Charnwood vs Axminster table saw fences
- Thread starter evidence
- Start date
Help Support UKworkshop.co.uk:
shed9
establiSHED member
I suspect they are both similar in quality. The Charnwood is a screw type lock down with the Axi being the lever type and most people (IMO) tend to prefer lever type lock down. That said the Charnwood looks slightly more substantial but then again it's a much larger table in itself.
Most after market fence systems are US made and you would need a fairly decent system / brand to see significant difference to the stock fences on those saws. You could of course build your own replacement fence, lots of options to do this but there will be a point where it gets to levels of diminishing return.
Most after market fence systems are US made and you would need a fairly decent system / brand to see significant difference to the stock fences on those saws. You could of course build your own replacement fence, lots of options to do this but there will be a point where it gets to levels of diminishing return.
This Axminster fence has had a couple of good reviews on here: http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-ri ... ade-100205 personally I don't like a fence that does not have positioning locks on both ends.
The Axminster TS250 has a much better fence than the TS200, whith the extended table and fence guides.
Mike
The Axminster TS250 has a much better fence than the TS200, whith the extended table and fence guides.
Mike
Most of the gripes seem to be about dust extraction, there is a thread on here somewhere about the modifications needed on the TS200 to make it more efficient to extract dust, as the TS250 is near identical I can only assume the same mod's need to be carried out to ensure efficient extraction.
Mike
Mike
Bodgers
Established Member
I have the TS200 mk1 (bought just before the mk2 came out) the fence on this can be modified to give decent repeatability and stability (tapping threads/holes into the clamp and inserting nylon bolts for free sliding, filing down the clamp so that it sits level etc.)evidence":30wlejjk said:
I saw the Mk2 recently at a woodworking show, and I was eager to see if they improved the fence. It was a bit of a disappointment. The long fence is no longer flippable with a low side for panel and small work piece cutting. Also, for me it didn't show any signs of being much more stable or repeatable than before. The new measure guide is a lot better though.
Looking at the pictures of the Charnwood, I wouldn't expect anything fantastic there either.
Basically, given you will probably have to make mods to either one to get it into a decent state, the fence shouldn't be used to choose between the two. They are very similar saws anyway, personally I'd go with the Axminster as they have decent support and you aren't paying for the extra cabinet and metal beneath it.
Sent from my MI 3W using Tapatalk
MikeJhn":158914pq said:
Visited Axminster Sittingbourne two days ago and in the demonstration area they had a TS250 fitted with one of these underneath it: http://www.axminster.co.uk/big-mouth-dust-hood-200114 they had also taped up the gap between the base and fixing rails.
The TS200 they had on display had a full length fence that had a bearing on the far side of the table that tightened against the table when you pulled the fence lever down, gave a much better rigid fence.
Mike
Bodgers
Established Member
For me that's still not an improvement as there is nothing to lock it down at the other side. The one I saw still has some issues in that it was hard to move it in small increments and lock it down in the same place.MikeJhn":32hfkhja said:
It amazes me that in the under £500 price bracket pretty much nobody has this fundamental sorted out of the box. It can't be that hard to do and still come in on budget.
Sent from my MI 3W using Tapatalk
MattRoberts
Established Member
My axminster AW10BSB2 fence locks on both sides..
LancsRick
Established Member
I thought this was a US vs UK trend, with one school of thought saying it was more accurate, the other saying there was an increased chance of pinching against the blade?
Sorry for the thread drift, but it is how we find out about other systems.
Matt
I think you have miss-understood, on the Triton work centre you physically have to move a lock at both ends of the fence, setting to the desired dimension from the blade on both ends, not rely on an shortening of the lever mechanism to pull the two ends together taking a reference from one end only.
Mike
Matt
I think you have miss-understood, on the Triton work centre you physically have to move a lock at both ends of the fence, setting to the desired dimension from the blade on both ends, not rely on an shortening of the lever mechanism to pull the two ends together taking a reference from one end only.
Mike
MattRoberts
Established Member
You're right, I'm very confused!
Bodgers
Established Member
Yeah, there a quite a few. The Bosh and Dewalt site style ones do, and there are a few other cabinet saws that do as well.MattRoberts":16rf3cbu said:
Sent from my MI 3W using Tapatalk
Bodgers
Established Member
MikeJhn":3uuyp7iq said:
Not sure I get you, but originally when I said locked from both ends, I basically meant clamped down in some way, rather than just flopping about free on the other end.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
I know this is months old but as I've been considering a TS250M-2..
