Vega 50 or 36 fence for Jet Saw?

[James "Cubby" Culbertson]

Hiya All, I've decided I'm going to try the Vega Fence system for my Jet JWTS-10 (Contractor's Saw). They have either a 42" option (length of fence) or 36". The current fence (Jet's) is about 34". I'm wondering if anyone has any recommendations as to whether I should install the longer or shorter fence. On one hand, a longer fence would provide more support of the workpiece, but on the other, this is a contractor's saw so not sure there's really enough support for the extra length. I am hoping (key word here) to move to a cabinet saw in a few years so it might be worth it to try the longer fence on the contractor's saw and move it to the cabinet saw later. Anyway, thanks for any inputs. Cheers, cc

[Leon]

When cutting longer stock, 8', you want a longer guide. The longer fence will be of more benefit than that of a shorter fence in this instance. If you cut most shorter stock, the shorter fence should be just fine. The difference between a contractors saw and a cabinet saw is not enough to demand using one fence or another. Typically the table tops are about the same length front to back. I have used the Home Version of a Jet Exacta fence and the longer Commercial version of the Exacta fence that is on my cabinet saw. I much prefer the longer fence and at times wish it were longer.

[James "Cubby" Culbertson]

Thanks Leon!

[Ace]

I would go with the 42" version. I have one and I like it very much. It has always been "dead-on" and never have I had a problem with it. I just bought a new Grizzly G0444Z which has a Bies clone and am going to sell my Vega and Vega accessories with the finger saver and the hold down device for big sheets in a couple of weeks or so. I'm not going to put it on EBay. Ithink I'll use the local shopper flyer. I live in Springfield Illinois.

[James "Cubby" Culbertson]

I take it you wouldn't be willing to ship then? To ABQ. New Mexico? Thanks.

[Ace]

I would go with the 42" version. I have one and I like it very much. It has always been "dead-on" and never have I had a problem with it. I just bought a new Grizzly G0444Z which has a Bies clone and am going to sell my Vega and Vega accessories with the finger saver and the hold down device for big sheets in a couple of weeks or so. I'm not going to put it on EBay. I think I'll use the local shopper flyer. I live in Springfield Illinois.

[Bob Jones]

Vega has two "versions" of their fence, the Utility, and the Pro. The Utility has the 36" long fence with 1½" dia. rail, while the Pro has the 42" fence and 2" dia. rail.. I have the Utility model with the 36" fence, and have cut many a full size 4x8 sheet. In my personal opinion, 6 more inches wouldn't make a meaningful difference in supporting large stock like this. (Keep in mind that I'm damn good though. OK, that was just a joke.) Seriously, it does take care and effort on the operators part when cutting something cumbersome like this. The homemade outfeed table did provide much needed support, and I consider it an absolute necessity. I had my Vega installed on a real cheapo contractor style saw before purchasing my Grizzly

1023 cabinet type, onto which I transferred the Vega. The Bies "clone" that came with the 1023 was given away along with the old cheapo contractor saw. The Griz. and the Vega are among my favorite tools in my shop. Hope this helps.

[Alan W]

Did you have any trouble with the allen head bolts always wanting to return to their prior holes after moving the fence between saws?

I'm resorted to "shimming" my head on the blade side to get the proper alignment with the miter slot front to back of the blade. A little blue painters tape two layers thick moves the fence a few thousands at the end.

The finger saver accesory is a wonderful addition, but I don't tend to use my board buddies anymore, they make it too hard to push stock through the cut.

Alan

[Bob Jones]

Finding someone with experience in both versions of the fence is going to be nigh on to impossible, in my measly opinion. As I stated earlier, I've not found myself longing for that extra length of the fence itself. I don't know if the mechanism, on the pro model, at the front rail is any sturdier. My fence has little if any deflection when locked down. I'm not quite anal enough to measure the deflection in thousandths of an inch as some have done on this discussion group. Remember that any sideway force at that extra length would contribute to any deflection by a factor of that increased length. For sixty bucks difference though, you might want to go ahead with the pro model. Your personal choice.

Another poster asked about the fact that the allen bolts which hold the fence in position when the adjustment for miter slot parallel is made, find their way back to the original position they had when first adjusted. What is happening is this, the screws "dig in" to the aluminum extrusion that the fence is made of. No problem until a readjust is necessary, like when transferring the fence to a different saw. Since the difference in position is small, the screws seek the position made at the prior adjustment position. Here's what you do. Simply insert one small steel flat washer beneath the head of each allen bolt. Voila! No more memory caused by dug into aluminum. In my experience there is no compromise in stability after this little fix is implemented.

Hope this helps.

[Leon]

I did not either until I got a longer fence and realized what an advantage it offered, and again I wish my long one was longer at times. Have you actually used with any regularity a longer fence? If spending the money for a new fence, why not pay a few bucks more and eliminate the doubt.

[Bob Jones]

I think that's what I said.

"For sixty bucks difference though, you might want to go ahead with the pro model. Your personal choice."