after market bandsaw fences

[HowardH]

I have a Powermatic PM1500 bandsaw.  It's a fantastic saw, heavy, accurate and quiet.  However, the fence can be problematic. It can be attached two ways, in tall mode with a 6" high for resawing and flipped 90 deg with about at .75" for narrow stock.  There's no in between.  In the tall mode, you have raise the blade guide at least 7" to allow clearance for the fence if you want to rip anything under about 2" wide. In the short mode, there's not enough support to rip something around 2" thick. So it's a Goldilocks situation. The tall side is too tall and the short side is too short.  What aftermarket BS fence would be a better option?

 

[Peter_C]

Stick with the same fence as it looks nice. You could probably change the extrusion fairly easily to whatever height you want. You could also add a piece of wood or extrusion to the tall fence to offset it. Drill holes if you have to into the current extrusion.

 

[HowardH]

I also saw a product called a mag fence. It’s quite a bit shorter and doesn’t require any mounting per se

 

[Peter_C]

I also saw a product called a mag fence. It’s quite a bit shorter and doesn’t require any mounting per se

Yes, I made one as my Doall didn't come with a fence, and already had the mag switches that can be purchased from Amazon or other places. They are a little fiddly to adjust, but you can make it any height you want, or just buy the fence ready to go.

I have been trying to find a reasonable price on a Biesemeyer fence to cut down for my bandsaw that has a 24" table. I am rather jealous of your fence.

 

[smorgasbord]

I haven't used it, but in the past have considered: Carter Bandsaw Fence

They also sell 3" and 5" "sacrificial fences" that attach to the aluminum extrusion.

 

[HowardH]

I also saw a product called a mag fence. It’s quite a bit shorter and doesn’t require any mounting per se

Yes, I made one as my Doall didn't come with a fence, and already had the mag switches that can be purchased from Amazon or other places. They are a little fiddly to adjust, but you can make it any height you want, or just buy the fence ready to go.

I have been trying to find a reasonable price on a Biesemeyer fence to cut down for my bandsaw that has a 24" table. I am rather jealous of your fence.

I generally think the factory fence is pretty good but it can be a bit finicky to adjust. It's also heavy to take on and off the table.  Don't have to lift weights if you use it a lot. 

 

[CeeJay]

I use the Carter MagFence on my 14” Powermatic bandsaw. I like it as I can use taller or shorter fences as per pics. Its really easy to set up and use - can set it square by referencing off the factory fence if necessary, or by referencing off the mitre slot.

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[HowardH]

I use the Carter MagFence on my 14” Powermatic bandsaw. I like it as I can use taller or shorter fences as per pics. It’s really easy to set up and use - can set it square by referencing off the factory fence if necessary, or by referencing off the mitre slot.

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Quite a few of the reviews posted on the Magfence were critical of it not being square to the table.  Did you find this to be the case?

 

[CeeJay]

It has two locking adjustment grub screws which allow you to get it exactly square to the table. So long as these are set correctly it’s perfect. These have to be set in the ‘mag locked’ position, as it does shift very slightly when the magnets are activated.

If I use a taller sacrificial fence as it’s only fixed at the base to the MagFence the top can be off-square by maybe 0.5mm. This can be addressed using a shim if necessary.

I have found it to be very square - I can routinely cut 1.5mm veneers 6” tall using this set up.

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[HowardH]

It has two locking adjustment grub screws which allow you to get it exactly square to the table. So long as these are set correctly it’s perfect.

If I use a taller sacrificial fence as it’s only fixed at the base to the MagFence the top can be off-square. This can be addressed using a shim if necessary.

I have found it to be very square - I can routinely cut 1.5mm veneers 6” tall using this set up.

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Cool!  The height is in between the PM fence at the tall side and short one.  It would also allow to keep the factory fence intact for when I need it.