[Steven Owen]

Companies like Kreg, Woodpeckers and Incra like to tout their micro adjust features of their fences.

The vast majority of router tables on the market do not have a micro adjust systems on their fence systems.

Do you feel micro adjust is a critical feature for a router table fence or do you find it's a nice to have feature rather than a necessary feature?

 

[DesertRatTom]

Have never had occasion to use mine on either the router or the bandsaw fence. You might want to watch some Marc Sommerfeld videos to see his technique. Very simple and very accurate methods.

 

[TWheels]

As one who learned router use from the Router Workshop, I see no need for the micro adjust fences. On the other hand, some now inactive members of the RouterForums expressed great liking for such features.
Is a micro adjust feature essential? no
Would it be nice to have? Some people think so.
Would a micro adjust feature on a router fence increase productivity? IMHO, and only MHO the time spent adjusting the fence would be no less than the time spent adjusting a standard manual fence.
Which would be more helpful, a micro adjust fence or another router? your preference. My preference would be another router.
It might be amusing to watch some of the RouterWorkshop videos on YouTube, inn addition to the Marc Sommerfeld videos referenced by @DesertRatTom

 

[sunnybob]

I have these fitted to my home made fence. I am a hobby woodworker, not making stuff for money.

UJK Technology Fine Fence Adjusters for Router Tables - Router Table Fences & Accessories - Routing - Power Tool Accessories - Accessories | Axminster Tools & Machinery

I dont use them very often. But when using the router as an edge planer with an offset fence I can micro adjust untill there is no snipe at all.

I like them.

But if youre just setting the fence in relation to the cutter for a straight cut, this is just as accurate and much much cheaper. You can measure height and offset with them.

Trend GAUGE/1 Router Depth gauge - Metric/Imperial | Powertool World

 

[Steven Owen]

I have these fitted to my home made fence. I am a hobby woodworker, not making stuff for money.

UJK Technology Fine Fence Adjusters for Router Tables - Router Table Fences & Accessories - Routing - Power Tool Accessories - Accessories | Axminster Tools & Machinery

I dont use them very often. But when using the router as an edge planer with an offset fence I can micro adjust untill there is no snipe at all.

I like them.

But if youre just setting the fence in relation to the cutter for a straight cut, this is just as accurate and much much cheaper. You can measure height and offset with them.

Trend GAUGE/1 Router Depth gauge - Metric/Imperial | Powertool World

The primary task where the micro adjust can help is dados, rabbits, in dovetail and box joints.

The Incra LS's ability to create box joints and dovetails mainly relies on the LS positioner's ability to make micro adjustment.

It's not as easy as they make it look in the Incra videos. It takes a lot of practice to get the dove tails to work on the Incra table.

 

[Cherryville Chuck]

There is one fence, and I can't remember which one, that had lots of complaints because they had trouble zeroing the fence back out after using the micro adjust. I just make a pencil mark at one end of the fence and loosen that end. The pencil mark gives me a visual reference as to how far I'm moving that end which is of course divided in half as long as the other end stays put where you clamped it.

 

[vindaloo]

.................I just make a pencil mark at one end of the fence and loosen that end. The pencil mark gives me a visual reference as to how far I'm moving that end which is of course divided in half as long as the other end stays put where you clamped it.

Now there was I thinking I was the only one who did that. My current router table has mm measurements each end, so if I move the fence 1 mm one end only, it's half a mm at the cutter. Problem I have ATM is that my router table won't hold either of my good routers and it's not that accurate. The table I want to build will be taking my hitachi 12ve (v2) or whatever it is, and that is definately accurate.

 

[MT Stringer]

From time to time, I use my set of feeler gauges that I have owned since 1967. Why do I remember that year so vividly? That is when I bought a new Chevelle w/350hp 327 engine...and it did get a few upgrades including roller rocker arms, etc. Some of the gauges are dented.:surprise::grin:

 

[Jerry Bowen]

I think that we need to keep in mind that Incra Tool's did not come into existence to make woodworkers happy, but their purpose for being in business is to make money.

With that goal in mind they created tools that woodworkers would buy. The tools had to be such that they would be so well liked that a lot of people would buy them. They have accomplished that goal and apparently are doing very well.

Certainly micro adjust is not a neccessay feature on a router table's fence, but for some folks such as myself, I wouldn't want to be without it. This is probably due to the fact that I have gotten used to it. Had I never used the feature, I probably would never missed it.

I'd like to hear from a member that has a an Incra router fence with micro adjust that is sorry that they bought it.

Yes, the feature may well fit into the list of unneccessay luxury items, but what is wrong with that. I'd love to have a high end TS, but it would just be a luxury as my present saw does all that I ask of it and it does it with ease.

Sure would be a boring world if we were all alkike with like needs, wants, and ideas wouldn't it?

Jerry

 

[Cherryville Chuck]

Now there was I thinking I was the only one who did that. My current router table has mm measurements each end, so if I move the fence 1 mm one end only, it's half a mm at the cutter. Problem I have ATM is that my router table won't hold either of my good routers and it's not that accurate. The table I want to build will be taking my hitachi 12ve (v2) or whatever it is, and that is definately accurate.

I said put the mark on the fence when I meant put it on the table close to the fence. You knew what I meant.

I have both the V and the V2 Angie and I use the V2 in my table. It was designed in my opinion for the table. I'm not familiar with the VE. If you do have the V2 you may not be aware that above the table adjustment is possible with it. There is a 14mm nut on the end of the threaded adjustment rod under the phenolic base plate. I use a mechanic's speeder handle with that socket on it to run mine up and down and the only way it could be faster is if I put the socket on a drill instead.

