Incra Ts-ls or Wixey Digital Fence reader?

[Ash Baulackey]

Hey guys, what would you rather, Incra Ts-ls or Wixey Digital Fence reader?

[richard poitras]

I Think the real question is how long do you want to wait as the Incra has a long wait time, Here is a quote from one site......
"Estimated availability: Est. 7 - 9 week lead time due to high demand"

[Ash Baulackey]

Hey Richard, I don’t mind the wait, but is it worth it, $1400 CAD VS $135 for the Wixey. I can’t find any reliable/recent reviews on either product but they both look interesting. Better than the bump and pray method

[Clint Baxter]

I have the TS-LS and wouldn’t consider trading it for the Wixey. When you need to ripcut another matching piece after you’ve moved the fence, it is precise and accurate. It does take up more space with it’s and center mounted carriage, and doing wide rips requires repositioning of that carriage, but I’ve gotten to where anything requiring that type of repositioning is now cut instead with my track saw.

Clint

[Ash Baulackey]

Thanks Clint

[Derek Cohen]

Well, I have the Wixey on my Hammer K3, and it works accurately and reliably. At 1/10th of the price of the Incra, it is a no-brainer.

https://i.postimg.cc/cHpwfJ0f/1a.jpg

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Frank Drackman]

I have used both and find the Wixey to be superior. Very repeatable & easy to use absolute & relative values. I currently have on my Saw Top.

[Joe Hendershott]

I've only used the Wixey and have had it for 5 years without issues. Would easily buy it again if needed.

[Ash Baulackey]

Thanks Derek. Does your workshop get cold? How does it function then?

[Ash Baulackey]

Thanks Frank

[Ash Baulackey]

Perfect Joe

[Frank Pratt]

I have the TS-LS and wouldn’t consider trading it for the Wixey. When you need to ripcut another matching piece after you’ve moved the fence, it is precise and accurate. It does take up more space with it’s and center mounted carriage, and doing wide rips requires repositioning of that carriage, but I’ve gotten to where anything requiring that type of repositioning is now cut instead with my track saw.

Clint

I don't understand how the Incra is more repeatable than the Wixey. Can you explain?

I considered the Incra fence system, but not for long. It's over 10X the price & takes up the whole table to the left of the blade, and that's important real estate. So for me It would have been a matter of paying way more for a lesser product.

[Clint Baxter]

I don't understand how the Incra is more repeatable than the Wixey. Can you explain?

I considered the Incra fence system, but not for long. It's over 10X the price & takes up the whole table to the left of the blade, and that's important real estate. So for me It would have been a matter of paying way more for a lesser product.

The Incra locks into a toothed rack, ensuring it’ll return to the exact same position. With a digital readout, such as the Wixey, you set it to reading which depending on the accuracy of the readout/measuring device could still be a little off. Doubtful it’d be enough difference for woodworkers but you might move it some when locking the fence down. The Incra, has no chance of moving due to the locking racks.

Admittedly, the Wixey would be great if a woodworker wanted to switch between metric and imperial increments, (I had to convert mine to metric), if an individual had the desire/need to do so.

I’m happy with my TS-LS, but would go for something like the Wixey if it were unavailable.

Clint

[Carl Beckett]

I have a DRO on other tools that are similar in nature to the TS fence, and would not trade it.

In fact, on my woodrat I originally added an Incra track for indexing/repeat ability. But then switched both X and Y to digital gauges, which work MUCH better.

My TS is a combo machine so the fence comes off frequently, which causes issues with any type of readout.

On my router table I still have an Incra - which supports the fence and guides it while indexing. If I had a router fence that slid square along some other rails, I would go digital on it as well (in fact now that I think about it, it might not be hard to put the router fence on guide rails and add a DRO .... hmmm...)

So anywhere it is possible and the fence is guided by some other means, I have switched to DRO. (also have them on my lathe/mill, and the widebelt). I have spare Incra track sitting in a drawer.

[Charles Lent]

I have one of the very first Wixey DRO units on my Unisaw and Unifence. I bought a readout extension piece for it so it can now be used over the entire length of my 52" Unifence rail and on both sides of the right tilt blade. I can set the fence to a position, make a cut, them move the fence to another position, then later move back to the first position and make a second piece the same size as the first piece, and their cut dimension will be within about .005" of each other when measured with my digital calipers. This is way better than necessary for any woodworking project that I've ever done. The wood changes in size more than that with moisture content changes from day to day.

For my router table, I'm still using my Jointec IPM-1 fence and it is also very accurate and perfectly suited for use with my router table. I once considered buying the Jointec Saw Train product, which works similar to the Incra Fence system, but quickly decided that it would be much less convenient for me if I put it on my Unisaw. I'm very happy that I went with the Wixey system for the Unisaw.

