Lots of rip fences out there. Some premium, some cheap. Just make sure they fit the front rail on you saw. Check with the source of the one you buy to make sure it works on your older model saw. My old Delta saw's fence was OK. Google for rip fence. You might find one used, but most are with a saw. A table saw without a fence is a boat anchor.

 

A table saw without a fence is a boat anchor.

Ouch! So along with my Delta Jointer I got two boat anchors!
Looks like I'm going down with my ship!

 

This is what I have... I think it's a shop style?

 

I was going to suggest a Vega aftermarket fence but you will have to wait till you upgrade to a larger saw.

As others have mentioned, the table saw is the heart of your shop. Well worth spending your money on that first!

We have two Grizzly 1023RL in our shop and have been extremely pleased with their performance. We did upgrade from the Shop Fox fences to Vega micro adjustable extended tube fences and I added Wixey DRO to mine. Been very happy with the performance of the saws.

I would not consider Grizzly the absolute top end of woodworking machines but they are very good value and quality for their price point. There are a LOT of people using the brand for a variety of machines in their shop and parts are very easy to come by. We have a couple other Grizzly machines in the shop and they all perform their functions very well.

 

It's already set up for a fence. Go to the Delta Tools site and look for a replacement fence for that model. Mine was very similar. The model number is on a plaque on the saw. Bet they have one available. BTW. NEVER wear gloves or long sleeves when using a table saw. If it catches on the blade, it will drag your hand and arm right into the blade. At Harbor Freight, I found a bag with snap hardware to catch sawdust coming out the bottom. Helped control that nasty sawdust.

 

Those canvas bags are the bomb. They do however remind of the bags they put on horses operating carriages.
Wish I could find one to fit my Bosch 4100 TS.

 

Thanks Tom. I checked all over, and I checked the Delta Tools site, which links me directly to Lowes.com. Unfortunately I couldn't find a replacement fence.
I sent Delta Machinery | A Legacy of Superior Quality a message anyways.

Yeah I learned a couple years ago that gloves and long sleeves don't go with any type of saws....

 

No fence? That seems odd. I didn't think they changed them much over the years. Do you have the model number? Maybe someone here can find one. I'm sure there's an aftermarket fence somewhere, Delta made a hell of a lot of those saws.

 

Delta parts for older machines are almost non existent these days.
Your best bet is to try to find one on Ebay.
You can buy an aftermarket fence, but they can cost more than that saw is worth.
If your handy, search for plans for a DIY fence.

 

Delta parts for older machines are almost non existent these days.
Your best bet is to try to find one on Ebay.
You can buy an aftermarket fence, but they can cost more than that saw is worth.
If your handy, search for plans for a DIY fence.

Yeah looks like DIY is going to be my best option until I can buy another saw...

 

OK, quick search turned up this site: https://acutesaw.com/best-aftermarket-table-saw-fence-systems/

Not sure whether one of them would fit, but you can ask. But it is going cost you near as much as a new saw of that quality.

I am not much for buying used tools. And for a table saw, I just wouldn't. But that's me. Sometimes, by looking carefully and having a truck, you can peruse the legal ads for estate sales and find a saw that's in decent shape, but that's a crap shoot.

I'm attaching a pdf of the 18 "things" that helped me accelerate my learning curve. It's long, but has pictures. Just don't think you have to get your stuff all at once. Just buy as you need it, and check in with us before you plunk your money down. Lots of opinions and alternatives, but everyone will steer you away from bad choices (Craftsman, known around here as crapsman).

 

OK, quick search turned up this site: https://acutesaw.com/best-aftermarket-table-saw-fence-systems/

Not sure whether one of them would fit, but you can ask. But it is going cost you near as much as a new saw of that quality.

I am not much for buying used tools. And for a table saw, I just wouldn't. But that's me. Sometimes, by looking carefully and having a truck, you can peruse the legal ads for estate sales and find a saw that's in decent shape, but that's a crap shoot.

I'm attaching a pdf of the 18 "things" that helped me accelerate my learning curve. It's long, but has pictures. Just don't think you have to get your stuff all at once. Just buy as you need it, and check in with us before you plunk your money down. Lots of opinions and alternatives, but everyone will steer you away from bad choices (Craftsman, known around here as crapsman).

Thank you so much!

 

So a miter saw is only used to cut larger pieces?

