Where to find aluminium profile for rip fence?

[DennisCA]

Been looking for aluminum profiles for my rip fence, in a configuration like this but I haven't found zilch so I'm making a post here to see if anyone knows a possible source.

I know I could buy the actual Felder profile but at 130 euros that's way more than I like to spend. I want one of these profiles to attach to my fence so I can have a high/low fence that I could also slide back and forth so I can have a short of full length fence. I achieve the same result today with a plywood jig I made but something in aluminum would really be more accurate.

 

[katellwood]

The only thing I will suggest you will find is a length of aluminium extrusion

You could try these http://www.valuframe.co.uk/

I would suggest the 8mm http://www.valuframe.co.uk/Series-8-Alu ... files.html

or ebay something like this

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/40x80-Alumini ... 566206ce3d

 

[PAC1]

I do not understand why plywood is not accurate. I made a short fence out of Birch faced ply it is accurate enough for anything I am ripping.

 

[DennisCA]

The only thing I will suggest you will find is a length of aluminium extrusion

You could try these http://www.valuframe.co.uk/

I would suggest the 8mm http://www.valuframe.co.uk/Series-8-Alu ... files.html

or ebay something like this

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/40x80-Alumini ... 566206ce3d

Yeah I've been looking at things like that, though from a german manufacturer (£ to € exchange rate makes it more profitable). Looks like a simpler profile like a 40x80 might be what I have to settle for. On the plus side it has tracks I can attach various jigs, feather boards or rollers to.

 

[Duncan A]

Some bandsaw manufacturers e.g record Power, use hi/lo fences as standard. Could be priced more reasonably than Felder perhaps?

Duncan

 

[Claymore]

It looks like the same profile as my Axminster bandsaw fence

 

[Beau]

130 euros doesn't sound too bad to me. The Felder fence will have a machined face unlike most extrusions and it is probably anodised which makes it very hard wearing.

 

[DennisCA]

To me it sounds quite bad and there's no way on earth I'll pay that, anodized or not.

In fact I just had to go shopping last night on a few errands and fill up with gas, food, diapers and other stuff and the end bill came out quite a lot more than I thought and the idea of buying even a cheaper alternative is now shelved.

Some of us live with thin margins.

 

[Beau]

To me it sounds quite bad and there's no way on earth I'll pay that, anodized or not.

In fact I just had to go shopping last night on a few errands and fill up with gas, food, diapers and other stuff and the end bill came out quite a lot more than I thought and the idea of buying even a cheaper alternative is now shelved.

Some of us live with thin margins.

Sorry. Did mean to sound casual about the expense.

For cheap and simple why not use birch ply as mentioned by PAC1? You can manufacture an incredibly strong fence that you can true up with a plane. Easy to fix and adapt to specialist jobs. I have bought Aly extrusion for a few jobs over the years. They often only come in 6m lengths and are rarely perfectly flat and square.

 

[Shrubby]

That style of extrusion is common to all European panel saw fences - you should be able to find one as a spare part.
Metabo sell spares for my Emco panel saw and that type of sub fence is about £45
Matt

 

[Melvb]

I had exactly the same idea about a month ago for my Xcalibur which has a Biesemeyer type fence as standard and contacted Charnwood and Record Power.

Charnwood
Q:
I am wanting to obtain the rip fence extrusion for the W650 table saw, which from the manual is:
No: 57
Code: TS2000604
Description: Fence

A:
We can supply the part you need @ £31.49 including VAT and delivery. Please quote part no W650#A057 when ordering.

Record Power
Q:
I am wanting to obtain the rip fence extrusion for the TS250C table saw, which from the manual is:
Ref No: 191
Description: Fence, "L" shape

A:
Thank you for your enquiry. The part number required is STS200C-191 , £24.88 plus £10.83 p&p plus VAT. Our sales line to order is 01246 571020

I have not got round to ordering yet as it requires a day time phone call which is not as convenient to me as online ordering, but I intend to get the Charnwood as they are almost identical.

 

[DennisCA]

Thanks I'll keep those in mind.

As for the plywood, I got one now, I don't really like it except for rough ripping bigger pieces where accuracy isn't super critical and I'll just plane or thickness it afterwards. Thing is with plywood, even if I true it, again, it'll move with time and use. Metal's better.

 

[PAC1]

Dennis, i do not get the complaint about ply. Mine is birch ply which I sanded and varnished. I use it mostly for ripping before planing but if I want to cut accurately, I can set it up to the precise size (as good as my eyes anyway). In the time from measuring from the saw blade to the fence and then switching on the saw, the ply is not going to move. If over the next week the ply swells or shrinks then I would reset the fence or at least check it before cutting anything so there would be no minute error from the ply swelling or shrinking.
It might be different if you are looking for a long fence for cutting sheet materials but even then an L shaped structure will give you rigidity. As for keeping a long fence parallel, I often clamp even my aluminium fence if I want to be super accurate.

 

[DennisCA]

I am using plywood currently and I know how it performs for me and I am not satisfied with the results and I remove it except when rough ripping timber for this reason, it mostly hangs on the boom arm for my blade guard hood. I don't really feel like having to defend my preferences for metal any more so it'll be the last I speak of this subject.

 

[PAC1]

Dennis, as you wish. My aim was to understand the problem not start an argument. I thought if you shared the problem, the combined knowledge of this forum might be able to find a no cost solution for you.

 

[shed9]

Bit harsh DennisCA, people are only trying to offer assistance and advice based on their own experience. This is an open forum and whilst you do not want to read the replies that promote plywood as a fence material, perhaps some of the 390+ people reading the thread will.

As for alloy extrusion, as you are in Finland, I'd suggest you look up the DIY CNC web shops in Europe, they will sell 8020 type extrusion to whatever length you need and it could be quite useful for accessories, something along the lines of;

http://www.thewoodwhisperer.com/videos/ ... saw-fence/

Also to note with Felder, they charge a small fortune for delivery and I suspect you can add another £60 onto that fence at the start of the thread.

 

[RogerP]

Is eBay item 221360524262 anywhere near what you want?

 

[cerdeira]

I believe that the straightness tolerances for 8020 like extrusions can amount to around 0.9 mm per metre which may not be acceptable for a fence and would render a plywood fence a better option.

I think that if a fence from Felder was that amount off you would be entitled for a replacement. That's another reason they are expensive.

 

[Eric The Viking]

Dennis, can you use other alternatives, or are you set on that exact extrusion?

They're getting harder to find now, but I've got a 1.5m piece of extrusion from an old window frame, that gets used as a straightedge. I have another that's 8ft long (2.5m approx.) but it's not as rigid and not suitable. Things like old patio doors have large straight lengths in them usually, and are anodised. If you want dual height, they're usually rectangular cross-section.

Otherwise, could you buy simple L-section aluminium angle and fix it to the back and upper sides of your ply to increase the rigidity? It's relatively cheap and easily available in DIY sheds or off eBay (dunno about Finland though).

I understand the financial thing: my wife, who's a doctor, came home from a business meeting last Monday to announce she's having to take a 350 quid/month pay cut, to keep her medical practice viable. So we aren't going to be replacing the car this year after all -- 13+ years will be a good test of VAG engineering! Meanwhile, the quest for quality woodworking at minimum cost continues...

E.

 

[Lord Kitchener]

How about one of these?

http://uk.feldershop.com/en/Sawing/Acce ... fence.html

last two times I had stuff from Felder they didn't charge for delivery.