I just spent a bunch of time getting depressed about how much a "decent" band saw fence was going to cost me - a lot more than I paid for my three-wheeler! Then I found your video, and I'm going to replace the entire bed and relocate the mitre guide and put a fence on it, and attach a clamp to it. Brilliant. Cheap. Double plus good! Thank you so much.
Tom Casper, Thank you for this simple clear explanation. I like your straightforward style of presentation and have learned numerous useful things from your videos. This heartfelt compliment comes from a guy who has been working with wood for over fifty years. Best Wishes! LL
Almost 8 years after the video was made ... I love that fence set up and the fact you have the ability to slide your fence so smoothly and accurately is quite impressive.
It must be odd to get comments years after posting videos, but I just ran into this video and it solved such a huge problem for me that I felt the need to post. I have a 10" Rikon benchtop band saw and the fence was crap. After this video and a little problem solving, I made this jig and now the accuracy of my cuts are ridiculous. Thanks again, Tom for making my little saw perform like a big boy saw. Happy Holidays.
This is a great idea. As a bonus I felt educated rather than talked down to. I find other presenters of a similar age tend to talk down to the audience rather than educate them. It was nice change!
You have answered a question about a bandsaw fence that I have wondered about for months. Thanks so much for sharing, ain't youtube an awesome invention? Very grateful for sharing your wisdom.
Finally, a bandsaw fence that I like!!! I will be making one of these very soon! I have also used my bandsaw to cut slot bottoms like this, it is actually pretty efficient, because you can do it all with one setup. Thanks for the great video!!
This is an extremely helpful video, thank you. Especially so since coming from someone with YEARS of experience. For those of us beginners, what a wealth of information we have access to.
I am new on this woodworking world and I have an old Delta band saw with out the fence. Definitely this is very well explained, usable and easy to build. Thanks, I ‘ll take a shot to see how it will come out.
Very slick idea. I will definitely be making a fence like this for my bandsaw, and I even have a spare miter gauge already. Thanks for sharing the idea
Fantastic video Tom. I hope the Producers feel absolutely "OBLIGED " to hand over a over-stuffed hockey sock full of money as a bonus for doing such a great job. Thanks Tom, Derek
Thank you, this is the solution I was looking for! Just got my first bandsaw, got it off market place for 10 bucks, it didn't run. The switch needed to be replaced the cord was beat up, so I threw a new one on. Replaced all of my bearings, cleaned and greased everything up got some new blades, and if I may say so was a little work but boy what a deal for ten dollars. But my dilemma was a fence. I made one of my own design, only to get frustrated with it and just use my table saw so I am excited to try this out!
Hi again Tom, I noticed one part of the Jig that did not get mentioned and that is the stop block on the bottom of the sled. Most people will catch this tiny issue but maybe you can put this as a note in the video description. Thanks again to yourself and American Woodworking for such a great jig. Regards, Derek
First cut your piece of plywood. Second, measure the width of the miter slot on your bandsaw's table. Set up a dado set in your tablesaw to this width and cut a 1/4" deep groove into the bottom of the piece of plywood. Glue a 1/2" thick piece of wood into this groove. Next, measure the width of your miter gauge's bar. Cut a 3/8" deep dado, the same width as the miter gauge bar, across the top of your piece of plywood. Turn on the bandsaw and slide the jig into the blade, stopping about halfway.
Pura vida great piece of advice in my country bandsaw is a very expensive woodworking machine :( in order to afford for one with industrial features .you can buy a cheap one but it doesnt has power to cut lumber in a nice way
I don't know how anyone could use a bandsaw much and not want a fence for it. You've shown an easy way to add one to most any saw. I think Magna or Shopsmith used to sell a bandsaw with similat crossed miter gage slots milled into its table many years ago. Always thought that could be useful.
Yup, and Shopsmith still sells the same bandsaw 75 years later. (I know your comment is 10 years old, at that time the Shopsmith bandsaw was only 65 years old.)
