Tablesaw Router Fence

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In space-starved shops, a tablesaw side-extension table can be pressed into service as a router table. One of the advantages is that your tablesaw rip fence can then double as a router table fence. To accommodate edge shaping and other operations that require setting the router bit back from the face of the fence, you can create a wood split-fence. It’s an easy matter to attach a wooden fence like this to any one of the millions of Beisemeyer-style rip fences out there.

Using a piece of 8/4 stock a few inches shorter than the length of your rip fence, dress it straight and square to a thickness of 13⁄4" and just 1⁄2" or so wider than the height of your fence. Crosscut it into two, and rout a countersunk slot in each end to about 2" long. Butt the two pieces together end-to-end over your router opening, and attach them to your rip fence with 3⁄8-16 × 21⁄2" self-tapping screws. (Search mcmaster.com for “Tap-Flex screws.”)

Install each screw at the end of the slot furthest from the bit opening to allow maximum outward movement of the fence halves. The split fence will not impede normal tablesaw operations; you’ll need to remove it only for those infrequent ripping maneuvers that require locating the fence to the left side of the blade.

—Paul Anthony, senior editor