Incra TS/LS fence... Anybody have one? Impressions/thoughts/endorsements?

[billg71]

I'd like to hear anything any of you who own/use/have used the Incra TS fence have to say about it, good or bad.

I'm space-challenged and need to integrate the table saw and router table(which I don't have right now, the old top finally warped past usefulness and wound up on the burn pile). It's either cobble up something to accommodate my Bosch 4100 and the Rousseau 2775 stand along with a router table or just give up on the silk purse/sow's ear thing, bite the bullet and start from scratch. So I'm thinking of combining the Jet Proshop saw with the Incra TS/LS combo.

I can't find anyone around here who has the Incra TS/LS to play with hands on so I need some input. From the videos it looks like an excellent router table setup but I'm wondering just how good it works as a table saw fence.

Any feedback you have to offer is appreciated...

TIA,
Bill

 

[Joe Smith]

I have had the old Incra TSIII for over 10 years now.  It is one of my better purchases.  I have used it on two different saws.  I believe the only difference between the one I have and that one is the screw is in a different place.

The ability to adjust it is better then any other fence that is out there.  Also the repeatability can not be beat.  You can lock it in at a point, readjust it all day long and then come back and lock it back in at the same point and it will be right on.

Right now, I have mine hooked to a PM66.  I bumped the far end of the fence earlier and it moved the whole table saw a little.  It is solid once it is locked down.

 

[wascallyrabbit]

i have one on my table saw with the wonder fence for the router table.  mounted the router table on the left and a second set of stops on the rails for use woth the router table.  one thing to keep in mind is that the screw lead must have space to the right the bigger the cut the farther to the right its sticks out.  i have the 52" so i need something near 60" to the right of the mounting (lock) plate.  other than the space requirements to the right and not having to flip it because the router table is on the left i would recommend it.  the accuracy and repeatability of the system is awesome.

 

[Gregory Paolini]

I have the Incra TS3, and have been using it for about a decade.  I build furniture & cabinetry professionally.  I love it - My only gripe is that you cant use saddle style jigs with it, like you can with bisemeyer fences.  But I've learned to adapt.  The pro's certainly out weigh the cons with this fence....  Almost like festool Made it

Anyway, I'm about 3 hours north of Atlanta - If you're ever heading twords Asheville, just let me know, and perhaps you can come check it out.

-gp

 

[Joe Smith]

The only issue I have with the fence is that on the 50" version, if I need to make a cut over 33" I have to slide the mounting base over
& then slide it back when making narrower cuts. It is not a huge issue, but it is an extra step that you do not have with other fences.

Chris, that is one of the reasons I went with the smaller one.  It is very rare that I have to make a cut bigger then 32" on the table saw.  If I do, I have a SCMS, RAS, and the TS55 and MFT/3 to make the cuts that are big.

Bill, if you asked this question a year and a half ago (when I left Atlanta), I would let you come over and check mine out.

 

[billg71]

Thanks to all for the feedback! Sorry not to have been back sooner, I think I finally figured out how to get reply notification in the settings...(and yesterday I got to go see Dan at Highland and talk Festool, today I got to go fishing for the first time since October).

I figure repeatability is pretty much a given with the Incra system but it's good to hear from folks who use it that it's sturdy as well, that was my biggest concern.

Chris, really, really nice job on the Powermatic, very well done. Wish I had your space to work with.  [sad] I can squeeze in the 6' rail package on a mobile base but there's no way I can handle a 52" setup. Hey, at least I don't have to worry about moving the mounting base... I don't have room to rip sheet goods on the tablesaw so I do the initial breakdown with the TS55 anyway.

Greg, I have all intentions of dropping by but this Winter has just been so bad I haven't even made it up to the Nantahala since late October. Either I'll get a chance to come up to Andrews or Bryson City to fish in the next couple of months or I'll just make a woodworking trip and come to see you. Asheville is such a neat town and I haven't been to Hunter-Banks for a couple of years, it'll make a nice trip.

Thanx to all of you for the info!

Bill