I’m using a Delta Industrial Contractor Saw Model 36-670. I’m considering replacing the T2 Fence with a Biesemeyer Commercial Fence System. The Biesemeyer would crowd my already too limited space, so will I really gain that much by replacing the T2 with the Biesemeyer?
Bob
Edited 7/13/2007 2:41 pm by Woodmaster1776
Replies
Hi Bob,
I installed the Bies 40" Home Shop fence and I have to say it works great. My saw is in the middle of a 16'x20' small shop (the long walls are gambrel angled so I lose footage on each side, and I still have adequate room.
I use a RAS to knock down long boards which leaves the TS strictly for ripping. Also the router is mounted in the right extension which saves some room as well.
My TS is also a Delta 10" Contractors saw.
Regards,
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Hi Bob - I've owned a Biese Homeshop fence and now a Biese Commercial, and loved them both....great fence. That said, unless you can pickup the Biese on the cheap, I can't imagine it being worth the difference and cost for that saw unless you're really having some issues with the T2....in which case, they're likely worth fixing.
The T2 looks like a nice fence to me. The tubing is a bit smaller and lighter than the Biese's, but it's a very similar design. If I'm facing the prospect of shelling out $200-$250 in addition to what I could sell the T2 for, I'd keep the T2 and buy some wood, or maybe a new blade!
Is there something specific you're hoping to gain with the Biese?
Edited 7/13/2007 7:16 pm ET by Knotscott
Thanks for your input. That's exactly the issue I'm going over in my mind. No problems with the T2, but I recognize it's no Biesemeyer and I came across a closeout on the Biese at half price. The contractor saw, at some point, will be upgraded to a cabinet saw and my thinking is the Biese would be moved to that and the T2 would go back on the contractor saw to be sold.I just installed an Incra 1000SE miter gauge along with the Miter Express and am floored by the increased accuracy, ease of use, and safety. I'm thinking perhaps some of those benefits would also be true with a fence upgrade.Bob
You're right that the T2 is no Biese. You could probably get ~ $100 for the T2 used. Subtract that from the cost of the Biese on closeout and see how attractive it looks at the out of pocket cost, but consider that most cab saws come with a good fence.
Bob,
If you can purchase the Beisemeyer fence for half price, you will open up your options even more if and when you decide to upgrade to a cabinet saw. As Knotts pointed out, you can either retrofit the contracters saw back to the T2, sell it with the Bies for more $$, or keep the Beis and add it to the cabinet saw.
My take on it is that you WIN WIN with the Beis!
I'm not a Beisemeyer salesman.
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
"The Biesemeyer would crowd my already too limited space,..."
I looked at T-2 and Biesemeyer fences when I bought my Delta hybrid saw and for me too, space was a problem. The hybrid with 30" Bies cost something like $250 more than with 30" T-2 and it would have taken up about 5" more depth IIRC and 4" more width against my shop wall - just enough that there wouldn't be room to park the band saw next to it.
I looked at both fences set up on similar saws and the only functional difference I could see was that by pressing laterally at the back of each fence, both deflected, but I could deflect the T-2 perhaps 3/32" more than the Bies. Since I run a sharp blade and a splitter, I don't think the extra stiffness means anything to me. I don't cut full sheets of plywood, so I don't put a lot of side thrust on the fence and I don't need the greater length of fence beyond the blade.
I took the 30rt, 12lt T2 of my Delta Contractors, and replaced it with 50rt, 20lt Powermatic Accufence, (a Bies of a different color).
The T2 is essentially an improved Bies Home Shop fence. The guide rails are the same steel sections, and the T2 has more adjustments.
I "upgraded" mostly because I wanted the extra width to the right to cut plywood, and I got a good deal on the Accufence.
The Accufence is bigger heavier, and the guides are thicker and wider. Which means it is stiffer and less likely to deflect, but I never really had any issues with the T2, and would have stayed with it and made longer rails if I hadn't gotten a deal on the Accufence.
Since the T2 has the flat surface up on the rear rail, it is easy to just clamp a block to the back rail to support the fence and keep it from deflecting if you are doing something that might deflect it. The only thing I would have changed on the T2 if I had kept it and lengthened the rails would to have retrofitted the cursor from a Bies commercial fence onto it, and used the Bies 3/4 inch wide tape.
Edited 7/14/2007 1:20 pm ET by Jigs-n-fixtures
"Since the T2 has the flat surface up on the rear rail, it is easy to just clamp a block to the back rail to support the fence and keep it from deflecting if you are doing something that might deflect it. "Thanks for the tip - an elegantly simple solution for deflection if I ever do cut plywood.
BruceT
Morning Bruce...
A 3/4" Starrett self-adhesive tape can be purchased at Highland WW or several of the WW supply stores. I keep a spare on hand if the occasion were to arise.
I run a Biese on my Uni-saw with 30" rails. I cross-cut on a SCMS with long extension capability and do large panels with a Tru-grip and circular saw. I only rip on the TS, so the width of cut is not as important to me as extensions fore and aft.
I doubt I would up-grade as several have mentioned under your circumstance as a new cab would likely come with a better fence.. but then again I doubt most new saws will come with a better long fence than a Biese. An exception IMO might be the fence on the Steel City titanium table saw. You give a slight push on it and you had better dash to the end of the rail before it leaves town and ends up in the next county. Nice rail action on that puppy!
Regards...
Sarge.. john thompson
Edited 7/15/2007 9:51 am ET by SARGEgrinder47
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