Alternative to Guide Plate FP-LR 32

[AstroKeith]

So I've recently got hooked on Festool products. Now I'm retired I really appreciate spending time with the quality tools.

I find the tools priced OK and some of the accessories are too, but sometimes I bulk at paying £100's for what is essentially a bracket.

I wanted to cut 32mm hole runs in a number of bookshelves and the festool system would be great, but for its price. I have the guide rail adapter and was sure I could make something up to do the job. In the end it was easy.

Basically its a spring loaded plunging pin (6mm dia) that is held in a small cross piece thats sits across the rods. It's a good tight fit on the rods and once in the right place it finds the next hole easily, due mostly to the oval holes in the guide rail. A test run indicates that the resultant holes are within about 0.2mm of perfect.

Three photos - one in use, one of the assembled 'jig', and one of it disassembled.

 

[JimReed]

Great idea!  Did you 3D print the center piece and knob?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[boblenz]

That is a great idea.  I also can't seem to pony up the cabbage for the Festool kit.  I would like to make one just like that.  Locating that pin is going to be the hard part.

 

[xedos]

Did you 3D print the center piece and knob?

no - clearly the center is a piece of plywood painted black.  Knobs are easily had too.

The 6mm spring loaded plunging pin is the tough part.  If that isn't an off the shelf part, then this will be out of reach for most guys since the majority of woodworker don't  posses a metal shop too.

 

[AstroKeith]

You're right the main piece is an off cut of baltic birch ply.
The pin is a small length of 6mm stock brass with a brass washer soldered on as a shoulder. To be honest for occasional use (which mine will be for) the spring loading isn't essential - so a simple length of 6mm rod will suffice. Steel, Al, Brass whatever. I filed a small chamfer (1.5mm) on the bottom of the pin so it pops down into the guide rail holes easily.
I'm looking for a 'Festool" green knob!

 

[hdv]

I was thinking, maybe you could make the pin by using a short length of metal rod. Cut a small groove in it with the bandsaw or another saw you have handy and place a retaining ring (circlips) in the groove. I suspect that might be good enough for this type of usage.

 

[AstroKeith]

I was thinking, maybe you could make the pin by using a short length of metal rod. Cut a small groove in it with the bandsaw or another saw you have handy and place a retaining ring (circlips) in the groove. I suspect that might be good enough for this type of usage.

That actually sounds a great solution.....now where's that box of circlips!