A New Rail Square Coming to Market - Teaser for Future Review

[woodman_412]

I just released a full video review as well as a review article of both the GRS-16 and the GRS-16 PE.  A big thanks to [member=59331]TSO Products[/member] for sending these to me to review.  I put them both to work in my shop for the past couple of months and was impressed with their performance.  See them in action and get all of my thoughts in my review below.  Hope you guys find it helpful.


You can also read my full review article on my website.
https://www.danpattison.com/blog/2017/1/7/grs-16-track-saw-guide-rail-square-review

 

[Alan m]

i  tip it to move it aswell.
i was thinking about adding some small wheel to the side of the track so that when it tips the wheels will roll easy

 

[Gwerner]

Now all we need is an optional tape measure cartridge with built in cursor that fastens to the top of the square, and has the offset for the rail width built into the tape!

[member=42863]southrider[/member]  -  your comment is not as far fetched as some might think. You won't be surprised when you sede some of the add-ons for our Guie Rail Squares as the new year unfolds - stay tuned.
If you're not on our "TSO Insider" mailing list just sign up  at tsoproducts.com so you'll hear more about it

Hans
info@tsoproducts.com

I had a chance to use my GRS-16 PE for the first time tonight and have to say I'm impressed. Only did some 36" cuts so I can't speak to the accuracy on longer cuts yet, but every cut I made was dead on square and this works perfectly for me. Looking forward to see what kind of add-ons you have in store for this.

 

[Klemm]

a customer inquired on January 13th about shipping a Guide Rail Square to the UK.
We received this message today - 7 days later:

"Hello TSO people,

This is to let (you) know that my order ( GRS-16 Parallel Edge Guide Rail Square ) arrived safely and very speedily. ( I am in the United Kingdom.)

I appreciate good design and  sound products , so I am very happy to add this Guide to my Track saw accessories. Not cheap but unique to the market and fulfilling a genuine need so well done.

Kind Regards
R.G."


International shipping, as well as domestic, is really running well
Hans

 

[tazprime38]

I used my PE guide yesterday and it really is a game changer as I only need to mark where the cut needs to be at a single point and then just plonk the rail with PE guide on the mark and tight against the front edge.

No checking, then just cut. Saves so much time trying to make sure your cutting square. Yesterday didn't even check the cuts to confirm the cuts were square as didn't need to.

Hans, can you elaborate on the new attachments and when is the release date? Will the new attachment work on both the original and PE squares? Will this be true for future and all new accessories or will some work with only the original square and not the PE and vise versa?

 

[Klemm]

[member=5519]tazprime38[/member]  - your experience report regarding the performance of your Guide Rail Square is welcome and appreciated - most helpful - thank you.

Our accessory plans are at the stage where we have launched current production with mounting provisions for accessories on our development horizon and others we have not even thought of yet. Our aim is and will always be to provide for backward compatibility to the extent possible - to the extent that we are savvy enough to look that far ahead. Case in point: our new MTR-18 and PTR-18 precision triangles - lots of accessory adaptability designed in from the start as you'll see in a month or so.

For existing Guide Rail Squares we envision a retrofit kit to make new accessories compatible. Good point - we should say so in our TSO INSIDER newsletter, too.

Hans
info@tsoproducts.com

 

[tazprime38]

Will the retrofit kits bring in some error margins ie will the accuracy be compramised?

 

[Klemm]

the planned retrofit and future Guide Rail Square accessory changes will have ZERO effect on accuracy.
Hans
info@tsoproducts.com

 

[tazprime38]

Hans, that is good to know.

Have you released any info on the mtr-18 and ptr-18 precision triangles?

 

[Klemm]

Hans, that is good to know.

Have you released any info on the mtr-18 and ptr-18 precision triangles?

[member=5519]tazprime38[/member]  - no specifics published yet  on the two new 18" Triangles. They will be announced when ready to ship production triangles of both models in February.
TSO INSIDER News will have the first public details followed by the FOG.

We are probablky even more anxious than you are [wink]
Hans
info@tsoproducts.com

 

[Corwin]

Gave my GRS-16 Guide Rail Square a bit of a workout today with super results.  It snapped right on the rail and was dead on square.  I needed to cut a good number of panels to the same size so I paired it with a Woodpecker's rule and rule stop and got consistent results.  Worked great!

[attachimg=1]

Thanks TSO!

Mike A.

Way, way, way late to this thread.  [doh]  So, just finished reading this from start to finish and I must say that this product looks like the best answer yet to square your rail to your workpiece.

The setup (from the quoted post) that uses both a TSO square and a measuring rule looks like a great way to readily make your cuts. But, rather than use the rule's stop directly against the end of your workpiece, why not use a spacer the width of your Guide Rail in between the two so you can set the stop directly to the desired dimension? Simply cut a spacer the exact width of your Guide Rail by butting a stop against the back side of the Guide Rail and then butt your spacer material up to that stop and cut off the excess -- perfect spacer the exact width of your Guide Rail. Now that rule will function properly.  [wink]

 

[mike_aa]

Gave my GRS-16 Guide Rail Square a bit of a workout today with super results.  It snapped right on the rail and was dead on square.  I needed to cut a good number of panels to the same size so I paired it with a Woodpecker's rule and rule stop and got consistent results.  Worked great!

[attachimg=1]

Thanks TSO!

Mike A.

Way, way, way late to this thread.  [doh]  So, just finished reading this from start to finish and I must say that this product looks like the best answer yet to square your rail to your workpiece.

