Thread: Incra Ultra Jig System for router table

I dont know about the router table system, but I have the Incra 2000 miter fence for my table saw. It is a great setup, and well worth the money. Only trouble is the tape is all in imperial, and you have to order the metric seperate from the states.
They get the thumbs up from me.
Regards Blindbambi

you blokes must be richer than I am.

I could buy a lot of goodies for the price of an incra.

Soundman,
What would you buy in its place?
I want to build a router table and be able to join any two bits of timber and be able to dress the edges.
Cheers, Steve

what precesely are you wanting to do.

Soundman,
I want to be able to make dovetail joins for small boxes, drawers etc - abd be capable of making half-blind dovetails. I have seen the cheap jigs ($100), but they only offer through dovetails and form what I gather are time consuming to set up (if I am wrong please let me know). Also use the fence for general router table work - edging etc. I might even be silly enough to try their double-dovetails??
I am no master in the shed (only for fun when I get the time), and you are right, the incra jigs are very expensive, that is why I am after feedback to see if I can justify purchasing one (secondhand at that if possible)?
Thanks, Steve
If you can't have your dreams, then what can you have?

Hi like most I'm sceptical of anything that boasts numerous achievements but having seen this demonstrated a coupla years ago I decided on working on the "War Office" to justify bending the Visa once again.
I got the 12" Ultra Lite primarily for the incremental range of fine cuts that can be produced over a vast range of dedicated joints.
Had it not been for this fact I may have given it a miss but those fine cuts produced are a boon with a finish that is worthy of the engineering in this jig.
BUT they are not cheap and the outlay has to be justified and not on the whim of another tool in the shed ...quicker to set-up than the Leigh and great for small projects like boxe's etc if you're into volume.

Cheers

I also have the Incra Ultra Lite on my Router Table and I love it. The ultra fine adjustment is fantastic and when combined with the fine adjuster on the Triton Router, getting those nice tight joints is a breeze. Yes, I know they are not cheap but I believe they are worth it in the time saved during fine work.

My 2.2c (gst inc)

I have an incra jig too. I agree with the two previous posts, it's great. Have a llok at this site http://www.woodshopdemos.com/incra.htm

Peter

If the price of the INCRA scares you a bit you might get a few ideas from here

http://www.patwarner.com/routerfence.html

There was also an article in Australian Woodworker magazine issue 103 (June 2002) which is an adaptation on Pats fence.

The main difference will be that if you make your own you will need a calculator, verniers, whiteboard or note pads and be able to visualise what you are wanting to do before working out how to do it. That, for me, is the most fun part. I have not used an INCRA fence, but it seems to me they are well made and there will be a lot less time required to get the result you want, although you will pay for the convenience.

Books from Pat Warner and Ian Kirby can be very useful.

Dan

Thanks all for your replies.

I am leaning towards the extra cost and go all out for an Incra System. I have burnt myself already, by rushing out a purchasing a heap of Triton equipment. Don't get me wrong, the Triton stuff is great, but if I had my time again I'd buy more dedicated equipment (by the time you buy all the extras, you could have yourself a nice table saw)

blindbambi: Cheers, I hope I don't have any trouble with the imperial measurements?

soundman: I don't know about being richer, but as I have found, when you stop going out, getting drunk and falling down all the time, get married and start a family, you seem to be able to save money just that little bit easier.

John Saxton: Have you found the Ultra Lite restrictive? Is there a need for the complete template library that comes with the 16" or 24" Systems? I have been told (all be it by a salesman) that it is easy to turn say a 24" piece around so that you in effect can join anything up to 24"?

Wayne Davy: You are the one that has set me off on this mission. I saw your homemade Router Table (you must be proud of it), when I was researching building my own router table. I currently have a Triton router tabletop, but it was a pain changing the saw when I needed it. Thus I decided to build one....

Little Festo: Thanks, checked out the demo. Looks fairly easy, I'll just have to wait and see.

Dan: Checked out Pat Warner's homemade micro adjustable fence. Had me thinking, but I don't think I'd be able to recreate the precision that the Incra seems to offer. Unfortunately the Australian Woodworker issue is out of stock (was tempted to get the US edition, but the parts list gave all part numbers - not the actual descriptions, thus I abandoned that idea. Thanks anyway.

Thanks again for your replies. I'll be getting into finding out the cheapest way of getting one, especially since they sell in the States for $300AUD for a 16" Ultra complete system. Wonder whether it would be possible to have one shipped out??

Regards, Steve

Hi Steve,I Knew that my Ultra-Lite would be restrictive in terms of the 12-3/4" capacity of the Jig but it suited my intention to restrict it's use's to small items being produced.
I did buy the complete library of templates primarily to have the arsenal of joint capabilities available..and a worthy outlay inmy view.
Here's the Incra homesite with a FAQ section that may easer any misgivings you might have.

http://www.incra.biz/index.html

HTH
Cheers

Originally posted by wands
..... I'll be getting into finding out the cheapest way of getting one, especially since they sell in the States for $300AUD for a 16" Ultra complete system. Wonder whether it would be possible to have one shipped out??

Regards, Steve

Steve,

I buy a bit of stuff from the USA, and I have had no trouble at all with it. I am considering an Incra Jig myself, but I wonder whether a precision instrument will stand up to the handling it gets in transit. The best price I can find for the 16", by the way is US$230 at Woodcraft , which is about A$345, plus freight of about A$45. Still a lot better than the $539 that Carbatec want for it.

Dont forget to add tax. Not sure exactly what it is but i think there is 15% import duty plus 10% GST plus a customs fee. You may get away with getting it past customs sometimes but i wouldn't count on it. I know this applies on car parts and i have heard of people not paying tax but again make sure you plan for it because if customs want you to pay the tax they will not release the item until you pay them . So $400 plus 15% = $460 plus 10% GST = $504 plus a fee = lots more.

Thanks, but I have been buying DVD's, books, tools, clothing and a little jewellery from the USA for a several years and have never been charged duty. A number of my parcels have been opened for inspection, but I have never had a query. So long as you are not bringing in commercial quantities, there is not much to worry about. GST is not applicable on incoming goods anyway, so it is only import duty and not all items attract duty.