In 1978, Bill Biesemeyer developed a T-square style table saw fence that is still the industry standard to this day. Biesemeyer's fence design allows for the fence to be set accurately to 1/64 inch, and stays square to the blade no matter the position on the fence. A Biesemeyer fence can be installed on nearly any hybrid or cabinet table saw.
Things You'll Need:
- Dual-Sided Fence
- Locking Mechanism
- Allen Wrench
- Mounting Bolts &Amp; Nuts
- Wrenches
- Square Tube Front Rail
- L-Shaped Back Rail
- Screwdriver
Attach the square tube front rail to the front edge of the saw table using bolts and nuts. The narrow edge of the tube should be against the saw table, and the rail should be positioned evenly about 1/2 inch down from the top of the table.
Install the back rail against the far edge of the saw table using bolts and nuts. The protruding portion of the L-shape should be on the bottom, pointing away from the saw.
Position the fence with the fence's locking mechanism on the front rail, with the fence sitting on the saw table.
Adjust the height of the front and rear rails so that the fence glides evenly just above the surface of the table.
Move the fence so that the front edge is even with one of the miter slots and lock the fence in place. Using an Allen wrench, adjust the screws on either side of the lock to alter the angle of the fence until the edge of the fence matches the miter slot perfectly.
Unlock the fence, and slide it to the other miter slot. Check to see that the the fence is perfectly parallel to the slot.
Move the fence to the right of the blade. Raise the blade and make a test cut. The board should remain firmly against the fence and the blade should not bind. If there is any binding, recheck the fence for square.
Tip
If, while making a test cut, you find that the fence is square but the blade still binds, check to see if your blade is misaligned.
Warnings:
- When working with power tools such as table saws, always wear appropriate safety equipment, including safety glasses.
Writer Bio
Chris Baylor has been writing about various topics, focusing primarily on woodworking, since 2006. You can see his work in publications such as "Consumer's Digest," where he wrote the 2009 Best Buys for Power Tools and the 2013 Best Buys for Pressure Washers.
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