I am kind of interested in the parallel guides but don't quite understand how they work.  I know there are some write-ups and pics out there but I seem to understand things best when I see them in action.

I have done a search but can't seem to find any instructional videos.  Does anyone know if there are any out there?

Thanks.

Neill

Dave,

Thank you for the links.  I had looked at Jerry's and Brice's write-ups briefly before, but this time since I am actually considering the purchase, I looked a bit harder and actually printed them both.

I was not able to open the link to Festool Canada, but I thank you for that one as well.

By the way, just wondered where you were In Ohio.  I am a former Clevelander.

Neill

John,

Thank you once again for your insight.  I really like your not so serious approach to what you do.

Neill

Christian,

Thanks so much.  I have a much better idea of how they work.  I will probably watch a few more times until the fine points of calibration sink in.

I definitely think this an investment I will make in the near future.  The parallel guides definitely add more precision and functionality to the saw and guide rails.

Neill

WOW!!!. I just watched the video and 9 minutes and 57 seconds of great explanations. And I have to say that my earlier post isn't wrong but it isn't complete either. There are so many little intricacies brought out in the video. A picture is worth....
   For sure, Elena and I will have to revisit our setup. That said, we still make full use of one half the guide system for every cross cut.

Great video of the parallel guides!  If it was done with two cameras and a lapel mic, the production quality would have been a little better.  Clear audio and one camera to cut to closeups.  I ordered the parallel guides after Brian demonstrated them to me when I stopped in on my way through Indiana.

I can't remember the gentlemans name in the video, but if he's part of the faculty at the upcoming sessions you're in for a treat.
He did a lot of the demo's at Timmy C's Festool Fest in Lincoln last year. I happened to be in town for the football game and got a chance to see a few of his sessions. Very entertaining and a wealth of knowledge.

PS- I'm glad I didn't get picked for the sessions. My mon called and there's a 4 generation family reunion in Chicago that overlaps. I would have missed seeing all those relatives I haven't seen in years. 

You'd want to support that work piece with horses.  He's probably using an MFT probably because that's what he has at hand or because he wants to keep the whole setup Festool.  Here's the setup that you'd use.



As you can see the whole work piece is supported by the horses.  The arms of the parallel guide are floating.  They sag in the back but it's inconsequential.  The weight of the saw forces the guide down flat on the surface so the desired bevel of the cut is correct.

You're going to need 4 tall horses that are at least 48" long.  I have never made a cut with my parallel guide that involved my MFT.   Cutting platforms don't work well either.  You need variable width support.  You can see that I have the horses' legs overlapped so they can be close enough so they support but don't interfere.  Good old fashion horses, that's the ticket with the FS-PA/VL

Nice, thanks for the information and the picture! The variable width aspect is indeed something to be considered, though in some of the places I've worked finding ground flat enough for 4 sawhorses to be level is a challenge!

The sag might be inconsequential but I'm still surprised Festool didn't build small flanges into the stops (as I recall you did with your extension rails) so they could hang up on top of the  timber to stop the sag. I can't see how that would effect their operation.

Very good video. Brian said that the rails do not guaranty squareness, just equal cuts. Is there a way to guaranty squareness ?

Bruce

When they are properly calibrated, the guides can be very close to square.  I would still verify by laying a quality speedsquare on the board with the thick edge against the parallel guide and the thin against the rail.  I use a Woodpeckers version.

Well put, Fshanno...

It isn't that one can't use the set up as a way to square a guide rail... It's that it isn't designed to "necessarily" be a guide rail squaring device.

By using all of the adjustments available, and there are many in the system, one can make these do more than they are advertised to do. That's just like most well made tools.

Look through the threads on these guides and you will see many excellent adaptations.


Tom

I have a quick question on the parallel guides, as I am considering acquiring a set. All the demos use what appears to be near 3/4" stock. The thickness of the guides mounted under the guide rail raises the rail to the thickness of the parallel guides, correct? Does that present a problem if cutting 1/8" stock or something thicker like 1" stock where the guides would not sit flat on the work area? The approx thickness of the guide rail is 185mm so what if one needs to cut 1/8 or 1/4" stock in widths less than 185mm? I assume the use of the extensions would solve this but I am still confused with having the guide rail and zero clearance edge not resting on the surface of the boad being cut. Can some of you who have this system help explain. David

David:


I think that's the same thing Brice means when he says: .

Just dangle them off the sides of the work piece and you can cut as thick or thin as you want. That assumes that you don't have anything in the way of them dangling.


Tom

I will be ripping 20 sheets of bamboo ply tomorrow and be using the guides on the first bigger project since I got them. So far, I haven't been really impressed as my usual method (pencil line) was faster and most of the time "close enough".
Anyhow, I haven't given up, so will see how tomorrow goes.