Any recent thoughts on Incra Miter 5000 or Jessem Clear Cut TS Guides?

[rjboch]

Hi and hope all are well! I am thinking about outfitting my Sawstop Professional Table Saw with an Incra Miter 5000 sled and the Jessem Clear Cut TS Guides. I recognize that there have been tons of previous/older posts, but can anyone provide any recent thoughts or experiences with these two accessories (e.g., was it a big improvement)? I have read many great reviews and like the idea of the help with ripping and the control and precision for crosscuts. At about $600 (total) I want to carefully weigh all options before pulling the trigger. BTW - I have watched all videos and read many posts on building your own jigs, but I don't feel like building my own sled. Thanks for the help!

 

[rmhinden]

I have the Clear Cut TS Guides on my SawStop PCS (3HP, 36").    I like them a lot, and used them as much as possible.  I made a fixture with MagLocks to attach it to the fence.

I have a Kreg miter gauge that I bought previously, I don't use it very much with the table saw as I do most of my cross cutting on my Kapex.  One does need to be careful with metal cross cut fences on the SawStop.....

BTW, there is an active SawStop Facebook group.  Good place to ask SawStop questions.

Bob

 

[ChuckM]

The Stock Guides are used in most rips unless the stock is too short.

Not known to many Stock Guide users, they can actually handle narrow pieces well -- see image (I was making strips for shop-made dominoes).

I also use the front guide as a stop block from time to time, instead of clamping a block on the fence.

But the best use of them, other than ripping, is when I need to handle a large ply sheet. The guides keep the sheet tight to the fence as I push, making the cut precise (and square if the saw is properly tuned). Part of the reasons why I sold my TS75 after installing the stock guides. Stock Guides used with the SawStop's riving knife/dust collection blade guard offer the safest cabinet saw I can have against kickbacks and finger/hand injuries.

 

[Birdhunter]

I’m wrapping up a build of a large table and two benches. The Jessem guides were mounted on my SawStop for most of the project. They really work. I have the guides mounted on a board that uses MagSwitches at each end to attach to the SawStop fence.

 

[Canoescapes]

I cannot comment on the Incra 5000.  However, like Bob and Birdhunter, I have the Jessem stock guides mounted with MagSwitches to my table saw fence.  I would not be without them -- extremely valuable safety feature as well as a useful aid in making precise rip cuts.  Jessem is a top notch manufacturer.

For an excellent video on mounting the stock guides with MagSwitches, go to Dave Stanton's Youtube channel.  I think Dave is both entertaining and very knowledgeable. 

 

[jonnyrocket]

I have both and really like both of them.

There is no equal for the Jessem Saw Guides. I would not hesitate buying them again if something happened to one of them (though I don't know what could happen to them, the build quality is impeccable)

I also use and really like the Miter5000. Again, I am not aware of a commercially available alternative for this one either.
In hindsight, the one thing I would do differently, is to set it up for use on the left side of the saw blade. The instructions default is to set it up for use on the right side of the blade. But either option is possible.

 

[grbmds]

I own the Incra Miter Express 1000HD for my table saw and love it. With it in place, I sometimes crosscut on my small table saw now. Previously I only used my Festool track saw and table for crosscutting because it was the most accurate and square. Now my table saw does the jot also.

I own the Jessem Clear Cut Stock guides for my Incra router table. I also love them when I use them but don't have as much use for them on the router table as I though I would. When I do use them they work extremely well and I imagine would work in the same way for a table saw.

 

[rjboch]

Thanks for the responses! I just purchased the Jessem guides and after watching two excellent youtube videos from Ng and Paolini I decided to put on my big boy pants and build my cross-cut sled.

 

[HarveyWildes]

I have the Clear Cut TS Guides on my SawStop PCS (3HP, 36").    I like them a lot, and used them as much as possible.  I made a fixture with MagLocks to attach it to the fence.

I have a Kreg miter gauge that I bought previously, I don't use it very much with the table saw as I do most of my cross cutting on my Kapex.  One does need to be careful with metal cross cut fences on the SawStop.....

BTW, there is an active SawStop Facebook group.  Good place to ask SawStop questions.

