TO: All those owning Incra router table fences

[Bay Area Dave]

To All:

I'm still contemplating replacing my router table and outfitting the new
one with an Incra split fence. Does anyone LOVE their Incra or is it a
PITA? I got a great couple of responses from one fella last month, but
would still like to hear from others. Esp. would like to know if you
regret getting the Incra.

The reason I ask is the manual is HUGE and am afraid it might be too
much trouble to deal with. Not that I'm stupid with things technical,
but I don't want to get bogged down when it's time to cut some
dovetails. I will be doing arched raised panels also and want a fence
that comes close to "zero clearance" around the bits.

TIA, guys,

Dave

[DJ Delorie]

I love my Incra, but it's not the split fence. It's just the regular
fence. I would have gotten the split fence if I could have justified
the additional cost, but I couldn't. I did make an auxiliary fence
out of melamine that clamps to the regular fence, for tall boards
and/or large bits, seems to handle the few cases where I need more
than a 1" hole.

[Loyd Blankenship]

I don't have the split fence, just an Ultra. I absolutely love the precision
it gives me. I don't find myself using the joint-making capabilities as much
as I'd thought I would, but it is fantastic for general routing.

Loyd

[Jack2927]

I have both the Twin Linear and the TS II precision fences. I love them both
and would never give them up. They are tools in the shop that I never regretted
buying. Actually the Twin Linear is a replacement for an Ultra II. I wanted the
extra capabilities it provided. Its not difficult to use once you learn how.

Jack
Jack Welch
www.perfectpens.com

[Bay Area Dave]

Jack,

Do you use it for dovetails too?

[Dust Boy]

Got a twin linear Incra love it. It will out perform me. As I need
something trick that I can do with it I learn as needed.

Mike
"Bay Area Dave" <da...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:3DEFD234...@hotmail.com...

[Bay Area Dave]

All you guys that responded are getting me all jazzed up to get the
Incra fence!

Dave

[GerryG]

I've had an Ultra for several years, and added their Wonder fence last
year. I've done raised panel and most of their fancy joints. Still, my
biggest use was my main reason for buying it, and that's to get a
precision system. I especially like, when I have to go back and make
"...one more of the same" that I can duplicate any piece I've made.

The manual I haven't looked at for awhile, other than the dovetail
templates. I suspect that, if you take your time and slowly go through
the entire manual, any future reference won't be any more than a quick
glance at their abreviated guide picture.

As an aside, make sure you've got real good dust collection when doing
those raised panels.

Gerry

[Bay Area Dave]

Thanks for your response, Gerry.

About the DC. I have a DC, but what are you using on the table to route
it to a collection port? A Lexan bit guard or what? Brand?

Dave

[Sprog]

The Incra fence is great if you want to do accurate and also repeatable positioning cuts.
Mine is not the split fence but I have never regretted getting it and would buy it again if I had
to.
I also use it on the Drill Press and TS for accurate positioning.
It is easy to set up and use, just follow the instructions in the manual which is easy to understand
and follow.

[Loyd Blankenship]

I've given more than passing thought to hacking my ultra into a nice
drill-press fence and getting the twin linear. I don't want to do that until
I build my own uber-cabinet/table tho.

Loyd

[JGS]

Hi BAD,
I see I am in the minority but I am very disappointed in my Intelli-Fence.
Next to my PC linear sander it is my disappointing purchase. I cannot get
the infeed and outfeed fences parallel without a whole lot of friging. I
usually resort to a board and clamps. AND Incra never responded to my emails
asking for assistance. JG

[Andy Dingley]

On Thu, 05 Dec 2002 22:25:43 GMT, Bay Area Dave <da...@hotmail.com>
wrote:

>I'm still contemplating replacing my router table and outfitting the new

>one with an Incra split fence.

I've got a home made table, an Incra Ultra, and a couple of home made
fences. I don't have their split fence, and I see no reason to buy it
(they're damned expensive in the UK).

My "big fence" took about an evening to make. It's a braced L-girder
of MDF, with a box in the middle for dust extraction. Depth adjust is
by pivoting on two thumbwheel bolts into threaded inserts in the
table. There's a false fence on the front, adjustable by sliding on a
couple of roofing bolts. The fences have a square end and an angled
end, so swapping them round and sliding them in and out will adjust to
fit closely around most cutters. For jointing I can drop a shim or
two (paxolin or fibreglass PCB) behind the outfeed fence.

I also have a "high fence", which is much the same but twice the
height. I only use it for panel raising, tongue and groove etc.

One day I'll do photos and web stuff....

[Barry]

Incra/Woodpecker Can't beat the combination!

[Bay Area Dave]

How about calling them via phone?

JGS wrote:
>
> Hi BAD,

[GerryG]

I built a closed table, and the DC connects to the side. In addition,
the wonder fence has a dust port that I've run into the side of the
table. I don't care about anything that flies off the table (little
does), but raised panels generate a lot of chips and they can cause
tearout if not cleared quickly.

