Table saw fences

[pgrbff]

I have a rather old Startrite saw purchased from a school in Ardee in Co Louth in Ireland.
The fence stops just after the far end of the blade?
Many tablesaws I see online, I suppose mostly American, have a fence that extends the full length of the table.
I'm assuming this has something to do with safety and kick back but I'm struggling to see how.
Can someone explain?

 

[Amplidyne]

https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/wis16.pdf

Basically you don't want the fence extending beyond the gullet of the leading teeth at table level.

If there's not a way of setting it, use a false fence. If not it'll bind, and possibly kick back on natural timber.

The H & S advice is worth reading and taking note of.

American videos mostly aren't. They're often very gung-ho about table saw safety.

 

[scooby]

Traditional rip saws have short fences. The recommended setting is the cut out in the fence lines up with the gullets of the teeth. This allows the cut to open up and reduce the chance of the timber binding (which can happen on a full length fence.
On big machines, full length fences were usually only on panel saws. They seem to be everywhere now, on job site saws and larger machines.

 

[Jameshow]

As long and the blade and fence are parallel it's not an issue normally.

If the fence is toed in towards the blade then there could be an issue

 

[Jake]

As long and the blade and fence are parallel it's not an issue normally.

If the fence is toed in towards the blade then there could be an issue

However parallel they are, with a long fence it just takes a bit of stress-relief bending in the fence side cut bit of the timber after it has passed the blade to start pushing the timber diagonally into the cutting edge / side of the blade. With a short fence it can banana how it likes after the cut without interfering with the timber/fence reference making the cut.

 

[Sachakins]

If you must/want to keep a long fence, then set it to toe out, so if there us stress relieved in a rip cut, then there is somewhere for the wood to go.
The problem with that, is you never know how far it will go, hence why a long fence is often decried and considered a risk.
I never worry because my cuts are neither long nor with softwood or wet/green wood that is prone to stress movement. BUT, it's still a risk, but one I know about and mitigate to my expectations. Doesn't mean its safe or correct, rather it's a calculation I've made, so not a choice I advise, but it indicates that I've made a choice, and if it's wrong it's wholly my fault and no body else's.
So choice is yours, just ensure you make it based on all the evidence you can find and read. My choice is fit for me, but for you, I and others won't know.
So do your research and when you think you understand it, do a bit more research and make your choice.
At the end of the day, your safety is your responsibility.

Sorry to sound so American, but my choice is not my advice, your safety is your choice not mine.