Are you in a hurry and want a quick answer? Shop Fox W1716 Aluma-Classic is the best table saw fence you can buy. Keep reading to find out why.
- Standard 57-inch rails provide 30-inch maximum rip to the right of the blade
- Fits most table saws easily
- Steel and aluminum fence body for durability, strength, and reduced weight
For amateurs and pros alike, the table saw is the power tool that stands as the centerpiece in the woodworking shop. With table saws, accuracy is key. If you have ever worked with one, you know how important the fence is in making accurate and safe cuts.
In this article, we will take a closer look at what features determine whether a table saw fence is worth buying. We will also review the five best table saw fences on the market right now.
Top-Rated Table Saw Fences Compared:
The 5 Best Aftermarket Table Saw Fences:
1. Shop Fox W1716 table saw fence – best overall
- Standard 57-inch rails provide 30-inch maximum rip to the right of the blade
- Fits most table saws easily
- Steel and aluminum fence body for durability, strength, and reduced weight
OVERVIEW
This model from Shop Fox measures 57-inches for the length of the rail, something that will provide plenty of registering surface as you push the wood through the cut. The aluminum components on the fence also lower its overall weight.
A magnified cursor is included and it will allow you to read measurements easily. It also includes a self-sticking measuring tape that provides high contrast as well as metric and SAE measurements.
A heavy-duty cam lever provides a solid lock when placed into the desired position. The lever is very convenient as it can be easily manipulated with just one hand. The torsion box design should eliminate deflection during use, and adjustable wear pads should increase durability as well as performance.
Sadly, this product is limited to smaller projects due to its maximum rip capacity of 30-inches to the right of the blade. It is worth noting that it can be a bit tricky to install as users will need to drill mounting holes for certain table saw models.
Additionally, some buyers have said that the instructions included with the fence are confusing to read and unclear about some installation and user features.
PROS
CONS
2. Vega U50 Table Saw Fence System
- Table saw fence system fits a variety of saws; 2-1/2-inches fence height
- 36-inch fence bar (50 inches to right, 8 inches to left of blade); micro adjustment and auxiliary table support
- Steel construction; assembly required
OVERVIEW
The fence is made from aluminum and has an epoxy coating that should help extend the durability of its surface. It includes matching hole patterns for Delta Unisaw, Contractor, Powermatic 66, and the Sears 10-inch saw.
This fence measures 50 50-inches in length and offers plenty of rip capacity, even for the largest projects. It will allow your table saw to make rip cuts with a 50-inch capacity to the right of the blade, as well as 8-inches of capacity to the left of it.
Vega U50 is equipped with steel fence bars that can be used to hold a support table. This table can provide micro-adjustments that will allow you to make very precise adjustments with ease.
The jacking plates on the fence will help you to level its surface.
The main drawback that I see with this fence is that it was designed to handle larger projects and might be a bit overkill for the small to medium-sized projects that many woodworking hobbyists make. Also, while the fence can be installed by just one person, it can take a while for those who are unfamiliar with the process or have limited dexterity.
PROS
CONS
3. Shop Fox W1410 table saw Fence with Standard Rails
- Fits saws with 27-inch tables
- Moves on ball bearing guides
- Fine positioning knobs on both sides for left or righ-handed use
OVERVIEW
This reasonably priced model from Shop Fox provides basic use for most standard 27-inch table saws, including older models that are sometimes more difficult to fit.
This fence system uses ball-bearing guides to move on and provides users with a fence that moves very smoothly as it is adjusted. It has positioning knobs on both sides of the fence which allow it to be adjusted easily when it is mounted on the left or right side of the blade.
This fence is more beginner-friendly than the Vega U50. An easy-to-follow set of instructions will allow customers of any skill level to assemble this fence easily. Also, a lower price point when compared to other models makes this a reasonable selection for many hobbyists.
With that said, this fence is quite basic in its design and will not offer you much beyond the fence surface. It has more detached parts than some models and will require extra steps to fully assemble.
