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You may need to buy or replace a bandsaw fence more often than you think, even when you’ve paid a fortune to begin with.
The best aftermarket bandsaw fences are usually designed to address certain issues.
In some cases, even compensate for what a bandsaw may be lacking, as well as helping an inexperienced user make more accurate cuts.
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At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Bandsaw Fences
- BEST OVERALL : Woodhaven 7280
- RUNNER-UP: Carter MAGFENCE II
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: Rikon 13-900
- BEST KREG BANDSAW FENCE: Kreg KMS7200
- BEST BANDSAW RESAW FENCE: Shop Fox D3575
Comparison of the Best Aftermarket Bandsaw Fences
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What is a Bandsaw Fence?
A bandsaw fence is an accessory that comes in many designs and that you can mount on your bandsaw to help make straight cuts. The fence acts as a guide for the material and, in a way, as a stabilizer for the blade too.
A good fence, when properly adjusted per the requirements of its specific bandsaw will be able to fight blade drift. Note that a bandsaw fence is just a bare-bones tool. If it can also hold a bunch of accessories that make other tasks, such as ripping or re-sawing, go much smoother.
What Should I Look for When Buying a Bandsaw Fence?
New to the scene? Here's what you need to pay attention to:
Material
Usually the fence is made of plastic, steel, or aluminum. The general consensus is that the latter reigns supreme in terms of quality and longevity. But if you’re looking to save a few bucks, or if you’re not worried about working with very big pieces of material, other options will suffice too.
Bandsaw Compatibility
It’s very important yet often tricky too assess. Of course, it’s easier if you’re experienced with bandsaws. If not, then it’s best to go by your bandsaw’s dimensions when trying to make a buy.
We also recommend checking online to see if the fence is compatible with your own saw. Some are compatible with tens of models while others only with a select few. Then there are also universal fit fences that are likely to go on just any bandsaw. But keep in mind that the same fence will unlikely have a perfect fit on every model suitable for its dimensions.
Adjustability and Design Specs
Bandsaw fences aren’t always simple guides. Some fences feature complex designs, advanced locking mechanisms, and different scales or levels of adjustability. Always take into account the type of work you want to do and how complex you need your fence to be.
Review of the Best Aftermarket Bandsaw Fences
Not all bandsaws come with good stock fences. Even the top bandsaw manufacturers sometimes use subpar accessories. The good news is that they also offer a wide array of quality aftermarket fences that you can use to improve your bandsaw skills.
Best Overall:
Woodhaven 7280
PROS
CONS
Our Review
The Woodhaven 7280 isn’t just versatile and compatible with many bandsaws, it’s also a very solid piece of equipment. Its aluminum build can withstand heavy use and won’t succumb to rust. Even if you don’t always keep up with your maintenance.
The locking mechanism is on point and the tool-less adjustments make it easy enough to use. You may also appreciate the fact that it’s a two-sided rail design. This is known to improve the stability of the fence on long cuts.
It’s also worth noting that it doesn’t feature a measuring scale. That said, there are other ways to get your measurements without having to rely on the fence itself.
What Makes This Product Stand Out?
The build quality is the main selling point because it more than makes up for the higher price tag. Of course, having positive locking clamps on both sides also makes for a strong argument, through improved stability, as to why this model is one of the best in the industry.
Runner-up:
Carter Magfence II
PROS
CONS
Our Review
Although the Carter MAGFENCE II clearly isn’t for every bandsaw out there, it’s still one of the best. When used on a ferrous metal work table, this fence allows for a very strong hold.
Using magnets to make adjustments should improve your precision and help you make those adjustments much faster.
The tall build design is also a nice touch as it will improve your vertical cuts. Especially when working with wider boards. The fact that the fence comes with four magnet slots and two powerful switchable magnets is a nice perk too.
What Makes This Product Stand Out?
Set aside the fact that this is a magnetic bandsaw fence, which is already great, what sets it apart is having four magnet slots. This allows the fence to be used even with smaller work tables as well as bigger ones, where you might need extra magnet separation to maximize cutting accuracy.
Best for the Money:
Rikon 13-900
PROS
CONS
Our Review
You don’t always have to pay top dollar for a quality bandsaw fence – the Rikon 13-900 proves it. Its only drawbacks are that it works best with saws from two manufacturers, Rikon and Craftman. And that it’s not very beginner-friendly in terms of assembly.
Other than that, this is a well-designed fence with an accurate scale and easy tracking. Taking it out in order to change your blades is easy enough. The fact that it comes with a ripsaw bar makes it even more appealing as well as compatible with a wider range of saws.
Note that it’s easy to over tighten the screws.
What Makes This Product Stand Out?
The main draw of this fence is its compatibility with top of the line Rikon bandsaws. Does this make it a niche accessory? Perhaps. But that doesn’t take away from the fact that you would be hard-pressed to find a better replacement if you’re a Rikon bandsaw owner.
Best Kreg Bandsaw Fence:
Kreg KMS7200
PROS
CONS
Our Review
The Kreg KMS7200 bandsaw fence is nothing if not very adjustable. From the two-dimensional adjustability to its magnified scale and easy tracking, you can do a lot of work with it.
