Vega U50 Table Saw Fence System: 36-Inch Fence Bar, 50-Inch to Right

by Vega

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Review

An after-market fence is a fantastic way to ratchet up the performance of a basic table saw, turning it into a precision tool. And this big-capacity Vega system is easy to install and a pleasure to use, with a very agreeable price for passionate woodworkers and do-it-yourselfers.

The quality and capabilities of this "utility" model match those of the professional version that Vega’s better known for, and though the company markets it for saws that don’t get "extremely heavy use," it’s absolutely rugged enough for the exacting home woodworker. Hands down, the best feature about this first-class fence is the micro adjustment. We’ve all done it: tap, tap, tap on the fence, hoping for just the breadth of a hair’s change in position. Enjoy that? We don’t either. But this Vega has a threaded rod and thumb nut that moves the fence thousandths of an inch in either direction. A full rotation of the nut carries the fence 1/16th of an inch, and the cam locks the position securely.

Another feature we love is the fence bar itself: It’s high, wide and has a channel along its length, perfect for substantial sliding jigs, like, say, a miter spline jig. And while the finish on some of the other parts isn’t as refined as it could be, the fence bar is sweet. It’s made of aircraft quality aluminum alloy extrusions, lightweight for easy handling, but extremely rigid, and we like the way the black anodized finish cuts down on friction. The fence rides beautifully on the rails, and we found lockdown to be rock-solid.

Installation wasn’t nearly as complicated as we had anticipated, and it probably won’t take you more than 30 minutes even if you happen to have one of the saws that requires drilling a couple of holes. But if you’ve got a Delta Unisaw or contractor model, a Powermatic 66 or a 10-inch Craftsman, for example, you’ll be ready to roll without the extra drilling.

This is the larger of the two models in this line, and you get an impressive 50-inch capacity to the right of the blade and 8 inches to the left. (The smaller version offers 26 inches to the right of the blade.) You could spend a whole lot more money than this on an after-market fence, but the results you’ll get from this Vega will rival any big-ticket fence’s performance, and you’ll depend on it for the ultimate accuracy and reliability.--Kris Jensen-Van Heste

From the Manufacturer

Upgrade your saw to a precise cutting machine at a reasonable price. It was specially designed to use the existing bolt holes (no drilling required) of Delta Unisaws and Contractors Saws, Powermatic Model 66 and most Sears 10 in. saws. Little accuracy is needed as the fence mounting system allows full adjustment. (Installation may be as little as 15 minutes).

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 46.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B00002261Z
• California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 warning.
• Item model number: U50
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #13,473 in Home Improvement (See Top 100 in Home Improvement)
  • #11 in Home Improvement > Power & Hand Tools > Power Tool Accessories > Fences

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

71 of 76 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A terrific table saw upgrade, May 18, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Vega U50 Table Saw Fence System: 36-Inch Fence Bar, 50-Inch to Right (Tools & Home Improvement)

I recently purchased and installed this fence. I have two Craftsman table saws (one circa 1950 and one circa 1970) mounted together on the same base with an extension table on either side; one saw is used primarily for dado-ing and the other for normal sawing. The original Craftsman fence locked onto two pieces of angle iron, had to be whacked repeatedly with the palm of the hand to adjust it to the right spot - which sometimes caused it to jump off its rails, and often when it was locked it ended up out of parallel with the blade, causing the workpiece to bind. I eventually became so fed-up with it that I reviewed the commentaries on after-market saw fences found in various woodworking newsgroups, and based upon that review decided to order this fence. Owing to the configuration of my saws, I did not install the fence in the intended manner (8" left, 50" right of the blade), but rather centered the fence rails so that the fence is usable for either saw. Of course in doing so, I sacrificed the 50" rip capacity that the fence is intended to accommodate (ending up with a maximum 31" rip capacity which is adequate for my needs). Mounting the rails required drilling additional mounting holes through edges of my saw tables, and drilling and tapping additional holes in the fence rails in order to achieve the desired mounting position. I viewed this task in advance with some trepidation (it's a bit nerve-wracking to begin drilling holes in a $200+ piece of equipment right out of the box), but it was really quite simple to do. The entire installation took between two and three hours to complete. I am very pleased with the result. The fence glides back and forth across the saw table beautifully, and locks in place with a light push on a locking lever. The micro-adjustment feature is nice, but I think unnecessary - the fence moves so effortlessly on the rails that the desired position can easily achieved without it. Using both of my saws with this fence is a pleasure; it's almost as if they are brand new saws.

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Upgrade, May 26, 2002

By 

L. Markert "Wood guru" (Leander, Texas United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Vega U50 Table Saw Fence System: 36-Inch Fence Bar, 50-Inch to Right (Tools & Home Improvement)

I purchased the Vega Fence to upgrade my Grizzly 1022SM Table saw. The Vega fence bolted to the table with no problems and with no need to drill extra holes. After installation and adding on my Extension table for the 50" fence bar, the Fence was Accurate and stays Accurate. I now can set my Fence where I want it and be sure its dead on.
Simply put this was a great Investment.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Set it and forget it, April 3, 2003

By 

R. Miller "R. Miller" (Aurora, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Vega U50 Table Saw Fence System: 36-Inch Fence Bar, 50-Inch to Right (Tools & Home Improvement)

Early in my life as a home-renter, I did all my woodworking on a radial arm saw. Why? Because it came with the house and I couldn't afford anything else. It worked, but using it to rip wood scared the heck out of me. I was never as cautious and careful as when I used that saw.

When I moved to my own home, I knew that I was going to need to replace that saw with a table saw. Craftsman was the choice, due to price and credit availability. Over the years, that saw served well for all my woodworking and home projects, but the fence system on it always irked me. Whenever I set the fence, I would have to measure from the fence to the miter slot near the blade, then to the miter slot at the front, then to the miter slot at the back, all the while tap, tap, tapping the fence back and forth to adjust it while slowly tightening it down. What a pain.

Finally, after seventeen years, I decided to upgrade the saw. I didn't have enough cash to replace it, so instead I installed a higher horsepower motor, new pulleys and v-belt, and a new fence system - the Vega system.

Installing the Vega fence was not tough. It installed into the existing holes in my saw table. I did need to make a support for the right side of the table, because the 50" fence on that side would tip the saw without it. I went out of my way and made a nice one, so that my work piece would have support on that side as it went through the saw.

It took a little bit to align the fence, but nothing exceptional. Now when I move the fence, I don't have to do my little measuring dance to make sure it is parallel with the blade. I can set it and forget it.

The measurement indicator is adjustable and the tape measure on the front rail can be repositioned (and needed to be for my saw). There is a "micro" adjustment feature that lets me move the fence a very small amount at a time, making it easier to sneak up on just the right dimension.

The only problem I have had with the fence is that it moved as I was cutting. Very discouraging to find that the back of the piece you are cutting is wider than the front. In truth, this was my problem. I hit the front rail with a little WD-40 to keep it nice and shiny, and gave the fence a slippery surface to try to hold onto. A little cleaning with some mineral spirits and a firm grip on the fence clamp has eliminated that problem, but I keep my eye on it anyways.

At this point, my only regret is that I didn't do this years ago.