10 Factors to consider before buying parallel guides

[ThisVeteranVlog]

HUGE thanks to everyone who commented in my previous post - your insights were incredibly helpful in piecing together a video I made on YouTube. I had my own thoughts about parallel guides and who they would be serve - I appreciate everyone's input!! Link to video is below!

10 Factors to Buying Parallel Guides

 

[Stan Tillinghast]

Really well done, Ben.
Of course I already have a set; but look forward to learning more from your experience.
Thanks also for your comments in my post on using Festool with a bad back.
The video and audio quality were great; I can’t abide videos where the camera mic is used instead of a clip-on, especially when the subject is using power tools.

 

[ThisVeteranVlog]

Thanks for the feedback [member=1170]Stan Tillinghast[/member]! Glad you found the video quality up to par, and you’re quite welcome on the back post, hope you found a working solution!

 

[ScotF]

Good job, Ben! I enjoyed watching your video and commentary.

 

[ThisVeteranVlog]

[member=6605]ScotF[/member] , hey thanks Scot! Glad you took a look and appreciate the feedback!

 

[MaineShop]

I make a living with my tools and am using them five days a week. I have a small shop and work in a larger one for others from time to time. Most of the time I find review style videos to be tedious and not made up of any well thought out talking points. This video was excellent. I thought it made clear points and gave me some real points to think about. I have been playing with the idea for the last year or so of taking the jobsite saw out of my finish trailer and switching to the parallel guides just for the space savings. I mostly work with sheet goods, and I use a rousseau table (which is excellent) for the jobsite saw, that baby is heavy to lug around and I find I use it less and less. You made a couple points I hadn't really thought of and I thank you for that.

 

[ThisVeteranVlog]

[member=32538]MaineShop[/member], wow thanks for the feedback! For your situation, I would really look at the different brands. Speed of set up and calibration would be something I would look at since you're doing this 5 days a week. The one thing all parallel guides stumble with, compared to a table/contractor saw - is the speed of initial use. Table saw setup for ripping is quick as latching the fence lever, however the set up and process of ripping with parallel guides is a more time consuming process, albeit still able to get the job done. However, just like with any process, there's always a way to become more efficient.

There have been a few times I wished I had a table saw JUST because it was a few rips and I would rather just get it over with quickly  [laughing] In the end though, parallel guides still get the job done, just not as quickly as a good table saw.

Good luck with any future purchases, if you pick up some guides, let me know when ones you got and your thoughts on them!

Cheers!

 

[ThisVeteranVlog]

[member=32538]MaineShop[/member], also there's a good discussion here on what fellow FOGrs think of their parallel guides

Feedback on Parallel Guide Forum Discussion

 

[jcrowe1950]

HUGE thanks to everyone who commented in my previous post - your insights were incredibly helpful in piecing together a video I made on YouTube. I had my own thoughts about parallel guides and who they would be serve - I appreciate everyone's input!! Link to video is below!

10 Factors to Buying Parallel Guides

Hi Ben,

    Excellent video on uses of parallel guides. You covered a great gamut of reasons why parallel guides are a wonderful tool for precision cuts. It is very refreshing to see your perspective in which you do not have a table saw. I did notice your Kapex and CMS in the background. For cabinet making, parallel guides are a great precision method of sawing cabinet components to width. With some parallel guides, you can also square up and cut components to length as well. In any case, again thanks for a fresh perspective.

 

[ThisVeteranVlog]

[member=39505]jcrowe1950[/member], thank you for the feedback on the video! I'm thrilled that so many people are finding it valuable and insightful - I believe I've hit the mark on what I set out to accomplish. I love my parallel guides, and won't pick up a table saw for a little while. I've gone through the hassle of importing a 110v CS-70 from overseas (wicked expensive!!). I have a dealer and shipper lined up, just waiting to pull the trigger on it all. There have been a few occasions where I wished I had a table saw for a really quick rip or trim - but certainly can get by, and have, with just the TS-75 and parallel guides. Again, I appreciate your comment and feedback, means a lot to me.

Cheers,

Ben