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I have owned the Ultra Jig Fence for many years but never upgraded to the Wonder Fence until recently. It also can be used as a jointer if you are so inclined and don't have a proper one. The two fence halves really make the use of large bits a safer and more accurate effort. A sacrificial fence is easily added to the infeed side. The extention for tall panels is a real plus and the ease of use and installation was welcome.And to add icing to the cake, Incra's service is second to none. Mark is the man.I would recommend their products to anyone that is serious about their woodworking.
I just got my Wonder Fence today for my Bench Dog cast iron router table - the clamps for securing the Wonder Fence to the edges of the router table are too small. If they were just 1/16-1/8" larger, they would slip on and be useable. Otherwise, the fence seems pretty solid.
I use my Incra WonderFence with the LS17 positioner. It is always repeatable.My positioner does allow the fence to move slightly in the plane of the table. It does not allow the fence to move in or out, so the cuts are not affected. I have never had a problem with feed pressure. However, I recommend getting a real dust collection system. I used three feather boards and routed 1000 lineal feet of 16 foot MDF 1x6 to make my own baseboards. It has been a fantastic product. This is a problem with the positioner not the WonderFence attachment.
I have used it to make simple bullnose pieces for my door trim as well and recently started using the tongue and groove bits. Setup is quick and easy. I would worry about this if I were using it as a rip fence for my tablesaw.The dust collection port works fine even if you only use a moderately powerful shop vacuum. Shavings will collect in the right tube of the fence.
It's a great fence but I wouldn't even attempt making double or double double joints with it. I had a couple minor issues that they responded to immediately and went above and beyond to help me solve. I agree with Marc Ruby. If that's too tough get the DVD and they show you how to do it. Theirs is the only one that provides repeatable precision on two axes (three if you throw in their router lift). The Wonder Fence (combined with a positioner) on the other hand inspires confidence. Use the right tool for the job and the results will speak for themselves.On a final note their customer service is second to none.
If you are thinking about getting into more intricate woodwork then Incra is the only way to go. I also have the Benchdog Pro Fence. They did such a great job it compelled me to write this review. And, while the installation manuals are not so great, if you get the (latest) Master Reference and templates they walk you through it step by step. You wouldn't use a machete where a scalpel is needed and you certainly wouldn't use a scalpel to try to cut through a jungle. I've looked at all the solutions. For me all of this has inspired confidence on so many levels that I feel like I can make just about anything I want.
After looking everything over at the store I decided to spend the admittedly steep price of admission.I'm not sure where the other reviewer's complaint comes from. Now you can move the fence in 1/32" increments with 1000th of inch adjustments. After using the Bench Dog fence for a while, I felt an urge for something with a bit more precision. In the solo configuration the fence offer the kind of micrometer adjustments that one is used to in metal machining hardware. Expect to put in some learning and experiment time. Out of the box, without the LS extender, the Wonder Fence uses edge clamps, much like the Bench Dog. The hi-rise fence cap works perfectly for panel raising and vertical milling as well.The real power of this fence becomes apparent when it is used with the Incra Jig Ultra with the LS-positioner.
Once you want the Incra set up to do more than be a simple fence, you have to learn how to use it, and everywhere you turn there are things to turn. Not that the Bench Dog was a bad fence, but I'm a sucker for accuracy, and the Incra Jig Ultra combined with the Wonder Fence offer solid, repeatable adjustments. This is a spooky level of accuracy in woodwork.The biggest drawback is the learning curve. And it is ever bit as rigid as that fence as well. The two sides of the split fence can be adjusted independently, (depth and gap) which turns the average router table into a jointing and shaping station as well. Incra may have a talent for high-end accuracy, but as manual writers they are only so-so. Then expect to go crazy making exotic joints.[Part VI of 'How to Build a Really Expensive Router Table']
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