Biesemeyer fence rails

[Lost_Arkitekt]

There was a thread about 6 or so years ago about making your own rails for a Biesemeyer table saw fence. I noticed that no one really put the dimensions of the tube, etc on there, but it seems that it would be easy to make the front and back rails. If someone wouldn't mind, could you measure the angle and offsets that are there. I know that the tube should be welded partially back on the angle. Also...what size angle is it? Which gauge?

I'm trying to start up my own architectural design-build firm. We make furniture right now, but I don't have the profits to buy the fence and the rails. I can buy a fence and make the rails though...for about 1/3 the cost.

Let me know if you can.

Thanks,
Paul

[Tom Hintz]

I don't have a Biesemieyer handy to measure the tube for you but do have some other thoughts on this. If you get the fence itself, setting up the angle irons and tube to fit is not easy. The overall heights (tube on the front angle) are designed to keep the fence parallel to the table saw surface. they come up with some very strange fractions to accomplish this pretty easily if you understand the goal.
Also, I have never had a table saw with either of theanglee irons at an angle other than 90-degrees to the table saw surface. The rear angle just supports the slide at the rear of most fences which are usually adjustable for height anyway. Also, welding the tube to the angle removes a point of adjustment that lets you get the tube perfectly parallel to the front edge of the table surface. Parallel is way more important than the setback of the tube which just insures clearance between the front of the fence locking mechanism and the table surface itself.

[Lost_Arkitekt]

Thanks for the response. I also noticed that if I decide to buy the steel, bolts/screws, paint, etc., then I'll be close to the price of it already made.

At this point, I think I'm going to just put the money into a new table saw with a Biesemeyer style fence.

I appreciate all the help!


P

[imwelding]

the basic Biesemeyer rails & tube have a 50" blade to fence max capacity.....don't know how much the x-tra long rails and tubes are but I have extended 3 of them to 100" capacity by welding 3" X 2" extension tubes to them at the shop I used to work at....was told I saved them about $1000......main thing is to keep both original and extension tubes Perfectly straight together until cool(clamped them both to a pc of 3" X 3" X 1/2" X 4 foot long angle to weld together)....well, that's my 2 cents

[gungatim]

I actually remember that thread, and I have kept some of the drawings from the guy that made the fence copy in my files, thinking someday I would make one. I haven't yet. If I recall, his was white and made with stock angle iron, rectangle tube, an offset spacer he made welded to a rod for the handle.

Ah, here's the drawings. My aplogies as I don't recall who to credit.