Biesemeyer T-Square fence: Wrong rail size?

[THP]

Hey gang. It's time for my annual dumb question!

I'd like to start re-sawing on the 20" Delta bandsaw, so I picked up a used fence and rail from Marketplace cheap. I was going to mount it with some angle, and chop down the fence to shorten it a bit. Hey, it sounded great on paper!

I started planning to tap holes in my angle and mount the rail, but wanted to make sure the fence and rail were good. Am I losing my mind, or did Biesemeyer make a fence that does not fit a standard 2x3" rail? The rail that came with the fence is definitely 2x3, but this rail does not seem to fit it when the cam is locked OR unlocked. It's almost like it's looking for a 2x2.75" rail or something? I'm no Biesemeyer expert, so I figured someone here may know...I can't find anything on the web, and I feel like I'm losing my mind...this should fit. I have attached a pic of the fence with a tape so you can see what I mean.

 

[PoorUB]

Move the lever all the way up to the unlocked position and measure again. You have it in the locked position in the pic. As far as I know they were all 2x3.

 

[tyyost]

In your picture you can’t see the intermediate piece between the cam lever and the rail. My recollection was that they were slightly curved and had an anti wear pad on them, so it may look smaller when measured than once locked. To your question all the rails were 3” in that dimension for the Bies fences I have run across.

 

[rlitman]

...As far as I know they were all 2x3.

No. For a some time they made a non-commercial rail that was smaller. My father's got one of those we put on his Grizzly cabinet saw. His pre-dates Biesemeyer being acquired by Delta, and I can't find the production dates for these. I could ask him to measure the rail size if you need, but off the top of my head, I'd guess it was around 1-1/2" x 2-1/2".

 

[PoorUB]

The OP's is a Delta. I would have bet on the 2x3 rail.

To the OP. Just get a piece of 2x2-1/2 rectangular tube if that is what fits. For a band saw you only need 24" at the most. Buy a piece of similar length angle, drill and tap some holes and you are done.

 

[turbowoodworker]

I can’t tell from the picture but Tyyost may have the right idea. Without that wear strip, you will be 1/8 to 1/4 inch off. My newer Delta also has a strip of HDVP (?) on it . See if you can find a manual online and compare what you have. I’m guessing something is missing.

 

[THP]

Thanks guys. I'm warming up the shop to go play with it more tonight. Here's a pic as requested in the unlocked position. It's just so wacky, because I can't get my head around it not fitting, seeing as how they were sold together and the paint matches Another piece of box tube is in the works if it doesn't fit this one.

I also am including a measurement from the piece of steel that the cam/handle sits in to the other side. If I remove the handle, it will fit...barely. That is maybe a 1/16th of an inch over 3". I'm just not seeing how the handle little paddle shim and cam would possibly fit into that small of a gap and work successfully. I guess the seller just somehow had a matching colored rail...either that or this cam/handle assembly isn't original, and they swapped something in at some point in the lifetime of the tool.

 

[alinc100]

My Beismeyer was sold in the early 90's as the "Homeshop 52" it has a smaller rail, smaller,shorter fence, smaller angle attached to the saw. The main advantage I gained back then was lower cost, and an increase in capacity from 50 inches on the commercial fence to 52 inches of cut capacity. I happened to luck into it as a demo unit at a Woodcraft store for a bit over $200,many ,many years ago. The rail the fence rides on is 1-1/2"h x 2-1/2" wide.

 

[THP]

Thanks, allnc100! That must be the fence I have, and then a standard rail. My local supplier has 1-1/2" x 2-1/2" rectangular tube, so I can grab a couple feet next week and start fabricating.