Don’t cut the fence

I have thought of doing the same after banging into it more than once in my 10' x 18'
basement shop with very little room. That 6 inches hanging out there is a PITA (actually
it's at kidney level for me). I wore a nice bruise for a couple days after hitting it one time.

I had the hacksaw in my hand ready to strike but decided to put it off telling myself I'd
learned my lesson.

Well, guess what. Nope, I'm as dumb (or clumsy) as the first time and banged into it
again a month later.

But I still haven't bobbed the fence. Doesn't mean I don't want to though. :-)

Tell me why I shouldn't please. And I don't care about resale value.

I have a different kind of fence but mine doesn't extend beyond the table, and I have not had any issues with my fence being too short, mind you I can easily add extensions onto it for flag stops. *shrugs* My MFT fence is about the same length as the Biesemeyer fence on my table saw, which also happens to be about the same length as my Biesemeyer fence on the table saw sled.

Instead carrying a large heavy object I smashed my hip into the saw rail sticking out the front bending the rear mount. Oops! Dashboard can fix it!

I get the extra fence capacity, but why not cut it? Has anyone done this and regret it? It’s kind of like the miter saw fence debate: does your entire miter saw need a fence? Or is just the miter saw fence (where the cut is being made) all that matters? I’m applying that theory here. What is that extra 6-8 inches hanging off the side of the table going to serve other that cuts and bruises to my hips haha. Just looking for options and discussion here around this since I haven’t found a thread covering this “issue”. Cheers!

In case it is not obvious you sometimes need all the length for an angled cut when you have the fence at an angle and you still want to use the fence stop.

@Bob D.

@Jersey_Woodworks

Better have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.

You can cut it if you wish. It’s your kit right.

It’s been my experience as soon as you cut it, you’ll need the extra length for something.
Then you’ll be here axing how to cut something longer with a short fence.

So with that being said I recommend rather than cutting the existing fence short, go to Festool and order the short fence they make for the CMS.

You can still get it. It’s about the length you said you need.

Don’t know the part number but you can call them they’ll hook you up or go to ekat and find it.

That way you’ll have the longer fence when you need it. Notice I said when you need it, not if you you need it.

 Cuz you will eventually

Quote from: tsmi243 on October 14, 2021, 05:11 PM

I say cut it.  Just keep the offcut, and find a way to join it back when you need the capacity for the flag stop.

Super Glue !

That's.... one option, I guess 

I was thinking something more like a rail connector.  Shouldn't be too hard to make.