Charley

[ChrisA Edwards]

I swapped out my SawStop fence for the Incra LS-TS fence about 15 months ago. I got the same 7-9 week delivery estimate, but it came in about 3 weeks.

Comparing the price of the Wixey and Incra is a little apples to oranges. One is a measuring device, the other is a complete fence system.

I kept all my Sawstop fence components, just in case, but at this point absolutely love the Incra LS-TS.

I have a router table in the right side of my table. With the positive stops, on the Incra guide rails, intakes 30 seconds to switch the fence from saw to router mode pr back.

Even with the ruler on my old SawStop rails, I still found myself getting a tape measure out and measuring between the blade and the fence, especially for fine adjustments. Now I use the cursor on the Incra Positioner and have complete confidence in its accuracy.

Would I buy it again, absolutely.

[Frank Pratt]

Thanks for the explanation Clint. Having the notches to register on would make repeating a setting quick & accurate. I think the Wixey is .05 or .1 mm, which is close enough for wood. I work mostly in metric now, but do find it handy to switch to imperial occasionally.

[ChrisA Edwards]

Thanks for the explanation Clint. Having the notches to register on would make repeating a setting quick & accurate. I think the Wixey is .05 or .1 mm, which is close enough for wood. I work mostly in metric now, but do find it handy to switch to imperial occasionally.

The Incra can be sourced in Imperial or Metric. I wish I have bought mine in Metric. I can always convert it.

[Derek Cohen]

Thanks Derek. Does your workshop get cold? How does it function then?

Ash, Perth gets Hot in summer. Temperate in winter. My idea of cold is likely very different from yours :)

I cannot imagine temperature making a difference.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Cary Falk]

I have never used the Incra but I did own the Wixey for a short period of time. I sold it because I did not like it. It's not a bad product. It just drove me crazy. If I had a micro adjust on the fence it would probably be different because I love my dro on my shaper and planer. I bump my fence into place with my hand and chasing thousands of an inch was aggravating for me. I also remove my fence quite a bit and while putting it back on was not all hard I would obsess over the zeroing it to the blade. I guess I am just old school when it comes to the table saw. Just something to think about. You might love it and it doesn't cost that much to try. The Incra would drive me bonkers also with all the space it takes up to the right of the blade.

[Randy Heinemann]

Don’t know much about the Wixey gauge but when buying the Indra you’re buying a whole system which for the table saw replaces your existing fence. If you’re happy with your existing fence it seems like overkill to invest in the Incra but I only have experience with a Wixey gauge on my planer. Plenty accurate for wood.

[Will Blick]

I have both as well....
I agree with other posters, apples n oranges.
Do u have a TS fence now? that matters, cause the Incra is a fence, not just a reader.
The INcra is a positioner, one click of the turnwheel = .001", its sooo easy to get perfect cuts, specially getting dado widths proper.
The Incra has clamps on both sides of the TS, so its rock solid when tightened down.. most TS fences only have clamp on the working side, so you can get some flex... for most work, thats OK, for very precise work, Incra is prob. perferable.
The Incra doubles as a router fence, assuming u have a router attached to your TS.
The Incra takes up a LOT of space, so prepare for that.
Incra takes a long time to set up and get nutz on accurate. But once u get it, it stays.
The INcra has special scales you can insert, and make a ton of amazing joinery on the router table, simplified by these custom scales. See the Incra Master Reference guide for details of what can be made with the custom scales, i.e. less thinking.

I would say the biggest downer for the INcra, other than the obvious price, is the long rail that sticks out past the TS.... good pix on Incra site for this.

Also the INcra has some nice accessories to add to make the router fence more versatile.

So, lots to consider, but apples n oranges for the comparison.
For the price, the Wixey is hard to beat for quick measure. But its NOT a fence, its not a router fence, a joinery system, its not a positioner, its not "quite" as accurate IMO. For most, the accuracy is a non issue, as both are accurate enough. The accuracy of the DRO is just one factor in the real accuracy of the cut.
I find most TS fences a bit crude...but again, for 90% of users, that is all they need. Hope this helps, as it is a big decision...
Wixey up n running in an hour or two...
incra, with router table set up, be prepared for nearly a day to fine tune it...