 

[BrianS]

Companies like Kreg, Woodpeckers and Incra like to tout their micro adjust features of their fences.

The vast majority of router tables on the market do not have a micro adjust systems on their fence systems.

Do you feel micro adjust is a critical feature for a router table fence or do you find it's a nice to have feature rather than a necessary feature?

No, I don't feel it's a necessary addition to a router table.

Now, this is MY opinion only. I've never owned an adjustable fence of any kind, in much the same way I've never owned a router lift.. I don't see a need for either item. I'm plodding along quite nicely without them. Now, perhaps I would like one, or both.. but I'm too frugal, SWMBO would say cheap, to purchase one.

Lots of different ways to enjoy this hobby... and my way is surely NOT the only way.

 

[Steven Owen]

I think that we need to keep in mind that Incra Tool's did not come into existence to make woodworkers happy, but their purpose for being in business is to make money.

With that goal in mind they created tools that woodworkers would buy. The tools had to be such that they would be so well liked that a lot of people would buy them. They have accomplished that goal and apparently are doing very well.

Certainly micro adjust is not a neccessay feature on a router table's fence, but for some folks such as myself, I wouldn't want to be without it. This is probably due to the fact that I have gotten used to it. Had I never used the feature, I probably would never missed it.

I'd like to hear from a member that has a an Incra router fence with micro adjust that is sorry that they bought it.

Yes, the feature may well fit into the list of unneccessay luxury items, but what is wrong with that. I'd love to have a high end TS, but it would just be a luxury as my present saw does all that I ask of it and it does it with ease.

Sure would be a boring world if we were all alkike with like needs, wants, and ideas wouldn't it?

Jerry

Incra pushed Woodpeckers to revise their table designs for better accuracy.

If you make a lot of drawers and boxes. The Incra LS pays for itself by eliminating the need for $500 -$600 dollars of add-on's.

Incra was he first company to make the micro adjustments useful for complex jointing.

When it comes to shaping, it has no advantage over the Kreg or other cheaper options.

The Digital readout for Jessem that can be adapted for Incra tables is just plain over kill. It does nothing that cannot be accomplished with a set-up bars.

The Digital Lift readout is a pure toy. It doesn't offer any additional functionality.

 

[Jerry Bowen]

A little off subject Steven, but would you mind telling me what "set-up bars" are. I hear them referred to from time to time on this forum but have never been clued in to what they are and what they do.

Jerry

 

[vindaloo]

...........I have both the V and the V2 Angie and I use the V2 in my table. It was designed in my opinion for the table. I'm not familiar with the VE. If you do have the V2 ................

@Cherryville Chuck I have the M12VE. It doesn't have built in above table adjustment but I added it, see image below. It has a knob on what would be the lowest part of the router when under a table, but it has a hex socket at the base end which is visible so I can use one of those otherwise useless zigzag allen keys you get with flat pack furniture to wind it up or down. Alternatively I can use a hex socket in my otherwise redundant ryobi cordless screwdriver. It's mounted on 2 sheets of bonded 8mm plexi which works very well as I can make the supports for it very close to the router as once in my new table (to be built) it won't need to come out very often at all.

 

[vindaloo]

A little off subject Steven, but would you mind telling me what "set-up bars" are. .............

Set up bars are usually brass as it's a soft metal and if it touches the blade it won't damage it. They come in different thicknesses and you stack them to your desired height, place them next to the blade or router bit and align the top of either with the top of the stack of setup bars.
Precision Brass Setup Bars | Rockler Woodworking and Hardware

 

[vindaloo]

@Jerry Bowen

Here's a better example

 

[Steven Owen]

A little off subject Steven, but would you mind telling me what "set-up bars" are. I hear them referred to from time to time on this forum but have never been clued in to what they are and what they do.

Jerry

Kreg has their own set-up bars as well. They're made of soft aluminum and have a depth gauge.

It's just a different approach to brass set-up bars.

 

[Jerry Bowen]

Set up bars are usually brass as it's a soft metal and if it touches the blade it won't damage it. They come in different thicknesses and you stack them to your desired height, place them next to the blade or router bit and align the top of either with the top of the stack of setup bars.
Precision Brass Setup Bars | Rockler Woodworking and Hardware

I sort of assumed that what is described is what the set up bars are but was not certain.

In a set of the bars, what is the thinnest one or can a person just arrange the stack in a manner to get to, for example, a set up that goes to a tolerance of 1/32", if needed.

Jerry

 

[JOAT]

No, I don't feel it's a necessary addition to a router table.

Now, this is MY opinion only. I've never owned an adjustable fence of any kind, in much the same way I've never owned a router lift.. I don't see a need for either item. I'm plodding along quite nicely without them. Now, perhaps I would like one, or both.. but I'm too frugal, SWMBO would say cheap, to purchase one.

Lots of different ways to enjoy this hobby... and my way is surely NOT the only way.

Got no router fence, don't want one, don't need one. When the time comes to use one, then a chunk of wood, clamped down, will fine, I can make that just as accurate as I want.

Same with a router lift, don't have one, don't want one, just popping the plate and router out is my preferred method.

I'm not frugal, just broke.

 

[Steven Owen]

I sort of assumed that what is described is what the set up bars are but was not certain.

In a set of the bars, what is the thinnest one or can a person just arrange the stack in a manner to get to, for example, a set up that goes to a tolerance of 1/32", if needed.

Jerry

Most sets are down to 1/8 an inch.

The Veritas set from Lee Valley is in the only set-up bar package that goes down to 1/32.

Veritas® Set-Up Blocks - Lee Valley Tools