Rich Person
05-24-2006, 2:15 PM
In the neverending saga of trying to put a fence on my new SawStop . . .
On April 5th, I ordered the fence (woodpeckers). After starting to install it, I noticed that the included instructions were for the old TS-III fence. So, I downloaded the correct ones from the web site. I attached the rails and base unit and was ready to attach the LS base, when I noticed that they sent the mounting screw set for the TS-III (which don't work for the LS), so I had to stop, wait a week for the correct screws. After installing the LS base and fence, it was clear that the fence mounting bracket was bent. This is about 1/8" steel, so it isn't easy to bend. The box looked undamaged, so I am having them send another to replace it. I went ahead and installed the fence and set it up so I could use the saw (now one month since order). I squared up the fence, and then ripped some 6/4 birch. In the middle of the cut a terrible vibration was produced and the work piece came of the blade/fence away from the fence. So, I took my strait edge to the fence. Sure enough, it has a 1-2mm bow in the middle of the fence [thereby pushing the cut wood into the middle of the blade]. But for the riving knife on the SawStop, and my preoccupation with avoiding accidents, I'd probably have a piece of 6/4 birch sticking through my abdomen.
The TS-LS is much more solid than I imagined, and I love the concept. But I'm a little concerned about all the quality problems I have had. Incra is supposed to be the leader in quality measuring? I'm not sure I trust their equipment anymore. I'm sure it will work fine once I get is all replaced and checked out. But I bought Incra because I expect it to be that way from the start. There doesn't appear to be any damage to the shipping box, so I imagine that the bent parts were sent out that way.
I guess I want to warn people not to assume that anything they buy is spot on accurate. Make sure and check with an external standard to make sure.
On April 5th, I ordered the fence (woodpeckers). After starting to install it, I noticed that the included instructions were for the old TS-III fence. So, I downloaded the correct ones from the web site. I attached the rails and base unit and was ready to attach the LS base, when I noticed that they sent the mounting screw set for the TS-III (which don't work for the LS), so I had to stop, wait a week for the correct screws. After installing the LS base and fence, it was clear that the fence mounting bracket was bent. This is about 1/8" steel, so it isn't easy to bend. The box looked undamaged, so I am having them send another to replace it. I went ahead and installed the fence and set it up so I could use the saw (now one month since order). I squared up the fence, and then ripped some 6/4 birch. In the middle of the cut a terrible vibration was produced and the work piece came of the blade/fence away from the fence. So, I took my strait edge to the fence. Sure enough, it has a 1-2mm bow in the middle of the fence [thereby pushing the cut wood into the middle of the blade]. But for the riving knife on the SawStop, and my preoccupation with avoiding accidents, I'd probably have a piece of 6/4 birch sticking through my abdomen.
The TS-LS is much more solid than I imagined, and I love the concept. But I'm a little concerned about all the quality problems I have had. Incra is supposed to be the leader in quality measuring? I'm not sure I trust their equipment anymore. I'm sure it will work fine once I get is all replaced and checked out. But I bought Incra because I expect it to be that way from the start. There doesn't appear to be any damage to the shipping box, so I imagine that the bent parts were sent out that way.
I guess I want to warn people not to assume that anything they buy is spot on accurate. Make sure and check with an external standard to make sure.