Yes, you still have to compensate for drift. Using a miter gauge for a fence makes this very easy to do, however. To angle the fence, you just loosen the head of the miter gauge, then re-tighten it when you've figured out the drift angle.
Good/simple idea, but he should have clamped both ends of the fence, as you can see the end with the stop block moving at 6:12. Still something I’ll consider, thanks!!
8:24 I have seen this technique making a dado with a circular saw and clean the rest of it moving the saw from side to side. That procedure reminds me kind of using a band saw like a router.
That can be done with a dado set on a table saw, or with a drill press and the table band saw, or a drill press and a copping saw, many different ways, it all depends on what is easier for you.
The way he finished the bottom of that long tenon had me thinking "a sharp chisel would have finished this job quicker". Maybe true, but this way is a little more secure, less chance to screw it up.
I had the same thought, at least to get the bulk of the excess removed and then finalize it with this method for the perfectly accurate 90 degree angle
With the fantastic band saw that you have, why not pre-cut some thin shims to add to the Sop Block? This way, you can have a small box filled iwth the shims when you need them.
It just struck me: he is using a PowerMatic PWBS14 - just like mine... AND it comes with a very nice fence. The miter gauge isn't the very best in the world, but it suffices. I've got a Wixey digital protractor that I use when I need PRECISION..
As I was making this fence, I was thinking why do I feel like I've done this before? Then it occurred to me that I had made a circle cutter jig for my band saw. Search out "band saw circle cutter" It's close enough to combine the 2 jigs into one. Tried it out and everything works great.Check it out for yourself.
Why the long interior cuts just to get rid of the wood in the middle? Why not just use a forstner bit in the drill press to make a hole at what willl be the upper end? If you do it carefully,you could have the hole just kiss, or almost kiss, the upper end of the slot, thus saving you alot of work, and providing a start to the cross-grain cuts to make a square upper end? Granted, it's not quite as sexy as making all those long cuts with your new fence, but it surely would be easier and quicker and, if done carefully,, safer.
I love that fence! Great idea.
I just spent a bunch of time getting depressed about how much a "decent" band saw fence was going to cost me - a lot more than I paid for my three-wheeler!
Then I found your video, and I'm going to replace the entire bed and relocate the mitre guide and put a fence on it, and attach a clamp to it. Brilliant. Cheap. Double plus good! Thank you so much.
Tom Casper,
Thank you for this simple clear explanation. I like your straightforward style of presentation and have learned numerous useful things from your videos. This heartfelt compliment comes from a guy who has been working with wood for over fifty years.
Best Wishes!
LL
Just made this for my bandsaw, I have one word, “Tremendous” my cuts are so much more accurate, so simple, thank you so much.
This is an excellent idea even in 2024. Definitely going to make this jig.
Almost 8 years after the video was made ... I love that fence set up and the fact you have the ability to slide your fence so smoothly and accurately is quite impressive.
It must be odd to get comments years after posting videos, but I just ran into this video and it solved such a huge problem for me that I felt the need to post. I have a 10" Rikon benchtop band saw and the fence was crap. After this video and a little problem solving, I made this jig and now the accuracy of my cuts are ridiculous. Thanks again, Tom for making my little saw perform like a big boy saw. Happy Holidays.
This is a great idea.
As a bonus I felt educated rather than talked down to. I find other presenters of a similar age tend to talk down to the audience rather than educate them. It was nice change!
Just bought a bandsaw and been looking for fence ideas - this one is absolutely brilliant !! Will make one for mine. Thanks.
Excellent teaching, long enough and short enough, detailed yet simple, oh The Lord helps teachers be good
You have answered a question about a bandsaw fence that I have wondered about for months. Thanks so much for sharing, ain't youtube an awesome invention?
Very grateful for sharing your wisdom.
Finally, a bandsaw fence that I like!!! I will be making one of these very soon! I have also used my bandsaw to cut slot bottoms like this, it is actually pretty efficient, because you can do it all with one setup. Thanks for the great video!!
