Band Saw Sliding Fence

The sliding fence of a band saw is a guide rail that is fixed to the work table parallel to the saw band. The operator slides it to the required distance from the band and then locks it in place. During cutting, the material rests against the fence, so it is guided straight and the cut has a constant width. The fence is especially useful for rip cutting and for repeatedly cutting several pieces to the same size. Most fences have a measuring scale that makes precise setting easier. A correctly set fence increases cutting accuracy and safety, as it limits deflection of the material.