portable bandsaw table fence?

C

clockworkfish

Joined
Dec 1, 2010
Messages
161
hey has anyone set up their portaband with a table fence? ive seen many setups for making a table for the portaband but none have a fence which i think would be very handy for getting scales cut to size or various other things in which a fence could be used
 
I have the 2.0 version from Swag w/o the fence. I kinda wish I'd gotten the one with the fence. Super well built stand w/ quick detach to use the saw to cut long stock.
 
Clamp a straight piece of something (wood, steel, micarta...) to the table, check that it's parallel to the blade... and you have a fence. :)
 
Most bandsaw blades have a little bit of "drift" when they cut. The cut produced is at a slight angle to the blade, an angle that can change as the blade dulls or wears. A fence will work best when set to that angle.

Make a line on a piece of scrap at the distance from the edge that you want to set the fence to. Freehand it into the blade and when you are cutting nice and straight down the line, turn off the bandsaw and clamp the scrap to the table without moving anything. Set your fence to the side of the scrap. Remove the scrap. You should then get an accurate cut running your workpiece against the fence.

Too complicated? Use a "single point fence". Take a small piece of scrap, like a 1X2 and cut or sand a radius on the end of it. Clamp it to the bandsaw table parallel to the front of the table but back from the edge and with the radiused end pointing at the side of the blade and as far away from the side of the blade as the width you want to cut. Draw the cut line on your workpiece and pivot your workpiece on the radiused end of the fence until your cut is following the line. Test with scrap first, you may need to move the fence slightly closer or farther away to get the cut width right
 
I just clamp a piece of stock aluminum angle to the table - works pretty good.
 
Guys, you can do whatever you like, but personally there are a whole lot of things I'd rather spend the money on than an Incra fence for the Portaband. :eek: :confused:

My dad is really into woodworking, so I'm very familiar with the Incra brand, and all their products are of super high quality. But I see zero need for that kind of set-up on a portaband in a knife shop.

If a guy is really set on resawing blocks into scales ALL the time, then a quality WOOD bandsaw with a quality fence would make sense. If you're doing it everyday.

I've only clamped a straight edge down as a fence on my Portaband about 4 times ever. I'm all for as many tools as you can afford, but I just don't see the point here.
 
NickWheeler said:
Guys, you can do whatever you like, but personally there are a whole lot of things I'd rather spend the money on than an Incra fence for the Portaband. :eek: :confused:

My dad is really into woodworking, so I'm very familiar with the Incra brand, and all their products are of super high quality. But I see zero need for that kind of set-up on a portaband in a knife shop.

If a guy is really set on resawing blocks into scales ALL the time, then a quality WOOD bandsaw with a quality fence would make sense. If you're doing it everyday.

I've only clamped a straight edge down as a fence on my Portaband about 4 times ever. I'm all for as many tools as you can afford, but I just don't see the point here.
Click to expand...

Nick,

I think you are correct. As a commercial plumber, I use a portaband daily. I used mine to slot a tang last night and I swear the angle of the line it cut was different for each cut. :eek:


I was saying I wish I had the fence because it was on $30 or so more for the option than the one I bought. :D

In all reality a fence on a portaband isn't that useful. I'd buy the stand with one for a couple extra bucks, but clamping a guide to match the angle of the cut to the table is likely the best option.
 
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