Thread: Incra TS-LS saw fence system

Delbs, the Incra TS-LS may be overkill on that saw and may be a bit big as well.

Not sure what your aim is, if it is to get a better saw fence than the Incra will give you that.

If it is to improve your measuring in the tablesaw could I suggest you add a Wixey digital system to your saw.

This is what I use, my existing tablesaw fence was excellent so I didn't really want to replace that.

https://www.woodworkforums.com/f153/w...-tl10-s-65398/

The Wixey adds excellent measuring precision to the existing fence, gives me metric and Imperial at the touch of a button, gives absolute and incremental (ie this afternoon I needed to cut 12mm wide dados every 49 mm, no need to calculate - reset to zero at the touch of a button, move fence 49mm, cut and repeat).

Not trying to put a downer on the Incra system, I was using an LS on my router table as well this afternoon and it is very good.

I use the 32" (810mm) version on my cr@ppy Ryobi contractor saw and it's fantastic. The whole point of the Incra TS-LS is to take an otherwise under-specced or difficult to accurately measure table saw and give the woodworking equivalent of V1@gr@.

Let's put it this way, you can spend ten times that on a new fancy 3HP cabinet saw and still have to 'tap, tap' the fence to set a cut.

I too bought the Miter 1000HD and jig hardware to build the equivalent of the Miter 5000 sled.

I also have the 17" LS Super Router System.

In terms of issues, I didn't want to cut my rear rail to accommodate the old style splitter system so I actually modified the overhead guard instead. I ended up placing the rail mounting brackets on the wings because the motor when tilted would bump the one bracket and prevent the blade from getting to 45 degrees.

I also removed the on/off switch and relocated it to under the front rail and it's actually in a better place now than before.

So safety wise I'm happy. Perhaps think about the Micro Jig splitter system (thin kerf and 1/8") for the majority of the cuts (straight) and then only use the old style splitter for beveled cuts.

Anyway, if you need photies, just shout.

Thanks Big Shed and Hilton, Big shed i havent seen this system before so i appreciate you posting that. i will read into it further and compare it to the Incra version before i make my purchase.

Hilton, Pictures would be great of your setup please, Also do you know the depth of you saw top?

I understand it may seem its not worth the investment for the saw i currently have but in my mind i just see my saw as a rotating blade that has height adjustment and tilting available to me. It is not the most powerful of saws i know but it cuts what i need it to at the moment. The real pitfall in the saw is my measuring fence, i am getting tired of "tap tap tap" to align the fence and then measuring both front and rear of the fence to make sure its square. I agree with your comments that i could spend the same money on a new saw with more HP but still have a cr@ppy fence. I really want a precise measurement system that i will keep over saw upgrades that will accept incra gear.

A friend of mine has a Hammer C3 31 and that cant take Incra gear so he uses the hammer system (which is great also) but he paid quiet a lot for a fully kitted out combination machine. I dont want to spend that much on saw right now but i do want the same accuracy of measurements. I have found the Incra system in the US is at an affordable price with the metric conversion kit.

Thanks for the replies so far.very helpful

There is another option. Nothing in life is perfect. This is just an option.

Buy a LS router system, possibly the super system, and mount it on a base then attach that to your saw.

You get virtually everything the TSLS will deliver at a lower price and it should be no more difficult to make work than mounting the saw rails to that small saw.

You will get a shorter positioner and you won't be able to lock the fence ends so really big work and heavy shoving will make it move a tad, but if you push that hard you'll topple your saw so...

The LS systems are small enough to ship economically from the US (incremental tools) unless the postage has gone up a lot lately, and you can buy the saw mounts and rails later when you upgrade your saw.

I have not used the wixey and I'm sure it's great, but the essential difference is the incra positions the fence for you, bang on every time, while as I understand it the wixey reads the fence position. The incra is literally repeatable within a thou.

Along with my saw and tra001 it is the best wood tool I have bought buy a country mile and leveraging the cost with a router wing makes it better value.

2c.

Hey Damian, Thank you for sharing that. Would you by any chance having any photos available of your setup?

Cheers,

Interestingly enough I can't find any. My setup is pretty straight forward though.

