From: Journal of Light Construction December 2013
Posted on: December 13, 2013
FastCap Best Fence
By Bruce Greenlaw
Many finish carpenters swear by the Sawhelper Ultrafence because it provides continuous and expandable work support, doubles as a work table, and has an integral tape measure and flip stops for exceptional accuracy. Too bad it’s no longer available. The FastCap Best Fence series is now helping to fill the gap. At the moment, the lineup includes the Pro, Pro 1, Pro 2, Pro 3, and Pro 4, all of which build upon the same folding stand.
The basic Pro model has no wheels and comes with one continuous 64-inch wing with a metric or imperial scale and a flip stop. The rest of the stands have four wheels for better mobility, and progressively include from one to four quick-connect wings and more accessories. Because the system is modular, you can expand any of the stands incrementally to provide all the support and features you need. FastCap also sells kits for attaching its wings to the Bosch T4B, DeWalt’s sawhorse-style stands, and the Festool Kapex UG, or for simply setting up a workbench cutting station.
According to FastCap president Paul Akers, the Best Fence system changes almost weekly on the fly in response to customer feedback. That’s mostly a good thing, but it can have its drawbacks. For instance, the latest Best Fence stands have adjustable legs, onboard fence storage, and a fold-down lumber rack so you don’t have to set your trim on the ground or use extra sawhorses. The latest accessories include an onboard ballistic nylon accessory bag, a cut-list stand, and a small work table. But Virginia remodeling contractor Andrew Polski recently purchased the new Pro 4 after using an older version and was disappointed to find that it no longer has a quick-release saw mount or an optional backstop to make it easier to cut crown. Although the latest version isn’t a perfect fit for him, he still calls it a “phenomenal” design.
Massachusetts remodeling and restoration contractor Lou Hale owns a 3-fence wheeled model. He calls the stop system a “home run,” and says that the big pneumatic tires roll easily over rough ground. But, he adds, it takes two workers to safely load the stand into the truck. He had to add a piece of plywood to mount his Hitachi saw to the Best Fence stand, which was a minor nuisance. The bottom line: Hale says he would buy the stand again.
Matt Arnold, a residential remodeling contractor in Southern California, also uses a 3-fence model for his finish work. He says it was a great buy and that FastCap’s customer service has been first-rate.
To see how these stands work, view the videos at Fastcap.com
