Customer Reviews

Incra ULTRA16SYS 16-Inch Jig Ultra Woodworking System

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This fence, along with the templates provided, at first seems to be aimed solely at delivering fancy dovetail operations. The tool provides the best accuracy I've seen for this task. If you know and understand dovetails, the specific methods of use for the fence and templates will be clear and you will appreciate its ability to repeat accurate dovetails as well as streamline your operation. On the other hand, if you have never cut a dovetail by hand - or do not understand the geometry needed to make good dovetails, this is not the way to learn. If you just have to have this tool "to grow into" be sure to work a few joints by hand or by router first until you understand the nature of the task before learning this system. Learning on this system could very well confuse or frustrate a dovetail novice. There are other excellent dovetail jigs and fixtures out there (and some really poor ones as well) but the set of templates provided in this system along with the extreme adjustment capabilities make this unit the most flexible by far. If you are into `trick' dovetails this is the tool.

To me the best thing about this fence is what it can do aside from dovetails. It can pop onto your table saw, drill press, shaper or sander and turn it into a machine-shop quality wood cutting machine (or metal I suppose, although I don't do metal so I can't truly say). Precise movements of the micrometer style adjustment of this fence can get you an accuracy that is not easy to get any other way. Precise ripping, drilling or sanding - in the order of about two thousandths of an inch are easily obtained (the tool adjust to 1 thousandth. But in my humble opinion the flexibility of wood and cutting heads make the practical everyday accuracy about 2 thousandths). In my endeavors I have used it to make a precise repair parts for an intricate inlaid floor repair, replacing a cooling tower watertight wooden connector and to make an airtight joint on a vacuum table without using sealers or glues. Just wood to glass - but very accurate wood.

It is not a tool I use everyday. Quite often however, there arises a task that only this tool can accomplish. For the serious woodworker this tool can expand your horizons by giving you an accuracy that is easy to obtain and highly repeatable. With the caveats mentioned above, this fence gets a five.

This is an excellent fence system. Accuracy and repeatabilityare precise and easy. If you have need for a router table, this isthe fence that you should have on it. Having never cut dovetails in the past, I found it easy to cut box joints and double-dovetail joints.

However, the manual must be read thoroughly before you start. Trying to follow it step-by-step will cause you to find out that you will have to backtrack to a previous section.

Hint: Drop the extra coinage and get the Freud router bit set for the Incra system. Fortunately, I didn't have a lot of router bits yet so this was worthwhile to do.

I purchased this fence/jig because I just had to figure out how those outstanding double dovetails and box joints were made. I rec'd the jig within a week of my order. I have used the jig extensively on one of my router tables and it excells at every task I have put it through.

Initially, I installed the jig onto a router table with a shop made table insert, but the insert flexed ever so slightly and caused a slight misalignment of the dovetails. I cured this by building a seperate router table with no insert and just mounted the PC 690 base to the underside if the table. Since then, I can easily produce tight fitting dovetails in a matter of minutes, and highly decorative joints for all manner of small boxes in about 15 minutes, minus glue and clamp/sanding time.

I am absolutely satisfied and have helped another fried to discover the uses for this tool, he bought the twin linear a week later.

I have also used this at my table saw for ripping extremely thin lamination strips, and it allows you to move the fence after each cut, allowing you to cut from the outside of the workpiece, and to do this with precision to .001 or .002. I have proved this out with dial calipers and a micrometer.

I have not even begun to unlock all the potential of this tool, but if you want accuracy, and +/- 1/32 is not going to cut it, get this jig and amaze yourself and your woodworking friends.

I highly recommend the Project Book as a supplement to the included manual Master Library.

This is the lighter weight brother of Incra's flagship LS Positioner fence system. Functionally, the two are identical, with the LS based system being slightly better made and easier to use. If you are really, really serious about using a router table for dovetails, finger joints, and all the other milling operations that require high precision, you will want to own one of the Incra woodworking systems.

My personal choice was the 'Super' system, which is an Ultra system like this in combination with the Incra Wonder Fence. The advantage to that model is the sophisticated split fence, but it you aren't into turning your router table into a miniature joiner than this version will suit you fine for considerably less.

The heart of these systems are the positioners, which control the fence from a rock solid center rather than from the ends as do most fence systems. The LS position locks into 1/32" increments, which can then be adjusted by 1000th's of an inch. This is more precision than a woodworker might ever need, but it is nice to have available. Also included as the Incra stop and the right angle fixture. With all of this mounted on the 28" fence you have a milling machine capable of exotic work.

The positioners hold what Incra calls templates. These are plastic strips that come marked with all the positions to cut a particular joint pattern. Something like sophisticated story sticks. There are places to keep five of these active on the LS Positioner, four on the Ultra - this is to minimize switching. I suppose the idea seems a bit corny, but Incra has bet their reputation on these templates, and they really do work.

Two notes of warning - Incra calls this a 16" jig, but the truth is that is takes nearly 30" of machine to give you that 16" cutting width. In all likelihood you will have to build an extension to your routing table. In my case I wound up adding 12 inches of draw. And you want this to be a solid extension, since the jig and fence weigh an appreciable amount. And the learning curve for a jig with this many adjustments is pretty steep (this isn't helped by a terse manual). Expect to do a bit of experimenting before you are getting the best results possible.

I have owned this fence / jig for about three weeks now and have used it to make several boxes and one case. It is simply great. Everything written about it is true - it is very stable and repeatable. I did purchase the new metal installation bracket that holds the system off of the back end of the router table (in order to free up additional room on the table and not give it up to the tool - download the owner's manual and look at the installation versus your router table to see what I'm talking about). In addition to reading through the manual, I also suggest that you purchase the intro video, which more simply walks you through the setup and usage of the tool. In short, well done Incra!

I meant to give this 5 STARS, not 1.

First make sure you follow the instructions for mounting the jig to your router table to ensure proper alignment of the fence to the table and the router bit.

****I cannot stress this enough, follow the instructions EXACTLY****

I have only had this item for 3 days and at first felt intimidated by the design. However after trying to make a dovetail box I found it easy to use, just follow the directions. The box came out nearly perfect on the first try. Had I paid more attention to my alignment of the pieces the joints would have been perfect. Make sure that you understand and follow the instructions exactly. I highly recommend this to anyone who wishes to make perfect, beautiful dovetail joints. It is very accurate, fast and allows for repeatable settings without error. Make sure you have quality router bits as these joints are very, very tight. I had to use a hammer to seat the dovetails, they were so accurate.

I also used this jig on my Ryobi BT3100 table saw to replace the original fence. The accuracy of the cuts were greatly improved. Excellent product.

while this jig may look a little complicated and unerving, don't be afraid of it. its really easy after you get it set up properly. its very precise so your table, router, fence, and mounting board must be as close to square as you can get. a lot of the templates deal with 1/4" material which is a little thin for me, but there are enough requiring 3/8-1/2" material to keep you occupied. have fun

I spent several hours assembling this tool.
I have spent several hours attempting to make the double dovetail joint. The first attempts were failures. I installed more lighting to help and tried once more. Another failure. I can,t make the tails with ant accuracy. I am returning this tool and hope for a refund.
Also purchased the frued router bits and are happy with them.Incra ULTRA16SYS 16-Inch Jig Ultra Woodworking System