This is an extremely helpful video, thank you. Especially so since coming from someone with YEARS of experience. For those of us beginners, what a wealth of information we have access to.
You explain things really well, thank you!
I am new on this woodworking world and I have an old Delta band saw with out the fence. Definitely this is very well explained, usable and easy to build. Thanks, I ‘ll take a shot to see how it will come out.
Very slick idea. I will definitely be making a fence like this for my bandsaw, and I even have a spare miter gauge already. Thanks for sharing the idea
Five years later...great video, despite those who are completely missing the point of the demonstration.
It is mindblowing how simple this solution is.
Excellent Video. Thanks. Just what I needed for my little 12" craftsman band saw that I got with no fence.
Fantastic video Tom.
I hope the Producers feel absolutely "OBLIGED " to hand over a over-stuffed hockey sock full of money as a bonus for doing such a great job.
Thanks Tom,
Derek
I saw that coat rack in the mag. It was nice to see you giving a more detailed explanation of the bandsaw setup!
Thank you, this is the solution I was looking for! Just got my first bandsaw, got it off market place for 10 bucks, it didn't run. The switch needed to be replaced the cord was beat up, so I threw a new one on. Replaced all of my bearings, cleaned and greased everything up got some new blades, and if I may say so was a little work but boy what a deal for ten dollars. But my dilemma was a fence. I made one of my own design, only to get frustrated with it and just use my table saw so I am excited to try this out!
That is what I am looking for. Really appreciate your presenting this idea.
Very clever! I'm adding this to my list of tricks. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for this video, very cleaver and useful. I can't wait to build the fence. Great video!
So simple,so brilliant,fantastic, congratulations
Thank you I needed a fence for the used band saw I bought perfect❤
Very clever design. I may just take it and use it too. Thank you for posting it.
Great fence idea. I have an old Sears that needs this very much until I can afford a new larger one. Thanks
So simple it's BRILLIANT! Thank you.
Wonderful idea, thank you for sharing your knowledge.
W
ow! Thank you so much for the brilliantly simple idea!
Thank you for sharing the information and making a straight forward well made video.
What a great idea! And much needed. Gonna try this for myself.
Awesome video, great innovation thank you so much !!
That is an awesome idea!!!!
Thank You!
Hi again Tom,
I noticed one part of the Jig that did not get mentioned and that is the stop block on the bottom of the sled. Most people will catch this tiny issue but maybe you can put this as a note in the video description. Thanks again to yourself and American Woodworking for such a great jig.
Regards,
Derek
Wonderful addition, Think I'll build one today. Thank-You
Merci Tom, tu as le talent des très bon professeurs
well this will work for me because i don't have a fence on my 9" band saw great video
Much better than my clamp on home made fence. Great Idea
very helpful I like the simplicity
Great. A perfect example for the KISS.
Just built one works great. thank you for the idea 😀
Thank you so much for such a great idea. I really need to make something like this
Great idea.. very nice and innovative
Thanks for explaunung in detail
loved it
First cut your piece of plywood. Second, measure the width of the miter slot on your bandsaw's table. Set up a dado set in your tablesaw to this width and cut a 1/4" deep groove into the bottom of the piece of plywood. Glue a 1/2" thick piece of wood into this groove. Next, measure the width of your miter gauge's bar. Cut a 3/8" deep dado, the same width as the miter gauge bar, across the top of your piece of plywood. Turn on the bandsaw and slide the jig into the blade, stopping about halfway.
Simple and effective. Thank you.
Thanks, now ill have to get the materials and make it, thanks once again.
Pura vida great piece of advice in my country bandsaw is a very expensive woodworking machine :( in order to afford for one with industrial features .you can buy a cheap one but it doesnt has power to cut lumber in a nice way
Now how cool is that! Just what I was looking for Thank You!