[Bay Area Dave]

thnx, Gerry

Any pics?

dave

[Bernie Hunt]

Dave,

Get one from Woodpeck.com and if you ever have a problem, call their 800
number. I spoke to them just the other day about some additional parts for
mine.

I have a Twin Linear, split fence. I love it! It's dead on accurate down to
1/32" and repeatable to 0/0. Way more accurate then you can get wood! I also
have their miter gauge and will be getting a drill press table one of these
days. It's very cool that you can switch parts between the various parts.

Regarding the thick manual, it's because it can do alot. If you have a copy
of the manual, you'll notice that there are quick check lists for each type
of joints. Once you know how to do an operation, then you only need to be
reminded, not re-explained.

I've had mine for about 2 years and won't give it back! I've cut dove tails,
box joints, raised panel door and lots of other stuff.

The only downside I will give you is that it's not a dove tail machine! If
you need production quantities of dovetails, then get a Leigh. If you want
occational dove tails and a fence that's always dead on accurate, get an
Incra!

BTW, you'll probably want some of their cool rulers with the slots in them.
Once you get used to 1/32" accuracy with no effort, you'll find it infects
your other areas of woodworking, hahahaha.

Bernie

"Bay Area Dave" <da...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:3DF0D21B...@hotmail.com...

[Bay Area Dave]

Bernie,

Thanks for the info. I won't be doing production--just hobbyist level
stuff--at least for a while. How about 1/2 blind DT's? DJ mentioned a
while back that a void is left on those, using the Incra.

You guys are giving me the urge to find the nearest store with all the
Incra stuff. I don't believe anyone in San Jose sells the Incra router
fences. CBTools has a limited selection of Incra. Maybe
Woodcrafter's. They are only 48 miles from me.

dave

[GerryG]

Dave,
I'll endorse Bernie's comments here. While you may be able to get it
elsewhere for a little less, you won't beat Woodpeckers for support and
advice. I also agree on his production dovetail comments. Also, you can
create additional templates to use with the Incra.

Oh, and I don't quite get Bernie's repeatability of 0/0. Mine varies
about 0.002, between summer and winter:-)
Gerry

[Bay Area Dave]

Gerry,

Well, if it is off THAT MUCH (2 THOU) I don't know if I could sleep
nights, knowing I could be working my wood with such imprecision! <g>

dave

GerryG wrote:
>
> Dave,
<snip>

[GerryG]

But...the real problem is that the wood keeps varying more than that.
So, if I start a project for SWMBO in the summer and don't finish it
right away, I have to wait for next summer of the Incra settings will be
off. But, somehow I just can't get her to accept that...

Gerry

[Bernie Hunt]

Gerry,

It's not my fault if you don't have yours mounted well, hahahahahaha. Ok,
yes it may vary a thou or two over the season change. What I was trying to
say is that if I dial a cut at 12 23/32" and then move the fence for another
cut. I know that if I need to go back to that 12 23/32 cut, I can just set
the fence and not even worry about it being right. In my comment I pointed
out that it's scaled to 1/32 measurements, but you can us analog adjustments
to get smaller movements of the fence.

Bernie

"GerryG" <ger...@cisco.com> wrote in message
news:1039204587.790717@sj-nntpcache-5...

[Bay Area Dave]

Bottom line, then, I take it, is REPEATABILITY? I like that idea.
Thanks for all the discussion on this, everyone. And I'm eager to hear
more on the Incra if you've got more to share! Since I don't have the
Incra, I can't think of any specifics to ask except the usual yada yada
yada about "what do you like/dislike about" it.

thanks!
dave

[Bernie Hunt]

Dave,

Don't even worry about the store. Click on this link, www.woodpeck.com and
decide what you want. Give them a call or order over the web. They are great
on the phone and in email.

Regarding the dovetail void. Yes it's there. No you won't see it unless you
happen to be a termite. If you think about how you cut dovetails on a router
table. You use a dovetail bit to cut the pins, but it leaves a round end on
the cut. That's because your board is flat on the table and the cut is like
a dado that stops before the end of the board. In this case it's only about
3/4" long. As the bit stops cutting, the end of the cut is round.

The tails board is held vertical and cut all the way through. You are faced
with a choice. Us a chisel to square off the ends of the pins cuts or par
off the backs of the tails. IMHO, the small amount of material you remove
from the backs of the tails will not materially effect the box or drawer
that you are making. I've never had a failure on a drawer made with Incra
dovetails and I challenge anyone to step up that has had one.

The simple solution to this whole issue is one of the first steps in the
process. You use the dovetail bit to cut an angled rabbit across the back of
the tails board. Problem resolved, (and also listed in the handy check list
I mentioned in my earlier post.)

