Why do bandsaw tables tilt AWAY from the fence?

[John Coloccia]

Can someone explain why bandsaw tables tilt away from the fence? It makes it so that constant and extreme vigilance is required to keep the piece from coming off the fence. It seem so much more natural for the table to tilt so the piece naturally lays on the fence.

Is it just for capacity?

[Marty Paulus]

John. Capacity would be my guess. If the table tilted toward the fence (assuming the fence is between the blade and the frame) the distance between the wheels would have to increase to allow the table to tilt in that direction. Not sure if that would cause heart burn in the design of the saw our not but that is my guess as to the tilt direction. One solution would be to move the blade to the outside of the blade but there again you would limit your capacity.

[Prashun Patel]

The table's already at the bottom of the cutting opening. If it tilted down to the left, it would hit the lower wheel. Tilting up to the left doesn't pose the same issue.

If they made the pivot of the table to the left, then the right of the table could lift up without causing the left to dip down, and there wouldn't be the same problem. But then I guess the stability of the table might suffer.

Are there ramp type jigs that'll do what you want?

[John Coloccia]

Well, I don't do it often, and when I do I just clamp a piece of MDF down, or if the work is flexible I just misuse he back of my fence (to the right of the blade). It was just idle curiosity that got me wondering. I didn't think of the fence bumping into the wheel.

[Lee Schierer]

The explanations by previous posters are correct. However, if you have a Kreg or FastTrack style fence it can be switched form right to left so the blade is to the left of the fence.http://www.hartvilletool.com/shared/images/products//medium/10428.JPG

[Rod Sheridan]

Can someone explain why bandsaw tables tilt away from the fence? It makes it so that constant and extreme vigilance is required to keep the piece from coming off the fence. It seem so much more natural for the table to tilt so the piece naturally lays on the fence.

Is it just for capacity?

Well John, that depends upon whether you put the fence on the left or right side of the blade.

If I can I put the fence on the right when ripping bevels for the reason you stated......Regards, Rod.

[John Coloccia]

Funny enough, if you look in the other bandsaw fence thread, I mention that I'm going to pick up a Kreg today. What a coinkydink :)

[John Coloccia]

Well John, that depends upon whether you put the fence on the left or right side of the blade.

If I can I put the fence on the right when ripping bevels for the reason you stated......Regards, Rod.

My current fence has a bump to the left that makes it supremely inconvenient to do this. In fact, I'll say that the entire fence assembly on the G0514X2 (Grizzly's 19") is extremely poorly designed and does not belong on what's otherwise a fine saw. There's no drift adjustment (at least none that I've ever found), and the lock handle is offset to the right of the fence, so it's incredibly difficult to align the blade to the workpiece and lock it down because the work is in the way! It's just bizarre. The drift adjustment is no biggie as my blades never seem to drift for whatever reason. The lock handle location is a source of constant frustration, and that's reason #2 for switching to the Kreg.

[Van Huskey]

It used to be many bandsaw fence rails were long extending well past the table to the right of the blade and the tables were proportionally wider as well with more "meat" on the right side of the blade. I assume since a lot of people never tilt a bandsaw table along with cost savings and size, especially in saws marketed to the hobbyists, has given us cheaper more compact saws.

[Chris Padilla]

Who says the fence needs to be to the left of the blade?

[Pete Bradley]

I think your question is somewhat specific to the fence on your saw. Most often for cuts with the table tilted, I use a clamp on edge guide as a fence on the right of the band. Works great and provides a ledge for the workpiece.

[glenn bradley]

I do as Pete does.

[Rod Sheridan]

Well John, that certainly changes things doesn't it?

As always, the devil is in the details..........Regards, Rod.

[Chip Lindley]

Can someone explain why bandsaw tables tilt away from the fence? It makes it so that constant and extreme vigilance is required to keep the piece from coming off the fence. It seem so much more natural for the table to tilt so the piece naturally lays on the fence.

Is it just for capacity?


My current fence has a bump to the left that makes it supremely inconvenient to do this. In fact, I'll say that the entire fence assembly on the G0514X2 (Grizzly's 19") is extremely poorly designed and does not belong on what's otherwise a fine saw.

John, there is technology to hold the workpiece upward against the BS fence on a wrongly-tilted table, BUT the Galactic Federation has issued an Edict prohibiting the use of Tractor Beam power on any machine smaller than an Enterprise-class Starship. Sorry! C-clamps and MDF will have to suffice for now. You admit you don't do this very often, anyhow!

Real answer? Could it be because Grizzly (and others) want to sell you a better bandsaw fence? There is a specialized aftermarket accessory for every occasion yanno!

[Van Huskey]

How about a variable vacuum fence, adjust it so it just "floats" the piece against the fence. That is what we had on the Enterprise. :)

[John Coloccia]

How about a variable vacuum fence, adjust it so it just "floats" the piece against the fence. That is what we had on the Enterprise. :)

Oh great. So now I'm going to get sucked into the Festool debates too.

[Rod Sheridan]

Oh great. So now I'm going to get sucked into the Festool debates too.

John, resistance is futile...................Rod.

[Danny Burns]

Try this with your new fence.
Each blade drifts one way or the other.
Set your fence on the side of the blade, so that when the fence is set for the drift, the far end of the fence (out-feed end) is closer to the blade, and the near end of the fence (in-feed end) is farther away.
IOW - So if a piece of wood shoots off to the right, then the fence is on the right, and vice-versa for shooting off to the left.

[Rick Potter]

Speaking of long fence rails, I have an old Delta Rockwell 14" BS that came with fence rails about 4' long. I don't know if there were legs on the outside of that or not. I don't have any, but I do have the rails out in the shed. As I remember they are solid steel too, not tubes.

Rick Potter