 

NO. The miter saw is VERY versatile and probably the second most important tool in most shops. And if you do any framing it is your #1 tool. If you go to a construction site you will almost always find a portable version of a miter saw (we have 3 of them) but a lot less likely to see a table saw. They really shine at repetitive cuts.

If your doing a lot of remodeling, I would even recommend buying the miter saw on a rolling stand that can be moved around before buying a table saw (gasp from the cheap seats). If you are strictly doing fine woodworking then the table saw first and maybe the router table before the miter saw.

Well worth spending the extra $$ for a good one.

 

Shop Fox fences are decent, I had one on an old Craftsman contractor TS and it was fine. Cost me less than $200 back in the day which justified the purchase. I second Tom RE: buying used tools; unless you know exactly what to look for, you can easily end up with an expensive paperweight. Unless you’re willing to take your time and keep looking for that diamond in the rough (they are there, but the chances of finding one are only marginally better than winning a lottery), it’s best to cough up for something that’ll serve you for decades and will have a warranty. Otherwise, unless you’re running a production shop you can easily get away with a DW jobsite saw. They’re relatively cheap (you can get a 7485 for $300 on sale in HD) and as far as table saws go, these are the little tools that really can.


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Thanks! Yeah I stumbled upon Shop Fox last night. but I'll definitely keep looking around.

 

Pretty good advice on the sliding miter. If you do a fair amount of construction, they are nice. If you're on a building site, I can see their necessity. But I'm not doing anything that requires it's use.

The Laguna Fusion saw is excellent and goes for $ 1199. I think it's a good value saw. The Grizzly is not bad either, but I was surprised to see it runs between $ 1000 and $1800. Here's a link to the Laguna, Laguna Tools 10In 110V 1.5HP F1 Fusion Table Saw. I bought mine from Rockler, but I think most tool and woodworking stores have them in stock or can order them for you.

I'd considered the Grizzly saw, but after comparing them, I choose the Laguna because it seemed a little more robust and well fitted to me. The look like they come from the same factory, but Laguna's President is a fussy European who requires that all cast iron parts have to sit for 6 months before milling. This adds a little to cost, but leads to less warping later. Laguna used to be in California, and visiting their HQ was a revelation. The place reeks of quality, a fussy engineering and people who understand the tools really well.

That's my take anyhow. I confess that I also looked at the Powermatics, which are top of the line to me. I just couldn't afford it--at least, that's what my wife said.

 

Pretty good advice on the sliding miter. If you do a fair amount of construction, they are nice. If you're on a building site, I can see their necessity. But I'm not doing anything that requires it's use.

The Laguna Fusion saw is excellent and goes for $ 1199. I think it's a good value saw. The Grizzly is not bad either, but I was surprised to see it runs between $ 1000 and $1800. Here's a link to the Laguna, Laguna Tools 10In 110V 1.5HP F1 Fusion Table Saw. I bought mine from Rockler, but I think most tool and woodworking stores have them in stock or can order them for you.

I'd considered the Grizzly saw, but after comparing them, I choose the Laguna because it seemed a little more robust and well fitted to me. The look like they come from the same factory, but Laguna's President is a fussy European who requires that all cast iron parts have to sit for 6 months before milling. This adds a little to cost, but leads to less warping later. Laguna used to be in California, and visiting their HQ was a revelation. The place reeks of quality, a fussy engineering and people who understand the tools really well.

That's my take anyhow. I confess that I also looked at the Powermatics, which are top of the line to me. I just couldn't afford it--at least, that's what my wife said.

I follow your logic. Everyone needs to do what is best for their particular needs.

In our case, we do a lot of outdoor projects for the estate and still have buildings to construct. In fact, we have even considered buying some land and building a house or two to sell. So, in our case, the miter saw takes on a much larger role.

I recommend the Grizzly machines only because we have had very good experience with them and I haven't heard anyone talk bad about them. I agree there are in fact comparable other brands and some that are better if money is no object! But granted as most folks here know, Grizzly is American Engineered but built in Taiwan which is the reason for their better pricing. For us, Grizzly's store in Springfield, MO being only a 2 hour drive away (saving us freight costs) is another big reason to lean towards them. If you haven't been to one of their stores by all means do if you get the chance!

Realistically at a given price point I don't see a major difference in performance between brands. You get to a certain point and they are all good.

