Router Table Fence

A router table is an essential tool in a woodworking shop. To everyone fond of woodworking, router tables help accomplish designing a lot easier and fun. Carving raised panels, crown moldings and stylish edging can be made more precise and convenient when done with a router table. Tipping its advantages is the use of horizontal router tables that offer safety and accurate woodworking session.

Choosing a router table to purchase or building the right router table for your need can be a bit tricky and complicated. There are tons of things to remember and some tips and tricks to consider. Among these things is the right choice of router table fence. 

Some folks who are new to woodworking consider the router table fence (also referred to as simply ‘router fence’) a simple component of the entire router table, but what they do not know is that it helps with most of the precision work. 

A router table fence help control carving by providing support and guide. A router table without a good router fence can cause some trouble in woodworking and may even lead to inaccurate cuts.

Wood and aluminum are two of the most popular materials used to build the router fence. Both materials do great with their job, hence they are still manufactured until today. Aluminum creates a sturdy image and wood reflects a durable and reliable fence.

Older designs of router tables come with two separate fences in both ends of the block secured with two adjustable butterfly knots. This requires precise adjustment on both ends of the fence in order to form a straight line and ensure that the bit is at the center. 

Though the most popular type and widely used prior to the advent of the newer type, router fences of this type pose some difficulties and disadvantages in there design. Firstly, since both ends need to be adjusted separately, forming a straight line requires additional work and materials. Secondly, a miscalculation of the right distance from the bit to the fence is most likely to happen, which could result to inconsistency with the measurements.

The other type of router fence is made with a single adjustable bolt used to adjust the fence. Most of this type has the bolt installed at the center of the fence and requires less work when adjusting the fence. In addition to that, this design makes routing far more precise by providing a straight line with a single adjustment. By loosening the center bolt and adjusting the fence on either side, one side follows and locates itself parallel to the position of the other side. This does not require any additional measuring device to ensure the lines in create.

Apart from the design and make, the length and features of the fence are the main components that need to be checked when purchasing a router table fence. The length of the fence should be fit for the router table. In most cases a 48” or 36” long fence will fit most router tables, unless the table is customized. For customized router tables, asking for the specific fence measurement is best.

Several manufacturers have models of the router table fence on the market. Kreg, a renowned maker of woodworking and metalworking tools, engineered the “self-squaring design” that features a more precious adjustment of the fence. Other popular brand names include Freud, Rockler and Incra, to name a few.