If the voids in the back of the tails is unforgiveable, then a Leigh type
jig is your solution, except that it won't help you with your need for a
router table fence.

Stop worrying and call Woodpeckers so they can get this thing shipped and
into your shop!

Bernie

PS: Check if Woodpeckers will be in your area for a show. It is always fun
to watch their demo and see what they can do with an Incra. Every time I see
them I learn/remember things it will do that I didn't remember.

"Bay Area Dave" <da...@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:3DF0E7A7...@nospam.com...

[Bay Area Dave]

Wow! Thank you, thank you, thank you. I feel like I hit the mother
lode. I'm poring over the web site now...

dave

Bernie Hunt wrote:
>
> Dave,
>

[GerryG]

Agreed. And the micrometer-like dial adjustment in thou's is real nice.
Just made a tea chest with sliding dovetails, and you always have to
lightly sneak in on the size to get a sliding fit that's tight but loose
enough for glue. Being able to just dial in 3-4 thou at a time was much
better than tapping the fence with a mallet.
Gerry

[Bob]

Love my split fence Incra except for one thing - use must use an
allen-wrench type tool to change the space between the fences. Not a big
deal except that adjustment is also used for the fence offset (i.e, if you
were going to use it as a jointer). Must be very careful to hold the parts
together as you adjust spacing.

PITA, but the precision is second to none.

As for the huge manual, it's mostly for the joint templates.

Bob

"Bay Area Dave" <da...@hotmail.com> wrote in message

news:3DEFD234...@hotmail.com...

[Bernie Hunt]

Gerry,

Any chance for pictures? It sounds nice!

Bernie

"GerryG" <ger...@cisco.com> wrote in message

news:1039232584.353680@sj-nntpcache-5...

[JGS]

I did twice. Receptionist said someone knowledgeable would call me back.
Still waiting a year later. JG 8-)

[Ed DeLauter]

Dave,

I use the Intelli-Fence. But it probably doesn't have the
features your looking for. The Intelli is great for basic routing
applications. The fence will close up right on top a bit if desired.
The dust collection port is quasi-effective. The fence rides about
1/8" off the table surface so some dust is lost out the backside.
I like the ability to make super fine offsets between the infeed
and outfeed sides. For jointing this is great. It will also pivot
several degrees when loosening one "clamp down" for small adjustments
at the bit.
I don't like having to loosen the vertical fence extension
mounting bolts to move the fence laterally in respect to it's opening
width. Clamp down knobs on the top of table are also more desirable.

It gets a B plus from me.
FYI,
Ed

[GerryG]

Bernie,
What I described IS the Incra Ultra feature. You can catch that from
their web site. I just added a table top and a Veritas round insert.
Built a box under for dust collection, and mounted it on a stand.

[Bay Area Dave]

could the allens be replaced with knurled knobs or they positioned such
that there would not be room?

dave

[Bernie Hunt]

No, the heads would get in the way. The fence comes with an allen head screw
driver. I just keep that one either on top of the router table or in the
drawer if I actually get around to putting it away, hahaha. Most all the
screws in the fence are cap screws. The profile is less and they don't strip
out.

Bernie

"Bay Area Dave" <da...@nospam.com> wrote in message

news:3DF2233E...@nospam.com...

[Bernie Hunt]

No, no, no, the tea box, hahahaha.

Bernie
Now wondering if the tea box has dust collection capabilities and if that
could cut down on his house work.

"GerryG" <ger...@cisco.com> wrote in message

news:1039274794.874219@sj-nntpcache-5...

[Bernie Hunt]

JG,

I hate to disagree, but I don't think you qualify as waiting for a call back
anymore. I think they officailly didn't call you back.

My rule of thumb is if they don't call back in a week, they have
successfully not called me back.

Bernie

"JGS" <JGS77...@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:3DF1E065...@sympatico.ca...

[Bay Area Dave]

the screws sure won't be a deal breaker for me! Can't wait to see who
around my area has Incras in stock.

dave

[Andy Dingley]

On Sat, 07 Dec 2002 16:36:17 GMT, Bay Area Dave <da...@nospam.com>
wrote:

>could the allens be replaced with knurled knobs or they positioned such
>that there would not be room?

I'm considering surgery to have one fingertip replaced with a 5mm
ball-ended Allen key. It would be much more useful.

[Bay Area Dave]

My sincere thanks to all who made this a most EXCELLENT thread.
Captured the whole thing into a Word doc for reference. Kudos to all.

Again, Thanks!

Dave

[JGS]

Thanks Bernie,
Now I can go to bed and not worry about missing their call. JG 8-)

[chrisco...@gmail.com]

Not sure why your split fence is hard to align? The small micro adjustment wheel near release does it. But make sure you disengage the"teeth", unlocking it before trying to adjust it or you adjust the whole assembly.