It's a 12" hybrid saw (like a contactors saw but motor inside the box not hanging out the back) with a cast iron router wing on the RHS, same unit carbatec and others sell. Instead of the usual router and rip fences I've got a TSLS super system but with a 25" positioner rather than the 32", due to be buying it as I describe above. Some will say you don't need the longer positioner but for larger items, like dovetailed blanket boxes, sawing frame and panel furniture etc the bigger positioner is useful.

I am going to try to post a pic of a temporary setup I did with an incra origional jig. Don't buy one of these. They have their uses but the ultablesaw 27.jpgtralite is MUCH better for not much more money. This will give you an idea of what I mean setting up a LS on your saw. The timber base will be offset to the right of your table top to get good throat and you'll have to figure out how to attach it.

This is some pics from years ago of the shop display of the saw I bought. No incra of course. TTD don't sell this model anymore but the cabinet saw they still sell is very nice.

Damian Carvolth's Webpages

Hope that helps.

I have been speaking with Incra in the US about shipping etc to my house and also pricing up options from amazon. It seems that the price that the US incra can do for me is not that different.

Seems that prices from the US for the 32 " Metric TS-LS super system with the wonder fence AND the routing insert plate suited my router delivered to my door come to pretty much $1400

Where as professional woodworking supplies have it without the Router insert and only the router table fitted to the depth of your table saw is still $1335.

Difference being that if i get it from the US surely at $1400 i will get a notice from Customs and probably need to pay more in tax where as if i just got the professional woodworking setup and got the router insert the woodpecker for my triton router to be mounted off to the left of the saw

Just a quick question, the Mitre express can be used when the 32" TS-LS is installed? im assuming it can be because its mounted on top of the table saw but just wondering if anything catches on the fence of the TS-LS rails at all

Cheers

Originally Posted by delbs

Just a quick question, the Mitre express can be used when the 32" TS-LS is installed? im assuming it can be because its mounted on top of the table saw but just wondering if anything catches on the fence of the TS-LS railes at all

Haven't forgotten the photies Nathan but I've been off work with some nasty bug.

Any sled will be fine and it won't catch on anything. The positioner's base plate can actually be temporarily removed if you need more space so this shouldn't be a problem.

Hey hilton that's no good at all. Not a worry whenever you feel up to it. Cheers

Yeah i thought that may be the case. My 1000HD just arrived so now I'll pick up the Mitre express. I'm still deciding on exactly what option TS-LS to get and where from.

Originally Posted by delbs

I have been speaking with Incra in the US about shipping etc to my house and also pricing up options from amazon. It seems that the price that the US incra can do for me is not that different.

Cheers

You misunderstood what I was suggesting.

I bought a ls super system from incremental, the router system, and got the mount and rails locally from pws (who were both well priced and offered exceptional service). The router system can be shipped at quite reasonable rates, it comes in a box that is under the std aus post limits.

Don't know anything about lifts and plates. I also don't know the current state of pricing.

Oh no sorry i didnt misunderstand what you said I just updated the post of my latest findings from speaking with Incra in US. I'm just considering all options )

No worries. Good luck.

Be aware I think the incra is magic, probably the best tool I've ever bought, so my opinions are in no way objective.

Originally Posted by damian

Be aware I think the incra is magic, probably the best tool I've ever bought, so my opinions are in no way objective.

Yeah I agree with this. It's pretty cool to say the least. I took a very long time to get mine working properly but I had to make some serious modifications to make the splitter system work. I didn't want to cut the back rail as INCRA suggests but my system works beautifully.

Public holiday here so I'm going to make up some zero clearance inserts and then install the two Micro Jig splitters that I bought last year.

I've also ordered some 12mm MDF and Formica so I can make up a Miter 5000 type of sled. I bought the Miter 1000HD plus the longer flip fence (36" to 64") and the various plates and knobs to match the Miter 5000 as close as possible. I went this route as the shipping costs for the panels is huge.

I also bought the INCRA router fence system so going to make a new router table for that.

Just in case you didn't think I was a INCRA groupie, I also bought the Ibox and HingeCrafter plus a bunch of Whiteside router bit sets and the 150mm and 300mm INCRA rule sets.

Have fun.

Hilton I just got the email mate thank you so much. I can see why people can so easily become incra groupies. My 1000HD is already converting me to be one ) i dont think my saw would fit a 5000 m/e system and the postage isn't a great deal from amazon so i should be putting in the order for the m/e shortly )
Should post up some pics hilton of your cross cut sled your building with mdf once ur done