Bob

Ditto on making a fixture w/ MagLocks for Clear Cut TS Guides.  Works great, and I do take them off for certain fixturing and cuts.  I also replaced the fence faces with super-track from Woodpeckers, and the fixture is needed to the get the guides above the super-track.

Also ditto on the Kreg miter gauge.  After using Incra and Jessum gauges, I fell in love with the Kreg gauge.  It's much lighter than the Jessum, and I like the adjustability over the Incra gauges.  It's easy to set dead-on, and it has a nice fence and stop.

 

[yetihunter]

I owned both.  The Jessem table saw guide rollers are amazing.  Buy without hesitation.
I liked the incra sled initially, but it had it’s issues and I threw it at the wall at one point.  If I owned a Sawstop cabinet saw, I’d have already bought the smaller crosscut sled with it and wouldn’t be looking elsewhere. 

 

[derekcohen]

I have the JessEm CCTG on my Hammer K3 slider ...

The JessEm hold downs pull the work piece against the fence. This creates a very clean cut - absolutely glue ready if joining boards.

Regards from Perth

Derek

 

[ChuckM]

Some users have commented about installing the Stock Guides on a plywood base with MagSwitch magnets. I decided against it when I bought my Stock Guides, and these have been my considerations/observations:

- The magnets aren't cheap, and you have to use the big ones; fine if you have a couple to spare, but I don't.
- The roller assemblies can be removed from the track, leaving only the low profile plate on the saw fence. The plate won't affect the use of any of the saw jigs I've made for my saw (and as verified by my actual experience over the past years).
- And the last unintended benefit is that because of their constant availability, I tend to use them all the time (including using one as a stop block).

 

[LZ]

I own Jessem stock guides installed on my table saw and router table fences. Very happy with the way those work. Woodworking is a hobby and I do not use table saw or router often. After about a year and half "tires" on both guides turned into something very guy and sticky. I live in Florida and it is possible that tropical climate had something to do with it. Having said that I would buy Jessem guides again. Not sure if Jessem is using different material today.

 

[gsdvorak]

Question for those who currently own the TS Guides:  how clean is the cut when using them?  Any saw marks?  I use my table saw mostly for ripping hardwoods, and get clean cuts for shorter-length boards when I use the GRRPER to guide the boards through, but they are not a good solution for much longer boards.  Hoping these guides may cover this need.  Fyi- my setup is a Delta Unisaw with Biesemeyer fence system.

Regards,
Gerald

 

[ChuckM]

Too many things can affect the amount of saw marks:

- blade used
- fence set-up vs the blade
- feed rate (your technique)
- lumber
- blade maintenance
- dust collection or the lack of it
- etc.

The Stock Guides alone are not going to help if the above are the main causes for saw marks. Speaking for myself, I don't think I'm happy with the saw marks I see on my stock (SawStop PCS, dust collection blade guard, Stock Guides, Woodworker II - 30 T and 42T(?), and SawStop Titanium) as finished edges. I always plane them away -- you can sand them off, of course.

 

[HarveyWildes]

...
- And the last unintended benefit is that because of their constant availability, I tend to use them all the time (including using one as a stop block).

I like the stop block idea - hadn't thought of that.

 

[Mario Turcot]

[member=20329]Gerald_D[/member] the TS guides prevent the stock from leaving the fence. This produce a more straight cut. That being said, if your fence is not well alligned the cut may be off with or without. It is also tricky to use the TS guides for small stock cut. This is why I have mine on two SMALL mag switch, they hold prretty well  [tongue]

Another thing to consider with the TS guides. If you do a long rip cut, make sure you have an outfeed table or any support. At the very end of the cut, the stock is holded by only one guide.

 

[rjboch]

I wanted to throw out a quick update on my sled. I ended up building one and it was pretty easy. Some highlights:

- Microjig Zeroplay Miter Bars
- Approximately 21"x32" and mostly scrap BB I had lying around.
- Used William Ng's 5 cut method to align fence. Now accurate within 0.001"!
- Kreg T-track and Woodpecker Hold Down Clamp
- Added Fastcap measuring tape to deck (easy to clamp a stop-block for easy repeatability)
- To help better control dust, I added an old Miele vacuum wand (enters blade guard on back of fence) and I connect to my Festool Midi.

 

[Mario Turcot]

[member=70813]rjboch[/member] Thatès a pretty nice sled  [smile]