Nowadays, it is almost impossible to complete a cut on a table without a rip fence. It is a table saw accessory that helps you to align and guide your workpiece when cutting correctly.
Using the table saw, having a rip fence could solve a lot of potential hazards. Furthermore, it will eliminate any chance for wood movement or kickbacks, which is dangerous.
Therefore, carefully choosing the best rip fence is a must. In succeeding paragraphs, you will learn the tips for choosing a rip fence that best suits your needs.
Table of Contents
- Section 1: Why do we need the table saw Rip Fence Tips?
- Section 2: Rip Fence Tips– How to make a homemade table saw Fence?
- Section 3: How to choose the right Rip Fence Tips for your table saw?
- Section 4: Rip Fence Tips– What is the best way to use a table saw Fence?
- Section 5: Rip Fence Tips– Should you upgrade to a professional fence?
- Summary
Figure 1: Table saw with professional Fence
Section 1: Why do we need the table saw Rip Fence Tips?
1.1 What exactly is a rip fence?
A fact is that a table saw allows the cutting of large and complex workpieces.
However, many things could go wrong during cutting, and a rip fence prevents them.
A table saw rip fence is a tool or accessory added to a table saw to help guide your workpiece.
You can always count on help from a table saw rip fence for smooth, accurate, straight cuts.
1.2 Why do you need a table saw Fence?
Whether a beginner, amateur, or professional, you must keep a table saw rip fence handy.
Firstly, it guarantees better accuracy, allowing you to work faster, saving you time, and allowing you to do more.
Secondly, you are 100% sure nothing can go wrong with a table saw rip fence. It ensures that you are safe when working and do not get injured unnecessarily.
Many things could go wrong when a table saw rip fence is missing from your table saw.
To start with, you could get injuries from kickbacks. Also, without a table saw rip fence, you might not find it easy to use a push stick.
Its absence would cause the workpiece to dabble as it comes into the circular saw blade.
It implies that you could lose a finger or more when your hand comes too close to the circular blade.
Finally, the possibility of racking is high when a table saw rip fence not install.
Figure 2: A rip fence guiding a rip-cutting process.
Section 2: Rip Fence Tips— How to make a homemade table saw Fence?
Asides from the factory-made table saw rip fence out there, you could decide to make one for yourself. On the other hand, you might desire some added features that only you can customize.
Thus, it would help if you understood how to make a table saw rip fence in your workshop. Below are three simple steps required to make yourself a table saw rip fence:
2.1 Making plywood strips
First, gather the tools needed for the entire exercise: threaded pipe, clamp kit, and plywood pieces. Furthermore, measure the width of your table saw.
Again, get a couple of four-inch-wide plywood strips; you would need them for a square tube. Besides, you would also need some 2-inch strips of plywood.
Most importantly, trim these strips of plywood to fit the measurement of the table saw.
By now, the plywood strips should be ready, and you can cut them into two equal squares. Remember that the two squares must have a width of ½-inch and a satisfactory length.
Finally, you should have two pieces each for the 2-inch and 4-inch plywood strips. Also, you must drill a hole at the center of each strip.
2.2 Building square tube and pipe clamp
Table saw tearing Fence shaped like a square tube. It consists of two 4-inch strips on opposite sides and 2-inch strips at the top and bottom. Go further by fastening these pieces strips together into a one-piece.
Now, at one end of the square tube, position a square plywood piece to flush with an extended edge. Follow up with wood screws to lock the plywood in place.
Inside your 4ft pipe, thread one end of the clamp and slide into the tube. Ideally, the pipe should run from end to end of the square tube, and you should fasten the clamp’s end.
2.3 Placing the saw and using it.
The table saw rip fence should be ready for use. Remember that the cracking end of the pipe’s clamp should face your direction. The pipe’s clamp jaw should also point downwards, and the saw should touch both ends.
With this positioning correctly done and the clamp removed, the table saw rip fence is ready to guide your workpiece. The full assembly should slide back and forth effortlessly and be adjustable depending on the size of the workpiece.
For accuracy, always measure the distance between the table saw rip fence and the circular blade. Accordingly, tighten the pipe clamp. Generally, the measured distance should be such that it allows the workpiece to pass through during cutting.
Section 3: How to choose the right Rip Fence Tips for your table saw?
Purchasing the best table saw rip fence is easy, although you must follow some steps. Primarily, the steps involve checking for some essential qualities and features that will suit your needs. These features will highlight and discuss below.
Figure 4: A professional performing cross-cutting with a rip fence.
