crosscutting with festool guide rail

[russ_1380]

hi

I got the dewalt square.

It has slop and doesn't cut square.
:'(

Is there any way to adjust it Steve?  Maybe I just got an unlucky one.  Mine didn't come with a knob for locking it up either.

 

[russ_1380]

just had another play with it.

I adjusted the rail clamp on the saw and re cut the plastic guide.  The results are a little more accurate now.

It seems ok for crosscuts under 1 foot, which is good enough for me.  Anything longer and the amount that its out is noticeable by a large degree.

For the money it seems an ok fix where accuracy isn't the be all and end all.  And thats all you can expect for that money and a hand tool, so no hard feelings. If on the other hand the Dewalt square had some slight adjustment capacity it would be ideal.

As a mini review I'd say don't bother with one and save your cash.  Worth a try though, cheers Steve. 

R

 

[Brice Burrell]

just had another play with it.

I adjusted the rail clamp on the saw and re cut the plastic guide.  The results are a little more accurate now.

It seems ok for crosscuts under 1 foot, which is good enough for me.  Anything longer and the amount that its out is noticeable by a large degree.

For the money it seems an ok fix where accuracy isn't the be all and end all.  And thats all you can expect for that money and a hand tool, so no hard feelings. If on the other hand the Dewalt square had some slight adjustment capacity it would be ideal.

As a mini review I'd say don't bother with one and save your cash.  Worth a try though, cheers Steve. 

R

Russ, this thread by our good friend Dave Ronyak might be of use to you, DeWalt T-Square Not Square Out of the Box.

 

[russ_1380]

Nice one Brice mate!

That's perfect.  I'll try what he has done. 

I made a quick jig today for crosscutting and it works pretty well.  Its only temporary and set for a given thickness material, but it does the job.  Kind of like a makeshift mft.  I'll still try filing the dewalt as I'd hate to have a useless tool lying around.

R

 

[score0matic]

I picked up a FS800 and love it.  Sometimes what you think you want and what you really want are not the same thing.  Case in point

IDEA  an FS 400 with integral square.

Thanks Craig

That is a Dumb idea :

ON TOPIC
I think the best way to do it is:
1.  for your 90 deg stop use alum 1.1/2" wide 1/2" thick by 10" long
2  rout or mill a 1 17/33 wide slot (triming just the bottom protrusions, rubber and al,) at 90 deg  on the bottom of your "Shorty" rail about 5 " up from the starting side
2.1 drill and countersink 2 screw holes in the rail with matching holes (taped for  #8 by 32) in the stop.
3 mount the cross bar
4 check for and adjust for square by the cut and flip method
5 when adjusted secure with with industrial mounting CA glue

Thanks Craig

That is too complicated and limits the rails use

However I've had an epiphany on how to convert an FS - KS to an outstanding crosscut guide.  I will post the making of it on a new thread.

 

[jander1960]

I know this is an old thread, but this reply belongs here...

For a quick, accurate cross-cut (as someone mentioned above, a couple of 2x4s), how about the BenchDog Pro-Cut Saw Giude.  Seems to be just what the Dr. ordered...

Bench Dog Pro-Cut (available at Rockler and others)

The first time you use the jig, you cut it to fit your saw (like the edge of a guide rail).  I haven't used this, but it looks perfect for the task.

Anybody out there used the Pro-cut with their TS saw?

jim

 

[jmbfestool]

I know this is an old thread, but this reply belongs here...

For a quick, accurate cross-cut (as someone mentioned above, a couple of 2x4s), how about the BenchDog Pro-Cut Saw Giude.  Seems to be just what the Dr. ordered...

Bench Dog Pro-Cut (available at Rockler and others)

The first time you use the jig, you cut it to fit your saw (like the edge of a guide rail).  I haven't used this, but it looks perfect for the task.

Anybody out there used the Pro-cut with their TS saw?

jim

Or this
http://www.kregtool.com/SquareCut-Prodview.html

The thing is I have had my TS 55 for years and never had a problem making sure cutting boards stayed square. Brilliant tool!

I did cut into my rail though so I decided  I buy a new 1400 so I had 3  1400 rails and I cut one into  600 leaving me with a 800 also  using my Kapex with a Ali blade.  Having 2 smaller rails  makes life soooooooooooooooo much easier definitely for cutting smaller sheets also cut out on units or worktops.  I hardly ever clamp my rails and a longer rails tend to get knocked and move more easily when cutting smaller material.  Also the 600 rail is perfect for repair stair nosing simply cut of the damaged nosing and replace with a new or if a client wants the stair carpet replacing with wooden finish you can easily cut all the nosing of the stairs and clad it with new.

JMB

 

[rnt80]

JMB, I was hoping I'd hear someone state this.  I cut into my 1400 a couple of weeks ago and have meant to cut it down as well.  I'm ordering a new 1400 and as soon as it gets here I'll chop the old one in two.

 

[jmbfestool]

JMB, I was hoping I'd hear someone state this.  I cut into my 1400 a couple of weeks ago and have meant to cut it down as well.  I'm ordering a new 1400 and as soon as it gets here I'll chop the old one in two.

Was Size would you cut it 2?!?!?  I dont know what you have in mind but cutting it at 800-600 are two good sizes I think.  I did think of doing it at 1000 -400 but thought 1000 to big and 400 to small even though I think a 400 could come in use but the 1000 I might as well get the 1400 out.

Cutting it will the Kapex gives you two perfect square adges using the ALi blade. 

I got the Ali blade free from festool when I ordered the Kapex and because it was Christmas German was closed down during that period or something and I had to wait a while for my kapex and when I did get it it had a fault (the See-Saw topic) They offered to replace the base or completely new kapex I wanted new kapex because I always feel that if something is wrong something else might just not be right. Any way to say sorry Festool offered to give me anything I wanted free within reason he said he rather give me something I need free  so I asked for the Ali blade he said no problem.
I have only used the Ali blade once to cut my guide rail lol not used it ever since its all I wanted if for really any way.

Brilliant FESTOOL service.

JMB

 

[Wonderwino]

If you have more than one rail, the easy method I use is to line the back edge of one rail up with the edge you want to square to.  Then butt the rail you will cut with square to the end of the first rail.  Drop in a framing square to check it and cut.

Easy & Fast.  Smart?

 

[Corwin]

If you have more than one rail, the easy method I use is to line the back edge of one rail up with the edge you want to square to.  Then butt the rail you will cut with square to the end of the first rail.  Drop in a framing square to check it and cut.

Easy & Fast.  Smart?

This method really looks to be error prone to me.  A speed square would be much easier and faster to align with the edge of your workpiece.

 

[Wonderwino]

That would depend on the speed square.  Also, just one little chip in the overhanging side of the square will throw it off.  Aligning the spine of a rail with the edge of the board is quite easy with fingertip gauging.  The framing square must be accurate and clean and gives a generally larger squaring length.

I have used my high quality Woodpeckers square on shorter pieces, but for longer boards or sheets, I prefer the two rail method.  [smile]

 

[Carol M]

. . .  a short rail with a 90 would be huge  . . .

This thing has reminded me of my mat cutter ever since I first saw it. I am going to try using the FS 75 with the mat cutter, which HAS a squaring guide.

http://www.logangraphic.com/i/pb-simplexplus.jpg