Crosscuts more than 50" from the reference edge

[acarl720]

I have been poking around on several forums and posted a couple of places with no "perfect" answer to this problem.  If I have the TSO Parallel Guide System and I want a large piece of plywood, say 45" by 60", I cannot see how to do this easily.  The 45" cut is straightforward, you just rip two parallel cuts, the first one with the FS track (FST) alone and the second one with the TSO/FST.  Nice and simple, now I have a piece that is 45" by 96".  Then use the TSO/FST to crosscut off the factory edge at 90 degrees, leaving me with 45" by 95.75".  Now the challenge comes because I have to figure out how to measure 60" with a tool jig that is 50".  I see three solutions, none of which is optimal to me.

In another forum, someone suggested that I cut from the short end, making sure to account for the kerf of the saw blade.  This can work if you know the kerf of the blade and it is in imperial units (of course, I could go metric, but am not sure I want to repurchase all my measuring tools yet).  Then I have to do some calculations, which are not difficult, and set up the tool from the short end.

I could also purchase two Guide Rail Adapters and connect a 20" rail to the 50" rail and go from there.  The difficulty I see is that the 50" rail itself is longer than the scale, which would require a different calculation and hope that this distance is some "round" number.

I could also make a mark on both sides of the plywood at 10" and set the flip stops to 50" and align them by eye to the pencil marks and clamp everything down carefully.

All three of these solutions would work, but introduce another potential error into the process.  Is there any other solution that someone sees?

Thanks.

 

[johnredl]

Is there a reason why you can’t just measure 50” from the factory edge, mark it with a sharp pencil, align the track on it and cut?

Not sure if I’m just not reading your question right, but if I wanted a piece of 50” ply I’d connect my 2 x 1400mm rails together, mark each end with a crazy sharp pencil or a marking knife, and cut it.

Please correct me if I’m really not getting it.

 

[bobfog]

The purpose of parallel guides is repeatability/accuracy on small to medium size pieces, in order to ensure repeatable accuracy, whilst needing very little thought/attention to detail to get good results. E.g. cutting dozens of shelves to the same width.

What you seem to be describing doesn't appear to fall within that intended use. If this is a rare event, then the three solutions you have already proposed will work and just need you to employ a little skill to get the results you want and get the job done. If this is a common occurrence where you often need to make such cuts and the time saving (switch brain off) repeatability is critical, then I would suggest you are using the wrong tools and need to design a custom jig/solution for your needs if this is on-site work, or buy a vertical panel saw if in a workshop environment.

 

[Master Carpenter]

You have reached the capacity of the tool. Your parallel guides aren’t big enough. Either find another brand that has larger capacity, or do the simple solution and just measure and mark it.

 

[imdking]

I am no expert at all. As a matter of fact, I haven't even taken my TS55 and 1400/2 tracks out of the packaging yet.

But, how about a Ron Paulk style bench with bench dogs?  Or maybe even a fence/stop

[attachimg=1]

 

[jeffinsgf]

If you trust your track square to guide cutting off the factory edge, why wouldn't you trust it to cut square to a mark at 60"?

 

[tallgrass]

why not make a "spacer" Like a large JO blocks. Simply make the blocks identical and larger than the measure short fall. Align your Jo blocks in the edge that you want to reference, clamp them and then use you TSO guide. Simple mo thinking , no measuring after you do your initial on that would yield your desired outcome. Right this offset on the blocks and you are done.

 

[rinconmike]

I used the TPG 50" to cut 50.75".  I flipped the right and left flip stop so I had more room for the plunger.  I got three boards cut the same length.  I now have to cut 56" and plan to connect a 50" and 20" with the TSO GRC-12 Self Alighting Rail.  I plan on doing it this weekend.  The 20" has to go closer to the track since at 56" if I put the 20" at the end, the GRC 12 will get in the way of the flip stop.

I use the TPG for the repeatable cuts, not the scale on it.  On cuts within the rail length (i.e. 28.25 using the 30) I do set the scale, but use the marks I make with a woodpecker rule (or tape) to get the track right and then set the TPG for the repeatable cuts.  I am using both the LH and RH TPG.  As an FYI, I asked TSO about connecting two TPG and they said you can use for the repeatable cuts, but not the scale.

thanks,

Mike

 

[JG]

Why not connect the 20 to the 50. Ignore the scales for measurement purposes. Mark the board on one side where you want to cut. Place your track at that location and set the stop. See where it ends up on the 20 inch rail. Set the stop at the same location on the opposite rail. They should be parallel and no need to figure out the extra in the 50 inch rail.

 

[TSO_Products]

I have been poking around on several forums and posted a couple of places with no "perfect" answer to this problem.  If I have the TSO Parallel Guide System and I want a large piece of plywood, say 45" by 60", I cannot see how to do this easily.  The 45" cut is straightforward, you just rip two parallel cuts, the first one with the FS track (FST) alone and the second one with the TSO/FST.  Nice and simple, now I have a piece that is 45" by 96".  Then use the TSO/FST to crosscut off the factory edge at 90 degrees, leaving me with 45" by 95.75".  Now the challenge comes because I have to figure out how to measure 60" with a tool jig that is 50".  I see three solutions, none of which is optimal to me.

In another forum, someone suggested that I cut from the short end, making sure to account for the kerf of the saw blade.  This can work if you know the kerf of the blade and it is in imperial units (of course, I could go metric, but am not sure I want to repurchase all my measuring tools yet).  Then I have to do some calculations, which are not difficult, and set up the tool from the short end.

I could also purchase two Guide Rail Adapters and connect a 20" rail to the 50" rail and go from there.  The difficulty I see is that the 50" rail itself is longer than the scale, which would require a different calculation and hope that this distance is some "round" number.

I could also make a mark on both sides of the plywood at 10" and set the flip stops to 50" and align them by eye to the pencil marks and clamp everything down carefully.

All three of these solutions would work, but introduce another potential error into the process.  Is there any other solution that someone sees?

Thanks.

Use our GRC 12 Guide Rail Connector set for the time being to connect a short 20 or 30 T-track. We design "Systems" - so you can use them in different smart combinations.
You will not be able to use the laser engraved scale but there is a  simple way to match the FlipStop locations on two tracks.

email us directly: info@tsoproducts.com    if you still have a question on this operation

Hans