Unifence vs.Biesemeyer

Good Morning,

          When I arrived at work this morning I was tasked with a repair project on a table top from one of our lecture halls. The students had done a number on it since it was made of flake board and a laminate top. No easy repair could be performed so I decided to fabricate a new one instead. Nothing extraordinary, a rectangular plywood top and some laminate hanging around the shop would complete the task. Panel saw, table saw and radial arm saw was all the equipment needed. As I was ripping my plywood on our shop table saw my thoughts turned to the fence we equipped the saw with; a Biesemeyer. I then thought about my own personal table saw and the fence I opted to purchase with it; a Unifence. Two great fences for doing this kind of work. I wondered what other wood workers thought about them. Pros and cons with each, so I guess it's just a matter of preference. I have the pleasure and opportunity to work with both in the work I do.
          My preference? I like them both. They accomplish the same tasks in different ways. I found the unifence easier to adjust alignment in keeping it parallel to the blade. It can also be adjusted vertically for the materials you're ripping. The fence can be dropped flush to the table, cutting laminates with ease. It's unique feature is it's rotating face, use the tall face for ripping heavy stock, unlock it and rotate the smaller face to control cutting thin stock. You can also slide the fence back along its T-head mount towards the infeed for use of a miter gauge without fear of kickback. The only drawback to this fence, which I find no problem with, is it's reference face. In order to rip on the left side of the blade, you need to remount the extruded fence section to the right side of the T-head. All in all the Unifence is much easier to install, it's lightweight and easier to adjust.
          The Biesemeyer fence is a little heavier and less prone to deflection. It has reference faces on both sides to rip on either side of the blade with out dismantling it to adapt to this operation. Both faces can be replaced with materials in the shop should they get damaged. When unlocked, unlike the Unifence, the Biesemeyer fence does not sit parallel with the blade when adjusting the width of your cut. Once locked however, it sits parallel. The one thing I didn't like about the rail system it uses, is the constant adjustments that need to be made as the parts are always being moved and screws tend to back out leaving it sitting sloppy on the rails. Overall I still find it top quality for ripping operations.
          Whether you're in a production shop or a hobbyist at home looking for a new fence system for your saw, I would recommend looking into both of these. Quality for your money.