A lower price also means that the materials used are of a lower quality, making them a bit more tricky to work with when you are drilling or using a tap for mounting positions.
PROS
CONS
4. Delta 78-919BT2 Biesemeyer table saw Fence
- Simple and accurate 3 point locking system rated industry best
- Fits models 36-L352, 36-L552 and 36-L552LVC Type 2 Unisaws
- Entire fence is adjustable for fast accurate cuts time and time again
OVERVIEW
This model entry from Delta has been designed with the older table saw models in mind. The range of tables that this fence will fit should be ideal for those who have inherited an older model or are into refurbishing their power tool equipment.
This Biesemeyer table saw fence is simple in design and functionality, providing users with a solid surface to place their wood projects along as they make their rip cuts. The wood panel walls have been covered in a smooth layer of plastic material that should provide a smooth surface that will not snag or hold up the wood as it moves across the fence.
While the fence has been advertised with wooden walls made from birch paneling, it appears that recent changes have instead made use of cheaper plywood that may not be as sturdy. The attachments for the plastic marking guides on the left and right of the fence are plastic and may crack easily if bumped along the screw mounts.
This fence has a more limited range of products that it will fit onto out of the box when compared to other fences reviewed here.
PROS
CONS
5. DELTA 36-T30 T2 table saw Fence System
- One piece square tubular rail. Max Rip to Left of Blade-13-1/2 inch, Max Rip to right of Blade- 30 inch. Length: Fence 37 inch, Rail 57-1/2 inch. Height of the Fence is 2-1/2"
- Mounting design attaches to Delta table saws. This includes fence, steel guide tub with scale, front support rail One, rear support rail One and mounting hardware
- Three-point locking system with twin hairline pointers to assure fence is parallel to blade and accurate to within 1/64 of an inch (0. 4mm)
OVERVIEW
This highly durable product offers a steel tube body and welding that provides extra strength at the joints. The surface is not rough, however, and glides smoothly when positioning and during use.
Secure clamping points at the front tube and rear railing help to present a guiding surface with little to no give. A T-square locking system uses three points to provide fence accuracy within 1/64 of an inch. Additional rear holding power and stability are offered when using jigs or feather boards in conjunction with the fence itself.
Best of all, Delta provides its customers with a two-year warranty on this table saw fence.
While it has an adequate number of pre-drilled holes for mounting, they do not seem to align with very many brands of table saws. Installation of this fence could take some time if mounting holes need to be drilled out of the steel tube body.
Additionally, A plastic handle lowers the overall quality of the product and represents a weak point in the otherwise durable building materials used in its construction.
PROS
CONS
Cutting Through Table Saw Fence Necessities
An aftermarket rip fence is one of those essential table saw upgrades if you put a great value on cut accuracy. Buying the best replacement table saw fence is crucial in achieving accurate cuts on a table saw. A table saw fence also helps with safety, as the fence can be placed closer to the blade than fingers ever should be.
Why Buy An Upgraded Table Saw Fence?
In the case of someone buying a new table saw, they may discover that it comes with a poor-quality fence or even without one altogether. Obviously, another instance why someone would be looking for an aftermarket table saw fence is to replace a broken or worn-out fence that no longer lines up or locks properly.
You may also want to upgrade your rip fence to something better once you progress in your woodworking hobby and start working on more demanding projects.
All fences are not created equally. A final consideration for upgrades with many users is the features that make the fence stand out from the previous component.
What’s The Best Way To Use A Table Saw Fence?
A table saw fence is intended to be used when making rip cuts along the grain of wood you are working with. The fence is designed to provide a parallel surface to the blade so that you can achieve straight cuts.
Crosscuts, as well as angled cuts, will use a miter gauge to support the wood instead of a table saw fence. Please note that you should not use the rip fence and a miter gauge at the same time as this can lead to kickback.
