Vega U50 Table Saw Fence System: 36-Inch Fence Bar, 50-Inch to Right

Yesterday the package arrived and this morning I installed the fence. It took me about two hours, but I have some mobility issues and took my time. I also added a bit of extra work for myself while uninstalling the old fence. I was replacing the original Jet fence that came with my Jet JWTS 10JF Table Saw. All pieces shipped as expected, and the build is good. I had no issues with unfinished edges nor other rough spots in the materials. The instruction sheet was clearly written and provided sufficient diagrams and information needed to quickly get the rails mounted to the table saw. No extra holes were needed to fit the rails to the table saw, and the leveling bolts helped quickly get the rails adjusted to the proper height. The fit of all the pieces was nicely done for a “utility” model, and the plates provided to support a table extension weren’t needed, but are a nice add for those who might need such an extension. Adjusting the fence to be in parallel to the blade was very easy; just slide the side of the fence to one of. The mitre gauge slots, bring the fence in alignment with the slot, and tighten the four bolts to secure the fence in that position. The feel of the rails is very solid. The movement of the fence along the rails very smooth. The micro adjust function works as expected, and. There was a minimal amount of adjustment needed on the gauge that marks the position of the fence in relation to the blade of the saw. I am very satisfied with the installation ease and the functionality this will add to my table saw. The new fence is more stable than the old, and has a better overall fit. I am looking forward to many years of use from this new fence.

Received it in good condition, the box was slightly damaged and there was a scratch on the rear rail, no big deal. The instructions were good, if you have half a brain and are any kind of wood or metal man, you will have no problem. it bolted right up to my saw without alteration and the fence operates like a champ. I got the extended model so I had to build an inset table for it, but it was relatively easy. Turned my so-so table saw into a production quality machine. Worth every penny,

This is a great option for the price. I have it on a 1960s Craftsman 110 series table saw I rebuilt. Night and day over stock. Pretty straightforward installation with 2 holes drilled on the back of the saw top. Pretty easy drilling. Takes little effort to square up and calibrate. Once it's set up it is extremely easy to use and adjust. I have the same down sides as the reviews I read before I purchased it. Some of the hardware is unfinished black steel which will eventually rust if not oiled regularly or painted before installation and there are sharp edges that need softening so your not getting scratched or cut. The fence top is a cheap piece of formica and is little to be desired. It was chipped out of the box and had to have been when it was assembled in the pIant. I covered mine with a vinyl wrap but a thin plywood invert could be used. The cover just seems cheap and a corner that was cut in design. There were several issues with the paint, missed spots and scratches. Last they used a aluminum tube cut down for the spacers from the fence to the square. They are not fitted and need to be pushed in when setting up so they dont stick out agian just a cheap corner cut type thing. Thay said it works great and has nice features, like the designers took in all the functionality aspects and nailed them and skipped on the finishing aspects.

I cannot believe what a difference this fence has made for my Craftsman 113-298240 10" table saw! Set-up took about an hour and can be done pretty easily alone. The instructions stand a little bit to be desired, but are adequate to get the job done. Once installed, the fence is dead on accurate. The only adjusting I had to do was drill two holes in the back of the fence rail to attach the hold down clip. Although it would have been nice if these holes were predrilled, it is not enough of a nuisance to take a star away. I wouldn't recommend the 50" model unless you plan on making/buying an extension table in the near future. If not, 40" of fence rail will be sticking out in the middle of the garage. You will, however, be able to safely wrangle a full sheet of plywood with the 50" version.

When I set up my shop several years ago I ended up with an old table saw from the pre-plastic era which featured a fence which seemed capable of anything except being adjusted to stay parallel to the blade. The saw was in excellent operating shape, but the fence made trying to do anything requiring a hint of precision an excercise in futility. Then this fence came into the picture. Installation was easy (though I ended up having to make a table extension and legs to support the 50 inch side, but that turned into a downdraft sanding table so certainly not a negative development). In use, it's been an incredible fence for me over the past 3.5 years. It's easy to adjust precisly, holds it's alignment, locks tight, handles 4x8 sheets of plywood easily and at the end of the day has been one of the best purchases I have made for the shop.

Early in my life as a home-renter, I did all my woodworking on a radial arm saw. Why? Because it came with the house and I couldn't afford anything else. It worked, but using it to rip wood scared the heck out of me. I was never as cautious and careful as when I used that saw. When I moved to my own home, I knew that I was going to need to replace that saw with a table saw. Craftsman was the choice, due to price and credit availability. Over the years, that saw served well for all my woodworking and home projects, but the fence system on it always irked me. Whenever I set the fence, I would have to measure from the fence to the miter slot near the blade, then to the miter slot at the front, then to the miter slot at the back, all the while tap, tap, tapping the fence back and forth to adjust it while slowly tightening it down. What a pain. Finally, after seventeen years, I decided to upgrade the saw. I didn't have enough cash to replace it, so instead I installed a higher horsepower motor, new pulleys and v-belt, and a new fence system - the Vega system. Installing the Vega fence was not tough. It installed into the existing holes in my saw table. I did need to make a support for the right side of the table, because the 50" fence on that side would tip the saw without it. I went out of my way and made a nice one, so that my work piece would have support on that side as it went through the saw. It took a little bit to align the fence, but nothing exceptional. Now when I move the fence, I don't have to do my little measuring dance to make sure it is parallel with the blade. I can set it and forget it. The measurement indicator is adjustable and the tape measure on the front rail can be repositioned (and needed to be for my saw). There is a "micro" adjustment feature that lets me move the fence a very small amount at a time, making it easier to sneak up on just the right dimension. The only problem I have had with the fence is that it moved as I was cutting. Very discouraging to find that the back of the piece you are cutting is wider than the front. In truth, this was my problem. I hit the front rail with a little WD-40 to keep it nice and shiny, and gave the fence a slippery surface to try to hold onto. A little cleaning with some mineral spirits and a firm grip on the fence clamp has eliminated that problem, but I keep my eye on it anyways. At this point, my only regret is that I didn't do this years ago.

I was skeptical when I read several reviews concerning the quality of the parts used to assemble the fence system. Yes they could use some refinement but that is easiest enough to do. On the other hand the spacers for the sliding fence assembly (aluminum pipe) and the caps on the ends of the fence are crap. The caps for the rear rail, I have no words to describe the lack of thought that went into their selection. if you can assemble and install the fence without picking them up off the floor, you are doing well. The caps for the front rail are only slightly better because they are internal caps. The aluminum pipe spacers were easy enough to fix. I just dropped a 1/4 inch washer inside each spacer to center it under the fence and machined a few caps to finish the installation. All said and done it is not a bad fence system. It has been easy to set and adjust and is fairly solid. Is it worth the price? Maybe, maybe not. Personally I think it was a bit high for having to remake and redesign what I thought I was buying. One last note, the high pressure laminate with the Vega Logo was cut about 3/8 of a inch too short slides back and forth. The whole time all I can think is I hope they didn't use this fence system to cut it.

This is a well made fence for the price. It has improved the accuracy of my table saw. Some parts could have used a little more finishing, but it's minor. I have a unisaw, so I did not have to do any drilling to mount the rails. Consider this before buying. It's made in the USA.