Router Table Fence Review: Woodpeckers vs Rockler vs Taytools

[@freeflyer6170]

Always appreciate reviews from intelligent,knowledgeable, and thoughtful practitioners. Being an engineer only adds to the review. Thanks so much.

[@jkmwoodworking]

Thanks for the kind words! Much appreciated!

[@KenCharlesTheGreat]

I have the Taytools fence but have it set up as a pivoting fence, the set up & micro adjustments are extremely quick and accurate.

[@adtymryd6295]

Ah yes, the pivoting fence for the router table. Glad I've stumbled on some videos showing how to make it, as a user myself it is accurate and especially easy to adjust

[@KenCharlesTheGreat]

@@adtymryd6295 I thought I new how to set it up but it didn't work, it was accurate up to about 2 inches but after that the it lost accurate measurements

[@Wyman642]

I threw more money than I wanted at the Woodpecker. The original super fence was ok, especially with the additional micro-adjust (extra $), but I could never get the infeed and outfeed fences to stay coplaner. Then Woodpecker came out with an expensive $350 SF-Pro upgrade that I bought. The upgrade has precise screw adjustment that solves problems with the original design.

[@jkmwoodworking]

I agree that Woodpeckers is a bit expensive. It does seem like really solid stuff, and well engineered. I wasn't aware of the issue with the infeed and outfeed fence staying co-planer. Thanks for sharing that info, and thanks for your great comments on several of my videos!!

[@stephenmcgeown]

Really nice review and the timing is perfect as I'm about to start my research into router fences. It seems to me like the Taytools fence offers great value for money to a hobbyist woodworker like myself.

[@jkmwoodworking]

Thank you! I’m happy to hear the review was helpful! I agree,the taytools is a really good value!

[@blacknorce]

I bought the 32" one. It's great

[@stephenmcgeown]

@@blacknorce Glad to hear it. I bought it too but haven't used it yet as I've yet to make a table for it to go on!!

[@csimet]

Nice review. Goes to show you that the most expensive option may not be the best. I went with a mid-range fence from PeachTree Woodworking that came as a kit/option to my cast router table extension wing for the table saw. I think it runs around $200 if purchased alone and has many nice features. I bought a set of Rockler micro-adjusters and made a simple custom mount that slips over my table saw fence to allow me to adjust the router fence off of it, then lock it down. If I may suggest, I bought a set of Jessem Clear-Cut stock guides made for the router fence (they make a type for the table saw as well I also have). It is the best way to control workpieces and prevent kickback IMHO. Well worth the cost and very reasonable for the router at ~$120. I love and have used them many times to mill up custom trim perfectly... even slightly warped pieces.

[@jkmwoodworking]

Thanks! Great info, thanks for the thoughtful comment. I'm going to look into the Jessem Clear-Cut stock guides, probably for my table saw as well, great suggestion!

[@blacknorce]

I have the Taytools one. I put the Rockler micro adjust on it. I really like the combo of the 2 products. If I had the money I would have bought the incra setup and called it a day. BTW great comparison

[@jkmwoodworking]

Thanks! The combo of the Taytools fence and Rockler micro-adjust is a great idea!

[@ronh9384]

Good review! I’m partial to the Jessem fence. Just subbed. Ron

[@jkmwoodworking]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@CordellWoodworks]

Great video! You have to check out the Harvey router fence. Holy crap is that thing a BEAST. It's one of the nicest pieces in my shop as far as build quality goes.

[@jkmwoodworking]

Thanks! I’ll check it out!

[@TheOtherOtherBaltimore]

Thanks, would've never known about Harvey if you hadn't commented.. seems the best!

[@stevesiefken6432]

Very thorough comparison! Thanks!

[@jkmwoodworking]

Thank you!

[@michaelshelnutt3534]

I greatly appreciate your reviews

[@jkmwoodworking]

Thanks Michael!

[@stingk5295]

Very Informative!

[@jkmwoodworking]

Thanks!

[@gerekbasikal1]

Good information video👍👍👍

[@jkmwoodworking]

Thank you!

[@FiddlerOnTheRoof2024]

Thank you, Sir.

[@jkmwoodworking]

Glad it was helpful!

[@cragerl424]

Where did you get the spacers bars for the offset?? Great idea!

[@jkmwoodworking]

The spacer bars came with the fence for both rockler and taytools. Thanks!

[@tinkertime4588]

Hi Steve, Question for you. What distance do you recommend from the fence face (when centered over router center line) to the edge of the table? Considerations are enough support for a wide board but not too much width that it impedes your access to the work piece while you are sliding it along the fence during router operations. Any thoughts, 12" ?

[@jkmwoodworking]

Great question! I built mine at 12”, and have been very happy with it. I believe that a 12” inch offset is common.

[@tinkertime4588]

@@jkmwoodworking Thanks Steve. OK, now a follow up question. What is the feather board track center line dimension to the center line of the router bit?

[@jkmwoodworking]

@@tinkertime4588 The featherboard t-track centerline is 6 3/4" from router bit centerline, and has always worked great for me. Seems like kind of an odd distance, and I can't remember why I spaced it that way, it has been a few years. I did do some comparisons with commercially available router tables at the time I built mine, so maybe I got the dimension from that, not sure? One thing that I might consider on the next one I build is to put a miter slot instead of t-track. You can still use a featherboard with a miter slot, and then also have a miter bar on the router table for certain cuts. Or even one of those tracks that have both t-track and miter slot side-by-side.

[@patraymond3791]

you should have included the Incra fence it is amazing

[@jkmwoodworking]

Good point! Perhaps in another video

[@garrydye2394]

I have the Incra and i really dislike it.

[@Tensquaremetreworkshop]

If you are building your own router table, why not build your own fence? Rockler costs $500? for half that I build a digital fence- select your desired position and it powers there, accurate to 0.01mm. And it has a linear rail mitre fence. And the bit height is digitally selected too. Auto zero after bit change. Auto raise and lock if you select bit change. Plus it calculates the positions for finger joints or dovetails- press the button and push. Mortice slots? select the size and depth, clamp the workpiece and press the button. I can add more features via the programming port as needed. Video coming soon!

[@jkmwoodworking]

Hey Mike, that sounds like an incredible router table fence!!! I subscribed to your channel, and can't wait to see the video! Note that the Rockler fence is about $200 where I live, but still, I agree that making your own fence may be a really good option!

[@Tensquaremetreworkshop]

@@jkmwoodworking It was inspired by a commercial version- but that is over two grand- a bit rich for me. Besides, I like making things... It also will double as a digital fence for my table saw.

[@rask4p]

I'm new to wood working and in the process of setting up my shop and I'm finding the Woodpeckers brand really confusing. The products generally seem fine, but they seem to demand a premium that I just can't understand. If I compare the build materials and accuracy of the rules they make to machinist equipment I'm just left scratching my head!

[@jkmwoodworking]

I agree with you! I do think they have nice products, but just the prices aren’t grounded.

[@paul8699]

Made in USA adds a lot of cost.

[@heystarfish100]

How much are you willing to invest? There are so many options and brands not discussed here in this video but it all depends on your budget and what kind of work you might be doing. I own a JessEm Mast-R-Excel fence and table myself but bought this all used with a 3-1/2Hp VS PC router for an unreal deal and was priced much less than the Woodpeckers fence alone.

[@loramcclamrock5549]

i am interested but the video keeps stopping!!

[@tonykoenig1548]

Do you want to sell your Woodpeckers fence?

[@jkmwoodworking]

Sorry, I've already sold it