The setup (from the quoted post) that uses both a TSO square and a measuring rule looks like a great way to readily make your cuts. But, rather than use the rule's stop directly against the end of your workpiece, why not use a spacer the width of your Guide Rail in between the two so you can set the stop directly to the desired dimension? Simply cut a spacer the exact width of your Guide Rail by butting a stop against the back side of the Guide Rail and then butt your spacer material up to that stop and cut off the excess -- perfect spacer the exact width of your Guide Rail. Now that rule will function properly.  [wink]

Good idea, [member=182]Corwin[/member]

That would be especially helpful if you have to do a number of cuts that are of different dimensions.  It takes the math of subtracting the guide rail offset out of the equation.  [big grin]  Thanks!

Mike A.

 

[Corwin]

Thanks, Mike! A scrap piece that has been cut to the width of your Guide Rail has a few applications that prove handy.

 

[oldie]

Getting envious of the availability of these attachments for Festool guide rails. 
They seem so darned good at what they do. 
Well done Hans and Eric.  And, for open-mindedness wrt constructive criticism.

Currently use Bosch rails - which they don't fit. 
Imagine that could be a deal breaker for some people. 

Wonder how come Festool never came up with this 'innovative' idea - and, put it into production. 
Bet would be a lot more expensive though. 

Richard (UK)

[edit: added a word]

 

[Klemm]

Gave my GRS-16 Guide Rail Square a bit of a workout today with super results.  It snapped right on the rail and was dead on square.  I needed to cut a good number of panels to the same size so I paired it with a Woodpecker's rule and rule stop and got consistent results.  Worked great!

[attachimg=1]

Thanks TSO!

Mike A.

Way, way, way late to this thread.  [doh]  So, just finished reading this from start to finish and I must say that this product looks like the best answer yet to square your rail to your workpiece.

The setup (from the quoted post) that uses both a TSO square and a measuring rule looks like a great way to readily make your cuts. But, rather than use the rule's stop directly against the end of your workpiece, why not use a spacer the width of your Guide Rail in between the two so you can set the stop directly to the desired dimension? Simply cut a spacer the exact width of your Guide Rail by butting a stop against the back side of the Guide Rail and then butt your spacer material up to that stop and cut off the excess -- perfect spacer the exact width of your Guide Rail. Now that rule will function properly.  [wink]

[member=30413]mike_aa[/member] and [member=182]Corwin[/member] you make us show our hand:
for some time we have been aiming to add accessories to the GRS-16 series which would facilitate exactly what you are talking about - namely combining "squaring" with "parallel edge distance setting".
Our NextGen GRS-16 series have been shipping quietly with a new integral provision for such an attachment. This provision is designed to be retrofittable in the field. We will provide instructions how to accomplish this on all GRS-16 and GRS-16 PE squares ever built.
when our accessory becomes available some months into this year we will provide full particulars.
Hans
info@tsoproducts.com

 

[tazprime38]

Gave my GRS-16 Guide Rail Square a bit of a workout today with super results.  It snapped right on the rail and was dead on square.  I needed to cut a good number of panels to the same size so I paired it with a Woodpecker's rule and rule stop and got consistent results.  Worked great!

[attachimg=1]

Thanks TSO!

Mike A.

Way, way, way late to this thread.  [doh]  So, just finished reading this from start to finish and I must say that this product looks like the best answer yet to square your rail to your workpiece.

The setup (from the quoted post) that uses both a TSO square and a measuring rule looks like a great way to readily make your cuts. But, rather than use the rule's stop directly against the end of your workpiece, why not use a spacer the width of your Guide Rail in between the two so you can set the stop directly to the desired dimension? Simply cut a spacer the exact width of your Guide Rail by butting a stop against the back side of the Guide Rail and then butt your spacer material up to that stop and cut off the excess -- perfect spacer the exact width of your Guide Rail. Now that rule will function properly.  [wink]

[member=30413]mike_aa[/member] and [member=182]Corwin[/member] you make us show our hand:
for some time we have been aiming to add accessories to the GRS-16 series which would facilitate exactly what you are talking about - namely combining "squaring" with "parallel edge distance setting".
Our NextGen GRS-16 series have been shipping quietly with a new integral provision for such an attachment. This provision is designed to be retrofittable in the field. We will provide instructions how to accomplish this on all GRS-16 and GRS-16 PE squares ever built.
when our accessory becomes available some months into this year we will provide full particulars.
Hans
info@tsoproducts.com

Hans, can you post pictures of the new integral provision on the latest version of the GRS -16 /PE squares?

 

[tazprime38]

Just seen the new details posted on the TSO site regarding the new updated squares. Also chuffed being given credit regarding using PE square on far edge of post formed bull nosed worktops (worksurfaces)!  My kids were were also amazed lol. Thank you Hans.

 

[tazprime38]

The PE square looks good, makes me think the original one is not needed.

Will be buying the PE also as it just seems more usefull.

Maybe having a triangular piece that has a lip which you can screw onto predrilled  holes on the square at the top would maybe sllow 45° capabilities?

I see the new versions have two predrilled holes for attachments similar to what I mentioned above in post 159

 

[mark60]

My PE arrived yesterday and I put it to work today. Thanks TSO, and great job, this will be a very useful addition for me.

 

[Klemm]

our products work well because they are based on YOUR  input, -users in the field who know what is needed and share it with us. This connection with customers is one of the benefits of selling direct. We can take credit for actively "listening" and doing our best to integrate all the suggestions into beneficial product features.

One other ingredient that makes us tick is the expressions of appreciation we regularly receive  from customers - just scroll back through this thread and you'll see plenty of evidence.
thank you all for cheering us on!

Hans and Eric