Sunday, January 23, 2022

Adding a New Table Saw Fence to the Workbench

See how I added a new 50″ table saw fence system to my Delta table saw and DIY workbench to give me precision cuts up to 50″ wide. 

Want to build your own table saw workbench like mine? See the details and plans here. 

Upgraded Table Saw Fence on My Workbench

This post contains affiliate links. Learn more and read our full disclosure policy here. 

One of the most asked questions about our table saw workbench is which fence I use on my table saw. 

Table Saw Workbench @Remodelaholic 4

table saw workbench with old Delta original fence

I have an older model Delta saw, and until now, I’ve just been using the fence that came with the saw.

When I built the workbench, that meant I had to disconnect the fence at the back to accommodate the table — and that was working just fine for cuts up to about 24″ wide.

But with a big workbench area like I have, I wanted a better fence to allow for longer cuts.

And oh boy, was this new fence an upgrade! 

17 New Table Saw Fence System For Rolling Workbench

new 50-inch Vega table saw fence system for my T-track workbench

Why I chose this Vega Table Saw Fence System

I went with the Vega Utility 50 Saw Fence for a few reasons:

  • wider rip cuts — up to 50″ which will be amazing when I need it!
  • install on my current setup without making major changes to the workbench
  • amazing reviewsalmost 250 reviews with an average of 4.5 stars means it’s a well-tested and trusted accessory

Note that this table saw fence system is also available in a smaller 26″ system if you prefer.

18 New Table Saw Fence System For DIY Table Saw Workbench Plans

rolling table saw workbench with 50-inch table saw fence system

Installing the Table Saw Fence System

As you can see in the video, it was a pretty straightforward process to install the new Vega table saw fence system.

…Even if I did have to drill a couple extra holes a couple of times! (Be sure to pay attention to the diagrams in the instructions 😉

07 Image Of Dimension For Layout Of Holes Diagram Table Saw Fence

I was mostly able to follow the manufacturer instructions (included with the fence system and viewable here) with just a couple of adjustments to fit my saw and setup.

Like any custom precision install, the fine-tuning and adjusting to square were what took the most time. But that time ensures I get accurate cuts, so do not skimp on those adjustments!

 

To install the upgraded table saw fence, I used:

03 Extra Bolt Setup For Front Rail Fence Attachment

extra bolt setup for front rail fence attachment

Note that with the setup of my table saw workbench, I did not attach the back rail. This means I did NOT use all the parts of the system (as shown in the video and below).

15 Clamping Down The New 50 In Table Saw Fence

How I attached the Vega table saw fence to my workbench:

Remember, since I have a wide table saw workbench surface, I did NOT install the back rail. Follow manufacturer instructions based on your installation needs.  

Step 1: Level

I needed to level my table saw workbench. I had moved garages since I first built the workbench and this new location has a floor that is much less even.

01 Level The Workbench And Table Saw

level the table saw workbench

Step 2: Remove old fence

This didn’t take long — I just removed the hardware to remove the old fence from the saw.

Step 3: Take inventory

Lay out the table saw fence pieces to determine which pieces I needed.

Remember, there is no back rail for my setup, so I showed in the video which pieces I wasn’t using in this install: the back rail, brackets, and accompanying hardware.

02 Table Saw Back Rail Parts Not Used In Video

back rail parts NOT used for my table saw fence install

Step 4: Dry fit

Dry fit the pieces on my workbench to check fit and location.

Drill new holes in the table saw, as needed, to fit the front rail hardware.

04 Drill 3 8th Hole If Needed For Table Saw Fence Rail Install

Step 5: Attach brackets

Attach the brackets to the table saw and level. This is where I needed the extra 1/4″ x 1 1/2″ bolt, washers, and nut — but not all installs will require that.

Following the manufacturer instructions (which you can see in the product listing at Rockler), the brackets are ~1/8″ below the surface of the table saw workbench.

06 Install Brackets For Table Saw Fence Front Rail

Step 6: Attach the front rail

Attach the front rail/bar to the brackets.

There are two sets of holes to allow for some adjustment here.

(And this is where I had to drill another hole in my table saw apron to get the placement right.)

08 Install Front Rail Vega Table Saw Fence System

Step 7: Assemble and attach the fence

Assemble the fence and attach it to the front rail/bar.

This step was very simple — see the process at about 5:40 in the video.

09 Attach Table Saw Fence To Rail On Workbench

Step 8: Adjust for square

Adjust the front rail and/or fence to ensure they are square.

I made some adjustments here by adding a couple washers to get the front rail exactly square to the edge of the workbench surface, so the fence was square to the blade all along the length of the front rail.

10 Make Parallel Adjustments To Table Saw Fence Front Rail

Step 9: Secure the front rail

Attach the front rail to the table saw workbench in a couple extra spots for stability and accuracy.

I used the provided brackets, 1/4″ bolts, and some additional wood scraps to keep the rail level and secure.

11 Predrilling Holes To Attach The Table Saw Fence Front Rail To The Workbench With 1 4 Inch Bolts

Step 10: Adjust the fence

Add the furniture foot pads to the fence to allow it to slide (since I’m not attaching it to the back rail with the fence supports).

Here I needed to make a few adjustments to the rail again, so that the fence was a uniform 1/16″ to 1/8″ above the work surface.

13 1 8 Inch Gap On Table Saw Fence Install

adjusted to 1/16″ to 1/8″ clearance on the table saw fence

Step 11: Fine-tune

Measure and adjust as needed to fine-tune and ensure the fence is level, even, and zeroed with the surface of the workbench and the table saw blade.

14 Zeroing Out The Table Saw Fence

zeroing out the table saw fence system

After all that fine tuning, I cannot WAIT to work on my next project! 

Questions? Leave a comment here or in the comments on the video.

15 Overall Of New 50 In Table Saw Fence System

If you’re dying to take your new table saw fence for a spin, try these rip-cut plywood projects:

plus more plywood projects and plans here. 

Installing 50 Inch Table Saw Fence System On DIY Table Saw Workbench, Remodelaholic

 

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Adding a New Table Saw Fence to the Workbench 2022 Best Chandeliers And Home Lighting in Dubai, UAE - Homenoon

About Cass

Cassity started Remodelaholic with her husband, Justin, to share their love for knocking out walls together. Since then, Remodelaholic has become a great community and resource for all those wanting to know how to make their builder-grade home BEAUTIFUL on a budget!



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