Greg Cook
Member
- Messages
- 2,882
- Location
- Tokiwadai, Japan
When I first got my Delta table saw it had a T-30 rip fence with it.
It was a good fence, but everyone talked about how great the Biesemeyer fence was, and I got the itch for a more commercial fence. I ran across a killer deal on a Bies, bought it and was very pleased with it for over a year.
View attachment 10854
However, it was the Home version, and seemed a bit light...(itch again), so when Lowes put their UniFence on clearance for $123....I got one.
It was quite different than the Bies...larger, commercial type, movable fence face... I talked with Steve Ash, knowing he used one, and a couple others. They were all very positive about the Unifence. But I could just not get "used" to it... I seemed to "sing" when I moved it. I think it was the all aluminum construction that made it sing. The front of the fence face also seemed to lift up when I would lock the fence. Hmmmm....I started regretting the move from my Bies.
Well, with all the shopping I've been doing at Lowes for hardware, electrical switches and wall sockets....I have had a chance to check out the tool department too!
Much to my surprise...they had a BC30 commercial Biesemeyer fence system, (fence, rail set, table and legs) on clearance sale for $220 (reg $400). I couldn't help myself....
So now I am back with my Bies, but a commercial one this time. It's grey, not white like my Home version. It moves smoothly, doesn't sing. The front doesn't lift up...doesn't have a movable fence, not set up to use as a quick measure for crosscuts. It's very simple, but works well, and feels more substantial. I feel like I have a friend with me again.
View attachment 10852
I have nothing against the Unifence at all....it just wasn't for me.
I also got a Forrest WWII on a special sale not long after I got my saw. (Amazon had them for $68 with free shipping). I liked it, but decided later on to try a Tenryu Gold Medal. It is a bit thinner, and works well with my 1.5hp contractor saw. (I get a bit more umph with 220V). But....I put the Forrest back on a month ago, on a whim, and feel like I have another friend there too.
It's interesting how we get attached to some of our tools, accessories, and miss them when we succumb to the itch to try something different. Anybody else feel the same, or am I just weird....
It was a good fence, but everyone talked about how great the Biesemeyer fence was, and I got the itch for a more commercial fence. I ran across a killer deal on a Bies, bought it and was very pleased with it for over a year.
View attachment 10854
However, it was the Home version, and seemed a bit light...(itch again), so when Lowes put their UniFence on clearance for $123....I got one.
It was quite different than the Bies...larger, commercial type, movable fence face... I talked with Steve Ash, knowing he used one, and a couple others. They were all very positive about the Unifence. But I could just not get "used" to it... I seemed to "sing" when I moved it. I think it was the all aluminum construction that made it sing. The front of the fence face also seemed to lift up when I would lock the fence. Hmmmm....I started regretting the move from my Bies.
Well, with all the shopping I've been doing at Lowes for hardware, electrical switches and wall sockets....I have had a chance to check out the tool department too!
Much to my surprise...they had a BC30 commercial Biesemeyer fence system, (fence, rail set, table and legs) on clearance sale for $220 (reg $400). I couldn't help myself....
So now I am back with my Bies, but a commercial one this time. It's grey, not white like my Home version. It moves smoothly, doesn't sing. The front doesn't lift up...doesn't have a movable fence, not set up to use as a quick measure for crosscuts. It's very simple, but works well, and feels more substantial. I feel like I have a friend with me again.
View attachment 10852
I have nothing against the Unifence at all....it just wasn't for me.
I also got a Forrest WWII on a special sale not long after I got my saw. (Amazon had them for $68 with free shipping). I liked it, but decided later on to try a Tenryu Gold Medal. It is a bit thinner, and works well with my 1.5hp contractor saw. (I get a bit more umph with 220V). But....I put the Forrest back on a month ago, on a whim, and feel like I have another friend there too.
It's interesting how we get attached to some of our tools, accessories, and miss them when we succumb to the itch to try something different. Anybody else feel the same, or am I just weird....
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