Incra wonder fence

[bearcat2k]

Hi everyone!

I am considering buying an Incra fence for my Shopsmith 520. I was oringally looking to buy a Jointech sawtrain, but apparently, Jointech went out of business. Obviously, the Incra fence is a considerable investment, so I've got a couple of questions for anyone that has one.

First, how easy is it to use? I am not a very experienced wood worker, so my main goal is to increase my efficiency in my shop. I am hoping to reduce measuring time and increase my accuracy. Will the Incra Ultra Fence work as advertised?

Second, how much do you need a predrilled table? Is this just a nice luxury, or is it really needed to make the fence work properly?

Third, does anyone have the Incra Wonder fence add on with a router table on the Shopsmith? How easy is this system to use? What kind of router would I need for it?

Finally, does anyone have a router lift installed on their Shopsmith? If so, what type, and how well does it work with the Incra fence?

Thanks in advance!

Mike

[dusty]

Hi everyone!

I am considering buying an Incra fence for my Shopsmith 520. I was oringally looking to buy a Jointech sawtrain, but apparently, Jointech went out of business. Obviously, the Incra fence is a considerable investment, so I've got a couple of questions for anyone that has one.

First, how easy is it to use? I am not a very experienced wood worker, so my main goal is to increase my efficiency in my shop. I am hoping to reduce measuring time and increase my accuracy. Will the Incra Ultra Fence work as advertised?

Second, how much do you need a predrilled table? Is this just a nice luxury, or is it really needed to make the fence work properly?

Third, does anyone have the Incra Wonder fence add on with a router table on the Shopsmith? How easy is this system to use? What kind of router would I need for it?

Finally, does anyone have a router lift installed on their Shopsmith? If so, what type, and how well does it work with the Incra fence?

Thanks in advance!

Mike

Please let me start by saying I am very definitely prejudiced. I believe in the Incra products almost as much as I believe in "Shopsmith". The fact that they have been joined at the corporate hip is a good thing.

I do not owe the WonderFence but I do have one of the first Incra Fences that were offered. They do what they are advertised to do but there is a learning curve and a few tricks to be learned.

After a while, use of the Incra will decrease your time spent doing measurements while at thje same time increasing your accuracy (up to the accuracy of the Incra you purchase).

You do not NEED a predrilled table. Instructions are available on how to work around that. However, drilling the table is not an issue. I have drilled my tables (for other jigs). With the Incra Fence, I use the sliding T-nuts in the miter tracks.

I also have the Shopsmith Router table, set up almost as a standalone, on my Crafter's Station. Really, all it is is an extension table with a hole for a router. It seems to me that any good router will work so long as you take into consideration space available UNDER the table. Like everything else in this hobby, there will be dissenting opinions on which router is most suitable.

I do not have a router lift but would love to. The router lift is six or eight items down on my list to Santa. Unfortunately, that list has been in existence for a long, long time.

Hope I have answered your questions. Opposing opinions at five!:rolleyes:

[fjimp]

I agree with Dusty regarding partnership between Incra and Shopsmith. The question dealt specifically with the wonder fence. Yes I own two of them one is used primarily with the Incra TS III on my 520. The other came with an LS Incra free standing router table. This is the application I have used most. Yes I can attest it adds a great deal of stability to routing vertical work. I also am rather fond of the dust collecting port. I have also used it on my shopsmith mounted router table. I confess I was not as fond of the Shopsmith table as it was a bit too high for this short guy. My lower limb joint issues make sitting for routing work rather comfortable. I also like the Incra miter sled 5000 for super accurate cuts. For repetitive work I am fond of the TS III. I must confess it is still crated up until I get into the new shop. For most crosscut work I am thrilled with the marriage of the Incra V120 and the Shopsmith Miter Gauge. Now there is an affordable winner. I like that so well I will likely add a second one one day. Incidentally the folks at Incra conduct themselves much the same as the fine ladies and gentleman at Shopsmith do, customer service rules. Fjimp

[bearcat2k]

Thank you both for your input. It sounds like the Incra table saw/router combo system is the way to go.

Take care,

Mike

[keakap]

Hi everyone!

I am considering buying an Incra fence for my Shopsmith 520. ...
First, how easy is it to use? I am not a very experienced wood worker, so my main goal is to increase my efficiency in my shop. I am hoping to reduce measuring time and increase my accuracy. Will the Incra Ultra Fence work as advertised?

Second, how much do you need a predrilled table? Is this just a nice luxury, or is it really needed to make the fence work properly?
...

