New Incra LS52-TS on my Ridgid ts3560

I have one and love it. That said, I do have it on a cabinet saw and purchased the extra legs. I don’t recall it taking 4 hours to put together, but maybe it did.

I have two setups on mine. One all the way out and one that’s 20 inches in. I simply have stops on mine so when I need to cut full sheets of plywood or things wider than 28” (not as often as you would think really), I move the positioner out. This takes maybe two minutes tops. I recommend you have one piece of MDF, ply or something similar that you have confidence in being exactly 20-inches. Use that as your guide to lock things into place when you move things in and out.

Take a couple of practice runs and see what you think. If there is any weakness in the Incra system, it is how you have to deal with cuts wider than 28-in.

Most individuals who use them everyday Love them. I’ve had mine for 10 years, and I would not change back to a Bisemeyer-style.

Having said this, I find Incra products to be ‘erector sets’ – lots of nuts and bolts; and it took me several hours to get mine dialed-in – several hours (I’m not handy, and I know it). The hardest part of my assemblies – as I’ve dismantled/re-assembled it several times due to home-relocation (my day job) is finding reference points for straight & square – the Fence is bolted 90 degrees to the Positioner, which is bolted 90 degrees the Positioner Base, which is bolted to the guide rails, which is bolted to the TS. Take Your Time, and it can be done. Periodically, it’s good to check everything – nothing stays in-line for ever.

I have had one for several months. I have noticed that my fence is do longer 90’ to the table. Of coarse I can not find the pieces of cardboard that came with the fence to set the fence with. I put them away, like suggested and now can’t remember where I put them so I would always have them. Been going to get in contact with Incra to find out the thickness of them. I like the fence although it does take some getting use to. Requires some math to set it for the thickness you want to saw. I would highly recommend it to anyone doing “fine” wood working. For most hobbyists, in my opinion, it is overkill. I will keep it, because it is what I spent my money on, but I really don’t think I would buy one again. To me it was easier to tap the fence to get it where I wanted it and that was accurate enough. I built a street organ, using the tapping method, and it came out looking and working fine. Just thought I needed the Incra fence to improve because there has to be some accurate cutting for organ pipes.

-- “We all die. The goal isn't to live forever; the goal is to create something that will.” - Chuck Palahniuk

Paul: I’m not sure I understand what you mean when you say it requires some math to set it to the thickness you require. Can you explain???

Perhaps maybe you could explain what it is, then show us a few pics. I take it from reading it’s a saw fence set up if it’s incra then it should be good. Have fun safe fun that is. Alistair Ps I would mreally like to see it.

-- excuse my typing as I have a form of parkinsons disease

Thank you so much for all of the responses. I will get some pics up tonight. I had it sliding pretty good (not as good as the guy on the video does) but decent. Thought I could do better so I adjusted it and BAM now it is worse then before.
Give me a couple of hours and I will upload some pics. I am sure all of this is user error but just surprised how much setup it did require. Incra should make a setup video to go over some of the common problems that people like myself are having.

I am 100% embarassed to share the pic of my shop. I told myself earlier that I was going to go home a pick up and then take a pic… Well its super cold in there and Mondays are always crazy so her it is. I am right in the middle of building a media cabinet for a friend and finishing a barnwood table for our house. So in the middle of all of that I decide to upgrade my fence. I am so tempted to just throw my Vega back on and get back to work. When I get caught back up and cleaned up put some more time into getting it 100%. I had actually sent a guy that is pretty close to me a random Facebook message about buying my Vega system. I have not heard his decision yet and I am almost glad because I may go back to it for a minute.
I took off a couple cast iron wings to make room for one of those Jointech router tables from Ebay. It is scheduled to be delivered tomorrow so I am not sure when I will get around to everything at this point.
I would be content if I could just make the fence slide smooth like it does in the youtube video. I have a digital angle finder and I have when I move it from the saw to the rails it says 0 and again from there to the positioner. So that tells me everything is in alignment, right? After all the fence does rest on the end of the rails on each side so it should be as easy as it sounds but yet its not for some reason.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/vs-lumberjocks.com/mxxdjq7.jpg!

