 

[gungatim]

here's a link to the fence I have, it's a Unifence with the T fence added on. The original fence was chopped into 3 pieces, sold 2 on ebay to pay for the T fence and kept the third. The short fence is used all the time for cutting tenons, dado's, etc. when you don't want to pinch wood between the fence and blade. That, in my opinion, is what makes the unifence so versatile,,,

http://www.ttrackusa.com/unifence.htm

 

[Rock knocker]

I couldn't locate that model in owwm.org

 

[retfr8flyr]

The link I posted will take you to the Incra site and they have videos for the fence. Yes, it has front and rear rails and is super accurate.

 

[JNB]

After finishing one of the tasks on the perpetual list, I finally had time to sit down and deal with the photos. I have attached same below if anyone is still interested in seeing them. The fence head is broken and it has been quite an interesting challenge to use the fence at all since it broke, but I have managed to limp along with the help of a few clamps. Unfortunately, even with clamps, the fence does not maintain a true vertical position without some help.

Does anyone have ideas where I might locate a set of stell leg braces to attach to the legs of the saw? They are just too thin and wobbly to make movement easy.

 

[gungatim]

now that I see your saw, I know what you are talking about. I had the same problem with a crapsman I bought at auction. I couldn't get the right fence from sears, but you can get a fence from another model, just the length is wrong. I was able to remove the fence from the broken piece and re-assemble it with my old correct fence. I still have the extra fence piece in my scrap pile. Anyway, they used that fence ona number of models so you should be able to find one that has the aluminum piece you can swap out. I found those saws and fences to be extremely inaccurate and sold the one I had to my Brother. He is still mad at me for sticking him with it LOL...

 

[Rock knocker]

I found those saws and fences to be extremely inaccurate and sold the one I had to my Brother. He is still mad at me for sticking him with it LOL...

Most of that can be adjusted by the user

Just saying, the saw is only partially at fault

 

[Showkey]

Home made fence on a 12" Craftsmen saw. Made this over 30 years back as low cost alternative to the high end fences at the time. The stock was marginal at best.
The hole in the table is for a router insert.

[/URL][/IMG]

[/URL][/IMG]

[/URL][/IMG]

 

[JNB]

Query to Showkey: Does your fence have a rear mount or just a front mount? Would you be so kind as to tell me the dimensions of the box tubing you used and how you fabricated the sliding member (the piece that locks in position? I also see that you have a sight gauge and a tape. Do you recall where one might find those jewels?

 

[exmaxima1]

If you are wanting to spend less on a fence than what that saw cost, you're better off selling it and buying a new saw, unless you make a fence out of wood and clamps...

+1

Take the plunge and upgrade to a better saw--you'll be glad you did. I'd look for an older Delta/Rockwell Contractor Saw, or maybe a Ridgid. If the latter, look for the flat Multi-v belt version (it runs smoother than a v-belt), and a solidly locking fence.

 

[drivesitfar]

JNB: here's a couple ideas for your table if you want to change from your existing set up while you are fixing your fence. good luck and keep asking questions if you are not sure what was said by another member or if you have any other thoughts.

there are a lot of good ideas so far on your thread and for a new member you are doing well on our forum.

 

[JNB]

I really like the idea of extending the table or enclosing the saw into a table, but for now my space is limited as I have too much other stuff in my garage. Hoping to one day add a shop onto the back of the garage with a walk through door, but that will have to wait for adequate funds to move on it.

There have been some good ideas put forth by several people and I appreciate all of the posts. My funding for this is limited to the price of a new fence but not the Biesemeyer or other high end models. I stopped by Lowe's today and saw the Delta fence on a Delta saw and played with it a bit.

It would probably take a little bit of extra work to make it fit, but that is a less expensive fence than others I have seen. I also like the idea of making a fence myself, but I am in need of the fence before I would have the time to acquire all the pieces and fashion all to fit the saw. I think for me, a bolt on model would best suit my needs because of the time factor.

 

[JNB]

My recent project has come and gone with the use of the broken fence. Over the Christmas holiday break, my son and I installed a handscraped bamboo floor in our kitchen. Not a project for the faint hearted and not the easiest task I have ever undertaken. Due to the cost of the adhesive used in this project, my funding for the fence has disappeared.

I am open for additional input on how one might obtain the necessary pieces to make a homemade fence that would improve the accuracy of cutting without the constant checking and rechecking of the measurement.

Does anyone have suggestions about where one might obtain the box tubing and more importantly the locking device as well as the ruler and sight glass?

 

[nsmith01tx]

Cheapest solution: there are replacement fences on eBay, like this one
http://www.ebay.com/itm/CRAFTSMAN-1...481?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cefe4c2e1

As for Biesemeyer clones, here are some links:

1. http://home.comcast.net/~jaswensen/machines/fence/fence.html
2. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL671DEB1C05E2AD96
3. http://techtalk.parts-express.com/showthread.php?211244-Biesemeyer-clone
4. https://www.tumblr.com/search/biesemeyer+knock+off
5. http://www.instructables.com/id/Table-Saw-Station/step3/Biesemeyer-Fence-Layout/
6. https://www.google.com/search?q=DIY...QDIe0yASa8ICADQ&ved=0CB8QsAQ&biw=1488&bih=974
7. http://joe.emenaker.com/Table-Saw Fence/Building Your Own T-Square Style Table-Saw Fence.htm

 

[404]

Cheapest solution: there are replacement fences on eBay, like this one
http://www.ebay.com/itm/CRAFTSMAN-1...481?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cefe4c2e1

As for Biesemeyer clones, here are some links:

1. http://home.comcast.net/~jaswensen/machines/fence/fence.html
2. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL671DEB1C05E2AD96
3. http://techtalk.parts-express.com/showthread.php?211244-Biesemeyer-clone
4. https://www.tumblr.com/search/biesemeyer+knock+off
5. http://www.instructables.com/id/Table-Saw-Station/step3/Biesemeyer-Fence-Layout/
6. https://www.google.com/search?q=DIY...QDIe0yASa8ICADQ&ved=0CB8QsAQ&biw=1488&bih=974
7. http://joe.emenaker.com/Table-Saw Fence/Building Your Own T-Square Style Table-Saw Fence.htm

That is a great set of links. Thank you for taking the time to find them and post them.

Regards,
404

 

[nsmith01tx]

I have the same Craftsman fence as the OP right now and have also been looking into the idea of making a Biesemeyer-type fence myself, so I already had those links bookmarked.

It doesn't look like I'm going to have time to get into that project for a while, but I'd love to see if anyone else has done this - or is willing to give it a shot & post photos and info here.

BTW, here's one more link: http://lumberjocks.com/BramC/blog/27945

Thanks