But, it’s not as easy to install or adjust at first. We should also point out that the fence could use some additional premade mounting holes. The rigidity of the build will help against blade drifting, as well as working with bigger materials.
Although its main intended use isn’t ripping, the KMS7200 is an underrated rip fence too. As long as your saw can handle this type of work too.
What Makes This Product Stand Out?
We like that the KMS7200 comes with multiple mounting points, even though not enough for all bandsaws. Another clear highlight is the two-dimensional adjustability which will allow making better perpendicular adjustments. If you often do cuts on thin materials you’ll understand the value of this.
Best Bandsaw Resaw Fence:
Shop Fox D3575
PROS
CONS
Our Review
If you own a larger bandsaw and work with big work pieces then a bigger fence is what you’ll need. The Shop Fox D3575 is a complex-looking yet intuitive resaw fence.
It comes as a complete kit with all the accessories you need and clear assembly instructions. The fence offers a smooth sliding motion and also allows the user to make very precise adjustments.
Another benefit is its extruded design. This typically facilitates quicker removal so that you can adjust the blade guide for regular cutting tasks.
While it does have some cross-brand compatibility, it’s not the best. So you can expect to drill some extra holes in order to fit it perfectly on your bandsaw.
What Makes This Product Stand Out?
The fact that this is a complete resaw kit is what takes the cake. Unlike other bandsaw fences this one doesn’t require other aftermarket purchases in order to expand your repertoire of cuts. This, and the smooth operation are its standout features. Along with the low price tag, of course.
Editor’s Pick:
Grizzly Industrial H7587
PROS
CONS
Our Review
It’s built like an industrial-grade bandsaw fence. This model is as sturdy as they come – and then some. It has a simple assembly process, even though it will involve some tools.
The design accommodates 14” band saws and has multiple mounting holes already. We like the precision of the micro-adjustment scale. As well as the extruded design which again, will help lower the blade guides.
Whether it’s resawing or normal cutting projects, the H7587 might just take your bandsaw game to the next level. But it is pricier, especially if you consider the whole short screws situation.
What Makes This Product Stand Out?
Other than build quality there’s one more thing that makes the H787 stand out. It has an extruded design, which is versatile and makes it easier to set up your blade properly. Surprisingly, the fence also needs very few modifications in order to accommodate a variety of bandsaws.
In summary, here are the best aftermarket bandsaw fences:
What Purpose Does a Bandsaw Fence Serve?
While the bandsaw fence provides support and stability, it’s not just a one-trick pony. It, in fact, serves a purpose in various types of cuts.
Ensures Straight Cuts
Because of how bandsaws work, it’s sometimes close to impossible to get an easy straight cut without a fence. It provides the extra stability you need and also acts as a guide. It’s really a must-have accessory if you want to do more than cut curved edges, for any material. Also, having a fence will help you get smoother edges too.
Resawing
You need a good fence in order to resaw wood. This means cutting the wood work piece along its length and across in order to make two thinner pieces.
This process can be repeated to get smaller and smaller pieces. It’s one of the main uses for a bandsaw and it’s not something you can do with much accuracy without a fence.
Ripping Wood
Another clear benefit of using a fence is being able to create a rip cut. Ripping is the act of cutting pieces of wood by going in with the blade parallel to the grain. Although the bandsaw isn’t the first choice for this type of work, having a fence on yours will make it more suitable.
Conclusion
A bandsaw fence is a versatile tool even though it’s used for a single category of cuts – straight cuts. A lot goes into picking the right type of fence from the number of accessories to its size and scale measurements. But what should matter most is obviously its compatibility with your saw and how much you end up paying for it.
People Also Ask
It’s normal to want to know even more about bandsaw fences, especially if you’re not a lifelong bandsaw user. To help you get a better understanding of this tool and how to use it, here are some more interesting bits of knowledge you can assimilate.
How to Tighten a Bandsaw Fence?
Most bandsaw fences come with mounting screws that will keep it in place on your work table. Some fences may allow tool-less adjustments but not all of them. The goal is to get it tight to the point where it won’t move or wobble when your saw is running. However, not too tight that you’d deform the fence and cause it not to slide properly anymore.
How to Calibrate a Bandsaw Fence?
First, you need to figure out how much blade drift you’re working with. Do this by cutting into a piece of wood and then drawing a line on the work bench through the cut. Align the bandsaw fence with that line so that it’s parallel and tighten the screws on the fence accordingly.
How Much Is a Bandsaw Fence?
As cheap as you want it to be or as expensive as you can afford. Since aluminum bandsaw fences are most often the best ones you can find, here’s the range you can expect for a quality tool $80 to $200.
Of course, you can get the price down more if you opt for something made of plastic. Or, you can up the price too if you want better build quality or perhaps a full range of bandsaw fence accessories.
Do I Need a Bandsaw Fence?
A bandsaw fence is used for very specific applications. If you won’t be using the bandsaw for many straight cuts then it won’t be an essential tool for your arsenal. That said, it’s a shame not to have one since its absence won’t allow you to get the most out of your bandsaw.