 

Shop aren’t always as warm as everyone thinks. Big doors open for material, unloading, etc. By afternoon it’s better as the sun comes out.

My typical workwear for winter was a long sleeve sgphirt, flannel or blue Jean and a comfortable vest. You want to keep your chest warm at all times unless you like being sick..

under a long sleeve shirt if it’s really cold I wear a thermal long sleeve..

 

@mtlakejim I agree that at any given price point, the machines will be similar, if not made in the same factory. Laguna HQ used to be in Costa Mesa, CA, where I lived for years. That's one reason I chose it. When I set up the saw, one cast iron wing was slightly warped. I called the to arrange a swap out, but they said bring it in. I did and they had a brand new saw setup perfectly for me. The used a machined steel straight edge and feeler gauges and found one little spot that was 15/1000ths low, way of on the back side of the right wing. That is well within spec for cast iron. Now that's service. It's why they have such a good reputation. They're in Texas now. Fled Taxifornia.

I think the quality of cut is really determined by how carefully you set up the saw when you get it. I found a book on the topic, which I can't find right now, and later bought a Woodpecker gadget (below) to align everything. It was dead on, but now I know it. Overpriced, don't use it often, but it's precise AND pretty. I was surprised to use it and discover the fence face on my Laguna saw varied by only 4/1000ths along it's length. That is about as flat as flat gets in the real world.

 

I have to confess to drooling over the Woodpecker alignment tool in catalogs LOL...

Depending on where in Texas Laguna is located may make a difference to me. I drive thru Dallas on the way to see my son In Carlsbad, NM. For sure it beats taxifornia which I confess has beautiful Redwoods and a great scenic coastal road.

And I will say we have a really good multibrand machine store (that might carry Laguna) located in Fort Smith, AR. Mark's Machinery. It isn't a big store but it is packed floor to ceiling with good brands and the kind of stuff you can't buy at the big box stores (they cater specifically to serious hobby level).

 

I use the miter saw for deck building, fence building , etc and use the miter saw in the shop for cabinets and used in high end furniture making.

The miter or slider doesn’t has its limits except in design, it’s usually the woodworker which has limits..

Miter Saw Bench

I’ve got an Makita LS 1030. I replaced the saw with a 10” Makita slider. I put it up for sale a couple years ago in a yard sale and no bites. The saw is good and true. I have enough room in my miter bench to put two saws side by side. When doing kitchen cabinet frames, door parts, drawer parts...

www.woodworkingtalk.com

 

There is some truth in that as well. I am learning new ways to use every machine in our shop on a regular basis.

 

I'm on a really tight budget, so I can't afford anything like the Fusion Table Saw, but that sure does look nice . I would need to build something to put that in. Space is no problem, money and materials are!!

 

I find it hard to believe there's no way to get in touch with the seller unless you bought it in a parking lot for cash money. If you found him on Marketplace or Craig's list, called him from a telephone pole sign, got his number from a third party, there's a record. The day you bought it is important. He probably has the fence and maybe the miter gauge, too, unless it's hot. Motorized saws burn up after awhile, and the owner will sometimes list them as not working /for parts on Ebay, and you can also search the part no. and saw make/model, size and type and look at pictures/ask questions for a match. I wouldn't waste a nickel on a new fence.

 

Oh you got me good! Just found the text messages from him on my phone! Crossing my fingers! 🤞

 

Ah! Out of luck... He said it never had one. I'm guessing he bought it used or maybe forgot about it, because even the manual says it has one.
Great! Looks like I found a used one on ebay. Hoping I get paid in two hours... lol

 

I bought a used tablesaw from a guy who used a panel bar clamp from Harbor Freight! It'll work till you find one. Just be sure you clamp it parallel when you use it. Sears wants an arm and a leg for the cast clamp piece on their fences. The saw is pretty much worthless without it!

 

you mean these?
60 in. Aluminum Bar Clamp (harborfreight.com)

 

look for "saw guide clamp" on HF site.

 

I bought an old Craftsman saw (similar to yours) and it had the original fence. A nightmare of a fence I might add. Then I purchased a Vega fence (about $100) and it changed a dangerous saw into an accurate and non binding saw. I highly recommend the Vega. Hope this helps

 

Vegas Suggest Price List
Ummm.. can I buy all the parts and build one myself? 😬