A bandsaw is an incredible tool, capable of resawing wide boards far beyond the capacity of a tablesaw. But even a powerful bandsaw is only as good as the fence system guiding the cut. For resawing tall hardwood boards, you need a fence that can handle the rigors of this demanding job. The all-new Laguna DX3 DriftMaster provides robust support from the 23” long x 7-1/4” tall aluminum extruded fence. Not only can you easily compensate for bandsaw drift with the included thumbwheel, the fence features precision adjustment thanks to the rack and pinion handwheel.
The heart of the DriftMaster is a guiderail assembly with precision rack and pinion adjustments. Heavy duty is an understatement here, and the fence and mounting brackets weigh an impressive 27 lbs. Every detail is well thought out - from fine adjustment with the precision handwheel - advancing the fence ¼” per revolution, to easy course adjustments with the red tab. Once your fence position is dialed in, just lock the silver lever in place. The smaller thumbwheel adjusts the fence angle to compensate for bandsaw drift, and is secured with the two black levers.
Sturdy gears drive the rack and pinion assembly for precision adjustments every time. No more tapping the fence over for fine adjustments, just rotate the handwheel to your desired setting, and lock it in place.
I’ll show the quick and easy install process on a Laguna 14/12 bandsaw, but the beauty of this fence system is the wide range of compatibility. It fits most 14-18” bandsaws, regardless of brand. The unique two-part brackets will even mount on bandsaws up to 24.” Because of the slotted hole design, installation is often a simple bolt-on process, and indeed there’s no drilling required on the 14/12 bandsaw. Simply mount the short bracket on the right side, making sure it doesn’t obstruct the miter slot. The hardware kit includes fasteners for a wide range of brands, but for Laguna saws you’ll use the 5/16” diameter bolts.
Next, butt the large bracket against the small bracket, and bolt it to the bandsaw. Position the bracket 2-1/8” below the cast iron surface, making sure it stays parallel across the width of the saw. There are even alternate installation methods if your bandsaw has the blade slot facing the front. Check the owners manual for more details.
Install the fence rail assembly to the brackets with 5 short bolts provided in the main hardware bag. Since the mounting brackets have long slotted holes, there’s tons of flexibility where you position the rail. Slide it left or right as desired, and tighten the bolts.
Add the robust extruded aluminum fence and tighten two tool-free knobs to secure it in position. Now your new DriftMaster fence system is installed, and just a couple small adjustments remain.
Set screws in the fence bracket offer subtle adjustment to set the fence parallel to the blade. There’s also a silver thumbwheel to adjust the fence square to the front edge of the bandsaw table. It’s also a convenient adjustment if you ever experience drift at your bandsaw.
A nylon set screw slightly elevates the fence bracket off the bandsaw table to minimize friction. Adjust the nylon screw with an Allen wrench, through an access hole from the top.
Ohh that handwheel! Enjoy smooth, precise adjustments left to right as you operate the gear-driven handwheel. One rotation moves the fence ¼” across the rail. Or for quick adjustments, just release the black lever on the lower right, and pull the red metal tab. This allows free fence movement left and right for coarse adjustments.
The Hi-Lo fence design offers even more flexibility when using your bandsaw. Just loosen the two rubberized tool-free knobs and slide the fence out to reposition it in “Low mode.” This allows the blade guide assembly to be lowered for more routine operations.
With the tall, unwavering support of the DriftMaster fence, you can confidently resaw softwood and hardwood right up to the limit of your saw. A ¾” wide carbide-tipped Resaw King blade is recommended for best results.
You’ve never experienced results like these. Smooth, consistent cuts at any thickness become a reality with the DriftMaster, even in dense hardwoods over a foot wide!
See the new DriftMaster in action on YouTube today, or find a dealer near you
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Willie Sandry is a lifelong woodworker and tool reviewer who enjoys building Arts and Crafts style period furniture, cabinets and more. Check out his latest builds on his YouTube channel The Thoughtful Woodworker https://www.youtube.com/c/TheThoughtfulWoodworker |
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