Replies

1. 
   BruceS | Nov 30, 2006 12:33am | #1

   I wouldn't say the Exacta is any better than the Beise.  They are so alike, aside from the fence material.  If they were painted the same you might not be able to tell the difference..  Installation will be the same on either,  You are going to have to drill holes no matter what.  To me it would be a toss up,  letting cost be the factor.  You might want to check out a HTC fence.  Another Beise clone.

   Work Safe,  Count to 10 when your done for the day !!

   Bruce S. 

    

2. 
   user-211435 | Nov 30, 2006 07:32am | #2

   Don't know if you know it but the Biesemeyer fence, originally invented by some cabinetmakers in Arizona, was once called the Arizona Fence.

   Then years later, after much success, Powermatic bought it.  That's why you see it on all Powermatic saws.

   I think that the next step was that Powermatic bought Jet, or maybe the other way round.  Or it could have been that whoever bought Jet then bought Powermatic, well, who really cares anyway.

   The point is that Beisemeyer is the same as Jet.  At least the same grandchildren will inheret the money either way, once Grandpa dies.

   Hal

1. 
   RickL | Nov 30, 2006 03:52pm | #3

   http://www.biesemeyer.com/history/index.htm

   Delta bought out Biesemeyer. I beleive the patent ran out and PM and others started cloning the Bies. Bill Biesemeyer and his fence made Delta introduce the Unifence which is a clone of the fences they had in Europe for years. If it wasn't for Bill Biesemeyer all saws would still have those clunky old Jet lock fences.

   Woodworkers in this country are really resistant to change. The Lamello tooks years to be accepted in this country. The slot mortiser goes back to at least the 50's and is slowly make headway in this country

   http://www.csaw.com/lamello/index.html

   I believe the Wilton Tool group bought Jet, then PM. Wilton also bought out Columbia Vise years ago.

   I think the history of tools and industry is worth noting.

1. 
   user-211435 | Nov 30, 2006 11:20pm | #4

   Oh yeah.  Pretty hard to keep track of all the corporate deals going on in the tool world. 

   I do remember reading about it when Powermatic bought the fence though.  I don't think that they simply started building a copy after the patent ran out, but that may have been when they started calling it the Acufence (spelling?).  I bet I even have an old Woodshop News that tells about it.  But I'm not going to look for it; Not worth it.

   Thanks for the info though.

   Hal

   http://www.rivercitywoodworks.com

    

1. 
   RickL | Dec 01, 2006 01:21am | #5

   In October, 1995, Delta International Machinery Corporation acquired Biesemeyer Manufacturing in order to provide its customers a quality alternative fence system to complement their quality table saws. Delta fully recognized the reputation of the Biesemeyer product line in the market place and kept in tact Biesemeyer’s approach to quality and craftsmanship. Capital was invested in the facility to improve manufacturing efficiency, employee health and safety, and environmental issues.

   Delta, not PM, bought Biesemeyer.   PM sells the Accu-Fence, not the Biesemeyer fence. There a lot of marketing strength in a brand name. You can bet PM would be selling the Biesemeyer if they bought the line.

3. 
   Knotscott | Dec 01, 2006 04:03am | #6

   Both are good fences, but if the price is close I'd definitely go with the original Biese. It'll have higher resale value, and I like the laminated faces better than the plastic on the Jet.