|Project by Blake||posted 06-10-2008 09:50 PM||10129 views||36 times favorited||25 comments|
When I bought my INCRA miter gauge I purposely got the one with no fence. And not just because it was $100 cheaper than the other versions. I wanted my miter gauge fence to be inexpensive, lightweight, disposable, adaptable, and zero-clearance every time.
So I finally got around to milling up a bunch of MDF just for that purpose. I just used a T-slot router bit. MDF is stable, flat, light, and slides well on the table surface.
I love how these simple fences work. Every time I make a different type of cut (table saw, router table or bandsaw) I just loosen the toilet bolts, slide it over, and cut right through it. It is quick, easy, and I never have tear out. I can mount stops, clamps, fences, doodads, jigs, etc. I can leave them long or cut them shorter. My original pieces are 3 feet long. I can even draw on them or make markings like a story stick. If I need to I can mount a self-adhesive measuring tape on top. They work great and I would never substitute them for a fancy space-aged fence.
Another tip… have the lumber yard slice the MDF into 2” strips. It saves your shop and your lungs from TONS of toxic dust.
The alternative: Pretty fancy but never zero-clearance…
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