I have a Vega Fence that came on an old saw I got from Craigslist. One
thing I've noticed is that when I lock the fence in place it changes
its alignment relative to the miter slots. I have it so that when tight
its perfectly parallel so it's not really a problem but just wondering
if this was typical? Is something loose somewhere?

damian penney wrote:
I have a Vega Fence that came on an old saw I got from Craigslist. One
thing I've noticed is that when I lock the fence in place it changes
its alignment relative to the miter slots. I have it so that when tight
its perfectly parallel so it's not really a problem but just wondering
if this was typical? Is something loose somewhere?

Mine comes to rest slightly out of alignment when I move it because
there's a little play between the rail and the shoe that rides the
rail, and when I lock the fence the play is removed and it goes back
into alignment.

It's never been a problem to me either. I thought all fences did that.
Why would it need to be in perfect alignment when it wasn't locked in
place?

I set that sucker for 6 7/16, and I get a board that's exactly 6
7/16ths. Don't gotta measure nuthin. I still measure it sometimes, but
it's always dead on. Even after several years, that is SO cool. I spent
too much time messing with bassackwards fences, I guess.

Why would it need to be in perfect alignment when it wasn't locked in
place?


The only time it poses a problem is if I'm adjusting the saw by placing
a previously cut piece between the fence and the blade and moving the
fence till its all snug. If I then remove the piece and lock the fence
into position it will actually be a cut the piece a hair thinner
because the fence has moved a smidge inwards towards the blade.

"damian penney" wrote in message

Why would it need to be in perfect alignment when it wasn't locked in
place?


The only time it poses a problem is if I'm adjusting the saw by placing
a previously cut piece between the fence and the blade and moving the
fence till its all snug. If I then remove the piece and lock the fence
into position it will actually be a cut the piece a hair thinner
because the fence has moved a smidge inwards towards the blade.

Rarely have I seen a fence that wouldn't exhibit this behavior to some
extent upon locking to a width in that scenario.

There is a lock, unlock, reset/re-lock sequence with most fences that will
generally give satisfaction and accuracy for that situation, and every fence
is different, so you just have to experiment for what work's the best.

That said, the above should not be necessary when setting the fence to the
rail tape.


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damian penney wrote:
The only time it poses a problem is if I'm adjusting the saw by placing
a previously cut piece between the fence and the blade and moving the
fence till its all snug. If I then remove the piece and lock the fence
into position it will actually be a cut the piece a hair thinner
because the fence has moved a smidge inwards towards the blade.

There are fences that don't behave like that? When I do that sort of
thing I use the micro-adjuster and I still run a piece of scrap to make
sure it's right. Usually it is.

Like I said, I haven't used a lot of fences. Or at least I think I said
something like that. I can't imagine being able to afford a fence that
was so dead on that it slid up and down the rail in perfect alignment.
I know such a fence is possible, I just didn't think you could have one
for less than a grand. Seems like it would have to have alignment rails
on both sides.

So, who's got a fence that does that? Biesemeyer? Maybe I'll sell my
Vega. :-)

Actually, no I wouldn't. I'm too happy with my current setup. But now
you got me curious.

wrote in message

I can't imagine being able to afford a fence that
was so dead on that it slid up and down the rail in perfect alignment.
I know such a fence is possible, I just didn't think you could have one
for less than a grand. Seems like it would have to have alignment rails
on both sides.

Nope ... my UniFence is consistent (accurate is relative to another entity)
from next to the blade, out to 52", and it only has rails on one side. I
would not accept a fence system that did not consistently read the same.

As far as "accurate", my Unifence precisely agrees with two of my Stanley
10' measuring tapes ... a "Happiness Is" in the shop.

With most any tool that has moving parts, there is play in the mechanism and
a specific direction, when adjusting, that you should always use to
compensate for that play.

Many fences move very slightly (usually toward the blade, IME) upon
engagement of the locking handle/mechanism, but that movement is taken into
account during the calibration of the rail tape on assembly and setup of
saw/fence/rail, and is a moot point when using the rail tape to set up a
cut.

The only time this noticeable is if you move the unlocked fence against a
piece of wood that is against the blade and then engage the lock. Many
fences will slightly pinch/push the wood more tightly against the blade upon
locking.

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Swingman wrote:
wrote in message

I can't imagine being able to afford a fence that
was so dead on that it slid up and down the rail in perfect alignment.
I know such a fence is possible, I just didn't think you could have one
for less than a grand. Seems like it would have to have alignment rails
on both sides.

Nope ... my UniFence is consistent (accurate is relative to another entity)
from next to the blade, out to 52", and it only has rails on one side. I
would not accept a fence system that did not consistently read the same.

As far as "accurate", my Unifence precisely agrees with two of my Stanley
10' measuring tapes ... a "Happiness Is" in the shop.

Well, so does my Vega, when it's locked. In this message you appear to
be saying your Unifence is dead-on accurate when it's unlocked as well.
But in your previous post you say that a bit of fence play in an
unlocked fence is acceptable where a bit of play at the indicator is
not. That's how it is with my Vega. A little play at the fence, none at
the indicator.

wrote in message


Well, so does my Vega, when it's locked. In this message you appear to
be saying your Unifence is dead-on accurate when it's unlocked as well.

That's not what I said ... TS fences are only meant to be used when they're
locked, so any other state is totally irrelevant, IMO.

But in your previous post you say that a bit of fence play in an
unlocked fence is acceptable where a bit of play at the indicator is
not. That's how it is with my Vega. A little play at the fence, none at
the indicator.

Actually, I have 52" of "play" in my Unifence when it is unlocked ...

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Swingman wrote:
wrote in message


Well, so does my Vega, when it's locked. In this message you appear to
be saying your Unifence is dead-on accurate when it's unlocked as well.

That's not what I said ... TS fences are only meant to be used when they're
locked, so any other state is totally irrelevant, IMO.

But in your previous post you say that a bit of fence play in an
unlocked fence is acceptable where a bit of play at the indicator is
not. That's how it is with my Vega. A little play at the fence, none at
the indicator.

Actually, I have 52" of "play" in my Unifence when it is unlocked ...

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Thanks for the input guys, glad to hear that it is indeed normal. I
bought the TS used so wasn't 100% sure that this was the expected
behavior, glad to hear that it is.