Bodgers. To clarify, do you know that the TS250M-2 basic has a fence which does not fix in any way on the far end of the table, however, as Mike has explained to me and I've checked in the docs, the RH extension table comes with a different fence which has a bearing on the far end. So when clamped down it grabs against the far end, giving it more stability.
I used to have a triton workcentre which literally could be locked both ends. The TS250M-2 full length fence provided with the extension table doesn't actually lock at the far end, but it does have a guide there which pullls tight when you clamp the fence on the near side.
My "problem" is I don't really want the extension table but it seems I might have to, to get the better fence. I really don't like a fence which is completely free at the far end.
Cheers,
Carl.
Bodgers. To clarify, do you know that the TS250M-2 basic has a fence which does not fix in any way on the far end of the table, however, as Mike has explained to me and I've checked in the docs, the RH extension table comes with a different fence which has a bearing on the far end. So when clamped down it grabs against the far end, giving it more stability.
I used to have a triton workcentre which literally could be locked both ends. The TS250M-2 full length fence provided with the extension table doesn't actually lock at the far end, but it does have a guide there which pullls tight when you clamp the fence on the near side.
My "problem" is I don't really want the extension table but it seems I might have to, to get the better fence. I really don't like a fence which is completely free at the far end.
Cheers,
Carl.
Bodgers
Established Member
pike":qicj6px0 said:
As far as I know, neither the gen 1 or 2 clamp down at the far end. Not a huge issue because the long fence is reasonably stable with minimal deflection when pushing on it. More of an issue is repeatablity (particularly on the gen1) and lack micro adjust (Ts250mk2 does look to have MA now tho).
I did exactly what you are suggesting - bought the extension table to get the longer fence. I then junked the cheap pressed steel table and inserted a plywood table and routed a slot in it for a router table.
So basically you are paying for the fence and the long guide rails. Which for me, was worth it.
I understand the issues with a long fence vs a short, but I just found it way more stable with my abilities when dealing with larger work pieces.
Having said all that the gen1 TS250/200 fence is still junk. Gen 2 is better but still not perfect.
If I had the purchase to do again I'd have saved up for a Jet JTS600 or Scheppach 3.0 (both with decent micro adjust fences).
Sent from my MI 3W using Tapatalk
As far as I know, gen 2 does clamp down at the far end, if you buy the extension table which comes with a different fence.
Scheppach 3 is interesting how it apparently lets you fold the extension down.
I'm interested to know why repeatability is an issue as I'm thinking of buying a tablesaw but it wouldn't really be worth it if it isn't reliable. If the fence hasn't got too much deflection, what's causing the issues?
Cheers,
Carl.
Scheppach 3 is interesting how it apparently lets you fold the extension down.
I'm interested to know why repeatability is an issue as I'm thinking of buying a tablesaw but it wouldn't really be worth it if it isn't reliable. If the fence hasn't got too much deflection, what's causing the issues?
Cheers,
Carl.
Bodgers
Established Member
The problem on the Mk1 fence was the terrible clamp design. The casting is uneven (which can be filed down), and the screw based clamping mechanism causing a raising/grabbing action that means the fence doesn't sit parallel consistently.
The plastic disc and screw in the clamp work their way backwards over time causing the centre screw to press against the aluminium rail causing further inconsistency. You can see evidence of this if you look at poster's shots of the TS200's - lots of circles ground into the aluminium rail.
The fence doesn't really glide across the table either - even after lubrication (as per manual) it just kind of judders across.
I tried the TS200mk2 fence at a trade show last year, it seemed better but still not great.
All can be sorted after some tweaking, and it this price there isn't any other competition really. (Lots of TS200 threads - see mods that have been done - not all will apply to mk2 tho).
Sent from my MI 3W using Tapatalk
The plastic disc and screw in the clamp work their way backwards over time causing the centre screw to press against the aluminium rail causing further inconsistency. You can see evidence of this if you look at poster's shots of the TS200's - lots of circles ground into the aluminium rail.
The fence doesn't really glide across the table either - even after lubrication (as per manual) it just kind of judders across.
I tried the TS200mk2 fence at a trade show last year, it seemed better but still not great.
All can be sorted after some tweaking, and it this price there isn't any other competition really. (Lots of TS200 threads - see mods that have been done - not all will apply to mk2 tho).
Sent from my MI 3W using Tapatalk
Similar threads