I have the Incra on my Jet saw and I love it. Justin, try sliding it all the way to the right until your about 3 inches from the end. Loosen the bolts holding the positioner to the fence and let it seek it’s own spot. Then tighten up the bolts and see how smooth the travel is. This is the procedure Incra had me use when I was having problems with my setup.

I don’t understand the comment about requiring math to use the fence. The main metal tape is marked in 64th’s and couldn’t be any easier to use.

Earl

-- Earl

I will definitely give that a shot. I was surprised that there were not more youtube videos of it online. Several from Incra and a couple from Woodcraft but only a handful from users. I found most of my info from this sight.

What I mean about some math, you have to figure in the saw blade width when calculating the width of the piece of wood you want to cut. Sometimes this is all infractions and requires some math. I didn’t say it was difficult math, but you do have to think it through. Maybe I’m doing it wrong.

-- “We all die. The goal isn't to live forever; the goal is to create something that will.” - Chuck Palahniuk

PaulDoug, why not just adjust the metal rule less the blade width for zero? That way you just set your cut.

I have the Incra system and really love it. I bought the shorter rails because I never cut anything needing that width. It does occasionally take some fine tuning and calibrating …but I feel that it is the dues I pay for wanting the super precision I want.
I would most certainly keep your old fence system in case you ever decide to sell your existing saw. I originally had my Incra installed on a Grizzly saw and when I bought a different saw I put the old fence and rails back on the old saw before selling it.
It is very easy to adjust the width of the cut. I cut a piece of wood around 2 or 3 ” wide and measure the cut piece with my dial calipers and set the magnetic ruler to that measured cut width. I usually do this when I put a different blade on after sharpening…only takes a minute.

PaulDoug… Do what rustynails is suggesting and you won’t have to do any math. Simply set the fence so it is against the blade, then adjust the scale so it reads zero (0). Now every setting on your fence will be exactly what the positioner reads… if this doesn’t make sense, I’ll take some photos tonight. I’m actually in the middle of adding the wonderfence to my setup (an early Christmas gift to myself). Last night I took off the right wing of my Unisaw and put on a new router table. Tonight it’s time for some test joints.

BTW, the only time I can see doing some math is if you want to cut veneer strips. I don’t want those tiny strips on the right side of my blade and fence.

I have both an LS-25 w/superfence and the LSTS system.
I use the LS-25 almost everyday and love it.
I took the LSTS off my tablesaw(General). I liked it but would have to check it once in a while(not a big deal) Problem was my shop is only 12’ wide and it was constantly in the way. Accuracy???once you get used to Incra I think you can’t beat it. My suggestion would be to keep playing with it until you become really familiar using it and I think you’ll like it better.

-- Life is good.

I do not have the newer lead screw version of the Incra, but have an older TSIII on my 1023 Griz. I moved it off my old Craftsman when I upgraded TS and I think it is a very fine TS fence system. I have had it for almost 10 years and love the precision and the repeatability. Yeah it bolts together, but what doesn’t in some way, shape or form. It is like any other tool, it will only perform as well as it is set up and maintained. I am an Incra believer. I also have an old Twin Linear router table fence setup that I have used since the late 90’s and think that it is great too. I have had to replace the sawtooth blocks once or twice due to wear, and recalibrate it a few times, but it works very well for joinery, as well as for plain ole everyday routing. I plan on upgrading the TSIII to LS status in 2014, and maybe the Twin linear too. I also have an Incra DP fence and use their new IBox too.

My suggestion is to read the manuals and set up guides again and experiment with it. Once you get it dialed in, you will love it. The folks with Incra in Dallas are great folks and easy to work with, so if you get hung up, give them a call. I give Incra two thumbs up for innovation, precision, customer service and good old American made quality. Stick with the Incra fence Justin, it can take your woodworking quality to a new level.

-- "Now I'm just another old guy wearing funny clothes"