incra fence, first impressions

[John Casley]

this thing appears to be a joke after two hours of fumbling with it.
for one, the fence is worthless ( damaged ), they are shipping a replacement ...
two, the supplied bolts will not fit a metric table.
i gave up installation several hours into to install ...

 

[woodshopdemos]

John,
  Sorry to hear about your Incra problems. I have had a number of Incra products and nothing but high grades for them and their installaton. What Incra product are you trying to install.

 

[fidelfs]

this thing appears to be a joke after two hours of fumbling with it.
for one, the fence is worthless ( damaged ), they are shipping a replacement ...
two, the supplied bolts will not fit a metric table.
i gave up installation several hours into to install ...

Could you elaborate about "the supplied bolts will not fit a metric table" what is a metric table?  Do you have the holes based in metric? I don't get it, please clarify...

 

[Dave Ronyak]

John C.,

Sorry to hear of your problems.  I suggest you stick with your efforts to complete its setup, then try it, then judge it.  I have a JoinTech fence and positioning machine mounted on my table saw in place of the normal cast iron side extension table, with a router plate in each.  It took me much, much longer than I anticipated to setup my system and JoinTech was not much help at that time because my table saw was then a new model with enough differences that they couldn't much advise me or forewarn me of potential fitment issues I little by little learned I had to deal with.  Some were substantial due to differences in JoinTech's planned amount of elevational difference between the mounting holes for the front and back rails of their system (which is similar to that of Incra).  For a time I was about ready to send it back.  But after all the fiddling to get it adjusted I like it very much, both for sawing and routing.  I equipped that saw with a Tenyru Gold Medal combination blade which provides a glue ready edge smoother than what I obtain with my TS 55 with a new Fine Tooth blade.  And when I want to shave just a hair off a workpiece, the precision leadscrew (again very much like that of Incra's system) makes that very quick and easy to do, with perfect repeatability if needed.  That fence and positioning machine have enabled me to make some very good fitting variably spaced dovetails, too.  After adding solid wood edgeing to a piece of plywood, e.g. for a shelf, I use that fence with a table mounted router and double bearing (or top bearing) flush cutting bit.  I hook up two dust collection hoses, one to the end of the fence (again similar to Incra except that Incra has a larger DC fitting!), the second to the router underneath the table.  This makes for rather good dust collection.

Dave R.

 

[John Casley]

i finished setting it up tonight and am impressed with the results.
i am still not impressed with the quality of the product versus jessem.

the only way i kept my sanity was to throw away the instructions...

it still feels flimsy, but i have to admit the cuts are nice.

if/when jessem makes a fence, this one will be for sale.

 

[John Casley]

this thing appears to be a joke after two hours of fumbling with it.
for one, the fence is worthless ( damaged ), they are shipping a replacement ...
two, the supplied bolts will not fit a metric table.
i gave up installation several hours into to install ...

Could you elaborate about "the supplied bolts will not fit a metric table" what is a metric table?  Do you have the holes based in metric? I don't get it, please clarify...

my jet pro shop is threaded for 6mm bolts, not 3/8.  that would not be a big deal if the incra website did not display their stuff on jet saws.

i think i just expected too much for such an inexpensive accessory.

when/if jessem comes out with their version, i will either sell this

 

[John Casley]

my power switch used to attach to my fence....

now where?

 

[Dave Ronyak]

John,

My comment may miss the mark since I have a General International TS equipped with JoinTech's SawTrain system, but the extruded aluminum rails secured to the front and back of my saw have T-slots on the front, bottom and inside edges.  Although I could have used hex nuts, I made my own "nuts" by cutting off short pieces of 1/8" thick bar stock and drilling and tapping them to accept machine screws/bolts.  The metal switch box for my General saw has a top flange that enables the box to be bolted to the front rail at any position along its length.  Since I also have two routers set up in the side extension tables, I purchased two boxed safety switches for these, the kind that have a large red paddle that you push to shut off the switch.  To attach these to the front rails, I made simple L-shaped mounting plates of plywood.  The top flange of the mounting plate is bored through to accept a pair of machine screws which engage a pair of the shopmade aluminum nuts fitted into the T-channel on the underside of the front rail.  The boxed switch is attached to the vertical flange of the wooden mounting plate using wood screws.  Very simple, easily installed, removed or re-positioned when needed.  Here are a couple of photos showing the wooden mounting plates and the cross-sectional configuration of my saw rails.

[attachthumb=1]

I had to drill mounting holes through the edges of my TS top casting to fit the JoinTech SawTrain system, those existent for General's steel rails and Biesenmeyer fence could not be used due to differences in needed elevation.

Sorry for my clumsiness in handling photos.  I intended to include two different photos, but only one came through, undoubtedly due to my syntax errors.  Then I tried to delete the "specified attachment missing" by deleting my second photo insert instruction.  Who knows what will happen next?  Matthew and the PC Police will likely be coming after me!

Dave R.

 

[Ken Milhinch]

After trying an Incra 1000SE mitre gauge, I was left with the impression of an overpriced, flimsy product too. Personally I wouldn't consider their products again.

