Half fences

[Rounder]

I just finished reading an article on resawing and the photos that accompanied the articel show the author using a half fence. I have brought up the subject of half fences on tablesaws before, but this was the first time I saw one on a bandsaw.

The more I think about it, the more I am encouraged to try using this approach on both the tablesaw and bandsaw.

Any one have any comments or suggestions on half fences.

[paulstenlund]

I've used a half fence for many years, I make my aux fences for ripping just past the leading edge of the saw blade. This was a technique my grandfather showed me 40+ yrs ago ( I think he brought the idea back from one of the Big Ones, I'm not such which one). He called it an "European fence". The theory is you don't need the guidence once you are past the cutting edge and the chance of binding and kickback is greatly reduced.

Paul

[Rounder]

Paul,

It was a European tablesaw that had the first half-fence that I saw. I mentioned on the forum probably over a year ago, but never played with the idea. Now that I am seeing used on a bandsaw also, I think I am going to give it a shot. The theory behind it makes perfect sense and it would appear easier to square your fence to the blade.

How far past the leading edge does yours go? I was thinking of making mine to the arbor.

[paulstenlund]

George

I never go past the arbor, I like about halfway between the leading edge and the arbor, but I don't think it is critical. I use the stock fence and attach the "european/half" fence to it that way it is square to the blade (hopefully). I also make them longer than the table, extending toward the operator, sometimes with a "lip" on the bottom edge, in front of the table, same height(plane) as table to help support the workpiece, _| this helps if you have a short infeed table, I don't put much weight on this because I think it would stress out the fence to much, but it helps keep the piece under control while you are setting up the cut.

Paul

[monte]

Does anyone have any links to articles on the half fence? Sounds interesting.

[jnesmith]

I read about them, and considered giving it a try. However, the short distance from the blade to front on the BT discouraged me.

[monte]

You can always extend the fence farther past the front of the saw though.

[Jim Boyd]

Hmmmm, something else good about my unifence

[lago]

In Sandor Nagyszalanczy's "Woodshop Jigs & Fixtures", he covers a half-fence and he shows it with the fence going just beyond the leading edge of the sawblade. He also shows a fence that extends beyond the front and back of the table and has thin plywood attached to support the work.