3.1 Manual or Electric?
A manual table saw rip fence should do for you if you are just a hobbyist. It is because you do not have to use the table saw frequently but just occasionally.
However, if you are a professional in woodwork, you need a table saw rip fence to save time and energy.
Surely, it is more expensive than the manual rip fence. Nevertheless, you will reap the return on your initial investment as a pro.
Consider getting the electric table saw rip fence for continuous and non-stop cutting from time to time.
3.2 Rip Capacity.
Table saw rip fence comes with its specific rip capacity and varies according to the table saw size. Thus, the rip capacity of your Fence should correspond to the size of the workpiece.
Get the maximum rip capacity fence for convenience when working on large projects. The best rip capacity ranges from 18 to 36 inches.
3.3 Accessories.
Having a table saw rip fence with all the necessary accessories is always exciting. It makes your work easier and faster since you do not have to improvise.
Hence, in your quest for a new table saw or rip Fence, always pay attention to the accompanying accessories.
These accessories will go a long way in determining the ease at which you will operate the Fence. Even though you might have to part way with some extra dollars, it will later pay off.
3.4 Compatibility.
One that fits different table saws is advisable when purchasing a table saw rip fence. This saves you the stress of finding compatible table saw tracks and guides. Thus, the rip fence will still fit seamlessly if you have to change your table saw.
3.5 Choose a Well Reputed Brand.
Like every other aspect of life, a great table saw rip fence is not free. In exchange for quality, you have to pay handsomely. Nevertheless, the joy is that you get maximum satisfaction from what you buy with your money.
So every money spent will turn into an investment only if you purchase a well-reputed brand. Well-reputed brands of table saw rip fences have unrivaled quality and durability.
Hence, it is not just enough to spend money but to spend wisely by purchasing reputable brands.
3.6 Warranty.
A warranty is a basic control measure system on new products to cater to problems. It ensures that if problems occur within a specified period, they will be taken care of by the manufacturer.
The warranty period varies from brand to brand, and you should consider this when choosing.
Section 4: Rip Fence Tips— What is the best way to use a table saw Fence?
The design of a table saw rip fence is simple and for one particular goal. It is to make straight rip cuts along the grain of the wood.
Nevertheless, some steps must be taken and implemented to achieve this goal, as discussed below, successfully.
Figure 5: A properly aligned and parallel workpiece and rip fence.
4.1 Is Your Rip Fence Up to Par?
It means that your table’s parallel alignment saw rip fence to the saw blade by up to par. A good rip fence not meeting this requirement of being up to par is unreliable for any work.
With the rip fence’s lock feature, the rip fence must remain perfectly parallel to avoid accidents and errors.
4.2 Checking for Parallel Alignment.
Judging the alignment of the rip fence and the saw blade by eye is not enough; an alignment tool is necessary.
4.3 Aligning the Table Saw Blade.
You can make the necessary adjustment with the precision alignment tool, and the information from your table saw manual. The tool used here is known as the table saw gauge.
It can test several dimensions on your table, such as rip fence alignment, blade alignment, arbor shaft runout, etc. Now to align the table saw, do the following;
Raise your saw’s blade to its highest position once mounted on the arbor.
Lay the straight edge of the gauge on the table’s surface and tighten it against the blade plate. Ensure that when you tighten, the straight edge is not resting on the teeth to avoid damage.
Measure the distance between the straight edge and the miter slot at each end. If the distance measured from each edge does not agree, there is a misalignment.
You need to loosen some bolts that attach the trunnions to the saw to adjust this misalignment. After that, you can perform the necessary alignment and re-tighten the components.
4.4 Checking for Parallel Fence Alignment.
You can check the table saw rip fence’s parallel alignment with the saw blade properly aligned. You can check this by setting the rip fence at different distances from the blade and measuring the distance respectively.
All measurements must correspond when taken from the front and back of the straight edge.
If there is still misalignment, use the rip fence’s adjustment feature until the alignment is right. With these steps, you should have a perfectly aligned blade and rip Fence.
Section 5: Rip Fence Tips— Should you upgrade to a professional fence?
Well, this decision is all up to you; if your job requires fa request table saw usage, you must get a professional rip fence. If otherwise, then stick with a simple/homemade fence.
Summary
In conclusion, you have all the key information and extensive knowledge about the rip fence. Thus, selecting the best rip fence should not be a problem if you have digested this article’s content.
At NCCuttingtools, we offer the best cutting tool products and services. Should you need further guidance or assistance, reach out to us now.