I don't know how anyone could use a bandsaw much and not want a fence for it. You've shown an easy way to add one to most any saw. I think Magna or Shopsmith used to sell a bandsaw with similat crossed miter gage slots milled into its table many years ago. Always thought that could be useful.
Yup, and Shopsmith still sells the same bandsaw 75 years later. (I know your comment is 10 years old, at that time the Shopsmith bandsaw was only 65 years old.)
Larry David really knows his shit..
6 years after your initial comment and I was just going to make the same remark..ha
Yes, you still have to compensate for drift. Using a miter gauge for a fence makes this very easy to do, however. To angle the fence, you just loosen the head of the miter gauge, then re-tighten it when you've figured out the drift angle.
Great idea! Thanks for this video
This will work great on our old delta 14".
Thank you was a great show I love it......
Good/simple idea, but he should have clamped both ends of the fence, as you can see the end with the stop block moving at 6:12.
Still something I’ll consider, thanks!!
Nicely Done!!!
8:24 I have seen this technique making a dado with a circular saw and clean the rest of it moving the saw from side to side. That procedure reminds me kind of using a band saw like a router.
to side cut with a band saw is like hammering with a screwdriver
Great fence thank you so much!
very cool and effective, thank you !
Great video.
That was very useful. Thanks!
That can be done with a dado set on a table saw, or with a drill press and the table band saw, or a drill press and a copping saw, many different ways, it all depends on what is easier for you.
Very slick idea - thank you
Really clever
The way he finished the bottom of that long tenon had me thinking "a sharp chisel would have finished this job quicker". Maybe true, but this way is a little more secure, less chance to screw it up.
I had the same thought, at least to get the bulk of the excess removed and then finalize it with this method for the perfectly accurate 90 degree angle
Great idea. Thank you
Parabéns pelo vídeo,
Gostei muito
Excelente .
With the fantastic band saw that you have, why not pre-cut some thin shims to add to the Sop Block? This way, you can have a small box filled iwth the shims when you need them.
cool fence
I love it.
thats epic , great video
Just what I need!! I am wondering though, how to attach the fence board onto the mitre piece?
Slick as greas!
It just struck me: he is using a PowerMatic PWBS14 - just like mine...
AND it comes with a very nice fence. The miter gauge isn't the very best in the world, but it suffices. I've got a Wixey digital protractor that I use when I need PRECISION..
nice fence, go cubs!
As I was making this fence, I was thinking why do I feel like I've done this before? Then it occurred to me that I had made a circle cutter jig for my band saw. Search out "band saw circle cutter" It's close enough to combine the 2 jigs into one. Tried it out and everything works great.Check it out for yourself.
I made a circle jig with the fence jig & mine is great too.
Good idea.
Brilliant!
A sharp chisel is for the end of the notch.
Love the fence and use case: very clever, cheap, accurate, and flexible. Hate the hat, grrr...
Hello, I am new to woodworking. Could someone tell me in order, the steps to make this. It looks like it really works great.
Thank you!
Totally awesome!
is there a video or plans somewhere for this bandsaw fence?
I like very large joints. But not while using power tools.
just a great tip, mac.
Super idea! Been trying to figure out a fence for my Ridgid bandsaw. What are the dimensions to your setup?
Excellent!
owesome fence men like it alot men
Why the long interior cuts just to get rid of the wood in the middle? Why not just use a forstner bit in the drill press to make a hole at what willl be the upper end? If you do it carefully,you could have the hole just kiss, or almost kiss, the upper end of the slot, thus saving you alot of work, and providing a start to the cross-grain cuts to make a square upper end?
Granted, it's not quite as sexy as making all those long cuts with your new fence, but it surely would be easier and quicker and, if done carefully,, safer.
Genius!
Great video, thanks. Go White Sox!!!
if your not getting a perfectly straight cut on a bandsaw its because you haven't set the blade correctly on the wheels.
+Tayler Made Correct. Gullets in the center of the wheel
I built mine yesterday and managed to cut a piece of oak to 1.8 mm
fantastic
Thank you.