I recently purchased the "TS/LS Shopsmith" (Ultra) fence for my 520. Good choice.
Once properly installed it is very easy to use.
Which leads to the predrilled table. That is a piece of cake. It's much easier than one would think, and basically foolproof. Once done, having it makes using the fence simple, easy and accurate.
I don't know if it is "really needed" (I suspect not) but it is so easy to do and works so well, why not? I used my Extension table, not the floater, but I may drill that too just to have the flexibility. With the Ext. table always there, I can re-install the LS system in about 2 minutes, including checks.

I can echo the comments on the V120 too. Throw in the Miter Express (Shopsmith) for quick perfect miters and gadzooks this thing is funner to use than I wooda thought.

I made the router table whose plans came with the opening issue of Shop Notes, years ago, so have managed to keep away from using the Shopsmith for that. But I gotta say, every time I think of it I am tempted...

[a1gutterman]

Hi everyone!

I am considering buying an Incra fence for my Shopsmith 520. I was oringally looking to buy a Jointech sawtrain, but apparently, Jointech went out of business. Obviously, the Incra fence is a considerable investment, so I've got a couple of questions for anyone that has one.

First, how easy is it to use? I am not a very experienced wood worker, so my main goal is to increase my efficiency in my shop. I am hoping to reduce measuring time and increase my accuracy. Will the Incra Ultra Fence work as advertised?

Second, how much do you need a predrilled table? Is this just a nice luxury, or is it really needed to make the fence work properly?

Third, does anyone have the Incra Wonder fence add on with a router table on the Shopsmith? How easy is this system to use? What kind of router would I need for it?

Finally, does anyone have a router lift installed on their Shopsmith? If so, what type, and how well does it work with the Incra fence?

Thanks in advance!

Mike

If you purchase the pre-drilled table, you can leave the Incra mounted to it permanently, including the 5' tubes. This allows for easy attaching and removal of the system. This leaves your other table free all of the time.

[woodburner]

You do need to have a drilled table for mounting the Incra Fence. Whether you purchase a table pre-drilled, or drill holes in one you already have, you need to have one.

A full-scale plan of where you need to drill the holes is included with the fence system, so you can use a table you already have. I recommend using a floating table so you can move the whole fence system along the 5 ft. tubes. This is really handy if you use the fence for the Shopsmith router table and for attaching and removing the fence system from your Shopsmith.

The "Wonder Fence" attachment is great for the router table. It allows you to adjust the fence for the size of the bit, make all kinds of great dovetail joints, use the Incra "Stops" for for measured/partial router cuts, etc.

I have owned all the Incra accessories Shopsmith sells for several years now and use them all the time. You will be very happy with them.

P.S. I don't think Jointech went out of business. Their website is still up and running.

[bearcat2k]

The "Wonder Fence" attachment is great for the router table. It allows you to adjust the fence for the size of the bit, make all kinds of great dovetail joints, use the Incra "Stops" for for measured/partial router cuts, etc.

I have owned all the Incra accessories Shopsmith sells for several years now and use them all the time. You will be very happy with them.

P.S. I don't think Jointech went out of business. Their website is still up and running.

Thanks for the input. How difficult/annoying is it to adjust the height of the router bit on the shopsmith router table for the incra system? This seems like it could be extremely tedious without a router lift.

Also, I am not certain Jointech is out of business, but they not replied to the last email I sent to them, and it appears they have taken their phone number off their website, so at best, the future for Jointech looks dubious.

Best regards,

Mike

[dusty]

Thanks for the input. How difficult/annoying is it to adjust the height of the router bit on the shopsmith router table for the incra system? This seems like it could be extremely tedious without a router lift.

Also, I am not certain Jointech is out of business, but they not replied to the last email I sent to them, and it appears they have taken their phone number off their website, so at best, the future for Jointech looks dubious.

Best regards,

Mike

Jointech has always been notorious for not getting back to you in a timely manner. I personnaly know of three sales that were lost (not mine) for want of a response to a telecon.

[tdubnik]

This has been an ongoing problem with them. I had placed my order about 2 years ago before Christmas. After waiting a month I hadn't heard anything and no responses to my emails either. In january I ran into Earnest at the woodworking show in Atlanta and discussed it with him. He gave me his card and I called him several times after. Lots of promises and finally a delivery.

Doing business with them was tough and not one I would enter into again knowing what I know.

I will admit that the Jointech system is very nice and well made. It is equally accurate to Incra and has a couple of features I like better. If they could get their act together, they have a good product.