Routing Fence

mountain4don · Post by **mountain4don** » Sun Aug 12, 2012 12:36 pm

I seem to be doing more routing with my Shopsmith 500, and was wondering what people are doing for an adjustable fence? I am using just a piece of scrap wood with a U-shaped cutout now clamped on the saw table and backed up by the regular saw fence. I looked on the Shopsmith site and couldn't find an adjustable router fence available that was easy to use. I think they used to make one?

SDSSmith · Post by **SDSSmith** » Sun Aug 12, 2012 2:35 pm

mountain4don wrote:I seem to be doing more routing with my Shopsmith 500, and was wondering what people are doing for an adjustable fence? I am using just a piece of scrap wood with a U-shaped cutout now clamped on the saw table and backed up by the regular saw fence. I looked on the Shopsmith site and couldn't find an adjustable router fence available that was easy to use. I think they used to make one?

This is one option.

mountain4don · Post by **mountain4don** » Sun Aug 12, 2012 4:20 pm

SDSSmith wrote:This is one option.

This one only looks like it will handle the smaller bits in the Shopsmith cutter package of 1/4", 1/2", 3/4" plus the beveled bit. I am looking for something similar that will take some 3" diameter bits that I have and use in my router table now?

SDSSmith · Post by **SDSSmith** » Sun Aug 12, 2012 8:35 pm

mountain4don wrote:This one only looks like it will handle the smaller bits in the Shopsmith cutter package of 1/4", 1/2", 3/4" plus the beveled bit. I am looking for something similar that will take some 3" diameter bits that I have and use in my router table now?

As it is the shaper fence handles the sanding drum at 2-1/4" easily. The shaper fence could easily handle 3" router cutters, though you would have to modify the wooden fences (drill new holes) or make new sacrificial wooden fences. That said, for the money SS wants you could build yourself a nice fence. Or, go to FEEbay and buy a used shaper fence. Just make sure it is the right one for your machine.

oldc6 · Post by **oldc6** » Mon Aug 13, 2012 6:04 am

mountain4don, i sent you a pm about the fence..........

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Mon Aug 13, 2012 7:47 pm

mountain4don wrote:I seem to be doing more routing with my Shopsmith 500, and was wondering what people are doing for an adjustable fence? I am using just a piece of scrap wood with a U-shaped cutout now clamped on the saw table and backed up by the regular saw fence. I looked on the Shopsmith site and couldn't find an adjustable router fence available that was easy to use. I think they used to make one?

Been wathcing this thread with wonder. I am confused! You are routing from above, right? Would make a big difference if routing from below.

When routing or shaping from above, I have been very pleased with Shopsmith fence shown in Post #2 from SDSSmith. You can also use a wood table and fences as shown for use in the Sawdust session on OPR use.

If routing from below there are a huge number of designs. Here's mine.

[ATTACH]18171[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]18172[/ATTACH]

mountain4don · Post by **mountain4don** » Mon Aug 13, 2012 9:44 pm

I am routing with a Shopsmith model 500 with the headstock turned up in the drill press mode. Routing from overhead. I have the Shopsmith set of router bits, 1/4", 1/2" and 3/4" and dovetail and use the 1/2" bit holder from Shopsmith. And of course all of my other 1/2" bits fit in the same holder. And I typically use an old piece of board cut out to fit the router bit and clamp it to the table. But this doesn't work so well when using a vertical bit that cuts down the whole face of the piece of wood I am running through, since then there is an offset from the infeed to the outfeed side of the bit. So I have to shim up both sides to make it work. I looked at the Shopsmith set of router fence stuff. But its hard to find that much cash for just the fence. We is poor folk. I have wood, and I have some machinery, and I have some time. And I have an old house (built 1905) that is a complete wreck that my wife is not happy with. So I am trying to fix it up. With two overworked Shopsmiths. One of which was given to me when my father died. The other I bought about 10 years ago for $200 from a guy that needed cash. But I am happy!

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Mon Aug 13, 2012 10:15 pm

There have been three versions of the shaper fence.
Mark 5 and Mark V 500 are the same and clamp to the table from the front and rear. The Mark VII and 510 etc. mount to holes in the table, but are not identical.

mountain4don · Post by **mountain4don** » Tue Aug 14, 2012 12:42 pm

JPG40504 wrote:There have been three versions of the shaper fence.
Mark 5 and Mark V 500 are the same and clamp to the table from the front and rear. The Mark VII and 510 etc. mount to holes in the table, but are not identical.

I have seen pictures of the model 500 shaper fence and if it only clamps to the front and rear of the table that means the work goes front to rear against the fence? That would mean you can only route really small pieces before hitting the way tubes? Rather than the fence mounting across the table so you can route any size piece of wood? That really eliminates that option then.

mountain4don · Post by **mountain4don** » Wed Aug 15, 2012 10:43 am

charlese wrote:Been wathcing this thread with wonder. I am confused! You are routing from above, right? Would make a big difference if routing from below.

When routing or shaping from above, I have been very pleased with Shopsmith fence shown in Post #2 from SDSSmith. You can also use a wood table and fences as shown for use in the Sawdust session on OPR use.

If routing from below there are a huge number of designs. Here's mine.

[ATTACH]18171[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]18172[/ATTACH]

I noticed your note at the bottom of your post about updating my profile? I tried to do that but it won't let me. I must be doing something wrong?

Shopsmith Forums

Routing Fence

Routing Fence

the fence

Routing Fence

Clamp to the front and rear?