Advantages Of Aftermarket Table Saw Fences
One of the major advantages of an aftermarket product is your ability to upgrade material composition. Upgrading to a fence that is made from durable material that offers a completely straight profile is a necessity for some products. The upgrade in materials might include the hardware that moves and locks the fence into position.
Function and ease of operation are other reasons that table saw owners will look to upgrade their rip fences. Some fences are not large enough to be of practical use with some projects.
Owners may also struggle to operate or adjust the fences that come with their table saw. An upgrade will not only improve performance but may also encourage you to use your table saw more often.
Things To Look For In Replacement Table Saw Fences
The most important feature on any table saw fence will be how true the face is in comparison to the blade. A fence face that runs parallel to the blade will help to generate the square cuts that you are looking for.
From there, you will want to look at how easy the fence is to move and lock. There are fences on the market that you can move back and forth or lock with one hand. Unfortunately, there are also products out there that do not move smoothly and will require both hands to move or lock into position.
A feature that is sometimes overlooked by novice woodworkers is the ability to micro-adjust. With many fine woodworking projects, you may find yourself needing to make very small adjustments to a piece of wood’s width. Having a fence that allows you to move it a 1/8 or 1/16th of an inch will save you time and frustration.
Many fences will include one or more scales. Larger letters and numbers will be easier to read. The easy-to-read print will save you time as you make adjustments to the fence.
Table Saw Safety
Practicing safe shop habits will allow you to enjoy woodworking for years to come. That is especially true with power tools, including the table saw.
The fence itself is designed to offer support, so never make rip cuts without it. Adding feather board attachments to your fence will help keep the wood secure as it is being cut. Make sure that your fence is parallel to the blade and stays in place in order to prevent the wood from binding.
Finally, always use push sticks when making rip cuts, and never use your fence in combination with the crosscut gauge.
Conclusion
- Standard 57-inch rails provide 30-inch maximum rip to the right of the blade
- Fits most table saws easily
- Steel and aluminum fence body for durability, strength, and reduced weight
While all of the products reviewed above will provide you with a solid fence surface, I feel that Shop Fox W1716 Aluma-Classic represents the best table saw fence out there. While it does have a more limited 30-inch rip capacity, it should still provide most hobbyists with room for small and medium-width cuts they will require for shop jigs and projects.
A solid torsion bar design gives the fence a solid and true surface that is parallel to the table saw blade. Its cam lever is easy to operate with one hand while still providing a solid grip when it is locked down. Finally, a magnified cursor increases the fence readings, making them easy to see.
8 thoughts on “Best Table Saw Rip Fences of 2024 (Review & Buying Guide)”
Did you forget incra? Kind of bias testing I would say.
Super cool tools fence is far better than anything you have listed, but the Incra fence in my opinion is better and the best fence. Now if the headline stated best fence under x but it didn’t state that. The Incra fence is not cheap by any means but best has a higher cost associated with it.
Hey Mark,
Thanks for your input.
There are only so many products I could review in one go. I may add more products to this guide in the future. Personally, I don’t know of anyone in my close environment who uses VSC’s or Incra fences, so I didn’t include these products. Not saying that they are somehow inferior.
I have a hitachi C10FR table saw that has been a great little saw for the projects I do. However the fence was broken durning a recent move. This particular saw has been discontinued by hitachi, and the rip fence is unavailable anywhere I can find online. I’m not wanting to buy a completely new saw, but need a fence that fits. Any advice?
Hi Ben,
Thanks for stopping by. I’m afraid I cannot help you with this. You should contact Metabo support regarding this:
https://www.metabo-hpt.com/us/main-navigation/service-support
Hope this helps.
Good stuff. Thanks for supplying this information.
Thanks for stopping by, Vic. Glad it helped.
Hi Art, Looking for a fence for my GENERAL cabinet saw. I originally bought the saw and saw a fence called EXCALIBUR. It ran on wheels and it was a very precise fence. When I moved into my present home the guide rails got lost and the company went out of business What are your thoughts on a replacement?
Thanks,
Jim Nolan