[Will Blick]

I have both as well....
I agree with other posters, apples n oranges.
Do u have a TS fence now? that matters, cause the Incra is a fence, not just a reader.
The INcra is a positioner, one click of the turnwheel = .001", its sooo easy to get perfect cuts, specially getting dado widths proper.
The Incra has clamps on both sides of the TS, so its rock solid when tightened down.. most TS fences only have clamp on the working side, so you can get some flex... for most work, thats OK, for very precise work, Incra is prob. perferable.
The Incra doubles as a router fence, assuming u have a router attached to your TS.
The Incra takes up a LOT of space, so prepare for that.
Incra takes a long time to set up and get nutz on accurate. But once u get it, it stays.
The INcra has special scales you can insert, and make a ton of amazing joinery on the router table, simplified by these custom scales. See the Incra Master Reference guide for details of what can be made with the custom scales, i.e. less thinking.

I would say the biggest downer for the INcra, other than the obvious price, is the long rail that sticks out past the TS.... good pix on Incra site for this.

Also the INcra has some nice accessories to add to make the router fence more versatile.

So, lots to consider, but apples n oranges for the comparison.
For the price, the Wixey is hard to beat for quick measure. But its NOT a fence, its not a router fence, a joinery system, its not a positioner, its not "quite" as accurate IMO. For most, the accuracy is a non issue, as both are accurate enough. The accuracy of the DRO is just one factor in the real accuracy of the cut.
I find most TS fences a bit crude...but again, for 90% of users, that is all they need. Hope this helps, as it is a big decision...
Wixey up n running in an hour or two...
incra, with router table set up, be prepared for nearly a day to fine tune it...



418513418514

[Clint Baxter]

The Incra can be sourced in Imperial or Metric. I wish I have bought mine in Metric. I can always convert it.

I originally purchased the Imperial TS-LS. When I decided to go metric, I got the conversion kit from Incra and did the switch. Takes a bit of time for the switch out, but I much prefer having that Metric scale.

If I'm trying to cut something to an Imperial measurement, I usually just go for the nearest millimeter. If I feel I absolutely have to match, I'll use the thumbwheel to dial it in. Otherwise the fence stays set precisely on even millimeters. Might be easier to have and use a DRO if you use both measuring systems, but I can see where getting that last micro adjust could be frustrating.

Clint

[richard poitras]

In review it seems like a lot of people here like the idea of a digital fence. But the only one talked about is the Wixey? (not saying its bad)In a quick review there are others on the market?( I listed some below but I am sure there are others) Are other people using other brands and if so what are your thoughts or recommendations?

Digi-Fence Digital Measuring System
i-Gaging
Grizzly

[Frank Drackman]

I have a bunch of Wixey products but have not tried any of the other brands. I had an issue with my first Wixey DRO & Barry Wixey sent me a replacement free of charge. I stick with companies that have great customer service.

[Mark Bolton]

Keep in mind as well that unless something has changed the Wixey's resolution is only .005. This would seem to be plenty accurate for woodworking, and likely is for a table saw fence, but is no where near accurate enough for things like shaper spindle height, shaper fence positioning, planer height, and so on. When you start to be able to read in 001" resolution and the wixey limits you to +/- .005 its a colossal fail. We ditched all our wixeys for Igaging (sucks that we couldnt afford a proscale which is by far the best option).

If your considering the cost of the incra I would spend the money on a ProScale way before I would buy the wixey. Wixey is great, fills a need, we have had problems with failure that may have been resolved by now. You get what you pay for. On a budget I'd be looking at Igaging or a custom Bangood DRO for a TS fence, if I were wanting a one and done that reads to .001 or .0005 I would be on a Proscale.

A lot depends on how accurate you want to be and what your work requires. I will say that after having .001 resolution with the Igaging cheapo units if I have a failure I will be buying a Proscale.

[Carl Beckett]

I originally purchased the Imperial TS-LS. When I decided to go metric, I got the conversion kit from Incra and did the switch. Takes a bit of time for the switch out, but I much prefer having that Metric scale.

If I'm trying to cut something to an Imperial measurement, I usually just go for the nearest millimeter. If I feel I absolutely have to match, I'll use the thumbwheel to dial it in. Otherwise the fence stays set precisely on even millimeters. Might be easier to have and use a DRO if you use both measuring systems, but I can see where getting that last micro adjust could be frustrating.

Clint

My DRO's are different brands, including some of these as well as some chinese made ones. From my experience they are all similar in accuracy. One feature to consider when deciding is the 'auto-off' and zeroing capability. For example, on the planer can you easily 'set' the DRO to a given thickness (take a pass, measure, then program that into the DRO and be done). And for me (because I forget a lot), auto off is a must without losing settings (saves the setup as well as the battery). there might be some benefit to having memory settings, but I do not know if any of them do that?

[Bill Carey]

Thanks Derek. Does your workshop get cold? How does it function then?

My shop gets pretty cold. 0 degrees F. And the wixey seems unaffected. Of course I warm the shop up before I start working but the temp fluctuations do not seems to bother it. And mine works great. Very repeatable. Very accurate.