 

[nickao]

What? I have a ton of Incra and everything is just top notch. I would not give up on an entire product line because of one item you did not like. The Incra 3000 and the incra 5000 are fantastic! Heck if I based all of Festool on their ETS 125 I would never had purchased another item from them. And the trouble I had with the Kapex forget it. Festool was worth looking into further and I submit Incra is also. The Incra 1000SE is near the bottom of the line with them.

The incra set up for my table saw is  the best fence system I have used and the incra LS is a design marvel for both the router table and table saw. I just love them. They are anything but flimsy!

 

[Ken Milhinch]

You make a fair case in saying that I should not condemn a product range on the basis of one product. Nevertheless, I was so disappointed in the product it has left me very wary.
I know many woodworkers swear by them, but I am yet to be convinced they are well enough made to be worth the bucks.

 

[Dave Ronyak]

I use the basic Incra mitre gauge on my table saw.  I'd be happier if the metal stamping were of a heavier gauge and if the height of the front was greater, so it could have open-ended slots to facilitate addition and removal of a wooden fence (like I can do with my Shopsmith mitre gauge which has a cast aluminum head) but it works well as it came at a price of about $50.  If and when I upgrade, I will probably buy a mitre gauge from Kreg or Jessum.  Of course, those products cost much more.

Nick,

I'm happy with my ETS 125.  I use it and my LS 130 more than my other sanders because of their light weight and ease of control.

Dave R.

 

[nickao]

I guess when you have a sander that is so much better than one you can not go back. I sold my 2nd ETS 125(gift) to someone here on the forum and my first one on eBay as it took so long to sand I wanted to throw the thing against the wall. It does give a nice finish, but it takes way to long for me.

I think if you try the PC 390 you may never touch that ETS 125 again. Different strokes for different folks. Plus what I do and the methods I use requires a stronger sander, if you saw what I was doing you probably would reach for another sander too. For example the Rotex is the sander I use most followed by the RS2 and the 150/3.

You know, the metal is a little thin on some of the incra products, especially compared to the jointech saw train I had. In the end I preferred the incra and sold the jointech. The metal has not been an actual issue. The jointech sure is solid though.

 

[bonesbr549]

After trying an Incra 1000SE mitre gauge, I was left with the impression of an overpriced, flimsy product too. Personally I wouldn't consider their products again.

Wow, I've had the 1000se since I got my cabinet saw and its always dead on the money. I also have the ls120 fince on my router table and can dial in a micro at a time.  What gave you the impression of flimsy? 

 

[nickao]

I never used the 1000SE, but I almost think he may have received a bad unit?

 

[Ken Milhinch]

I have tried hard to forget my experiences with that product, but I recall a ruler which is not fixed to the product, thereby making accurate measurement impossible, and there was too much movement in the mitre slot which could not be corrected. The piece of cheap aluminium which sits at right angles to the slot also had some free play, thus making accurate cuts problematic. There were other things, but I really can't recall.

 

[mwhafner]

A little off topic, but if you aren't happy with the Incra miter gauge, try the Osborne B3.  They have recently dropped the price to Incra territory and IMHO is a much better product. 

Incra makes some excellent products, and I don't really have anything against the miter gauges.  They work fine for me, just a little harder to setup accurately.  The new "Jig-It" system is very handy, and is the new home of the fence off of my 1000SE. 

 

[Ken Milhinch]

Thanks, I have long since sold the Incra, and am currently using the Woodhaven, which I am very happy with thus far. The Osborne was next on my list as a matter of fact.

 

[bonesbr549]

I have tried hard to forget my experiences with that product, but I recall a ruler which is not fixed to the product, thereby making accurate measurement impossible, and there was too much movement in the mitre slot which could not be corrected. The piece of cheap aluminium which sits at right angles to the slot also had some free play, thus making accurate cuts problematic. There were other things, but I really can't recall.

The scale is movable by design.  You can put and set to zero for left or or right to zero to the blade, nice feature.  The miter is completely adjustable to the slot.  The two white discs in the bottom are used to fully adjust to the left right and exactly how tight you want it to be (front and rear of the MG).  Use the hex key that came with it.  I can dial it to slide easy or dang near not budge. 

 

[nickao]

Sometimes certain products are not for certain people. I see some 1 star reviews on Amazon for things I would give a 5 star.

The sliding rule is my favorite feature! Its not a flaw but a improvement. It allows you to zero out and do many other things. SO mentioning that in itself just shows you will never like this or any Incra product. All the Incra stuff is like that and is a fantastic improvement over fixed tapes. If you hate what makes the products great, the product is obviously not for you. That sliding measure on my Incra table saw is the best thing ever.

I have all the Woodhaven stuff(I believe every jig they make) and I love them, you made a good choice. But I love all my Incra stuff too and you could not pry my Incra items from my cold, dead  hands. I love coming to the saw three weeks later and making an exact duplicate of a piece just by setting the fence once. Repeatable and accurate every time.