Cutting square cabinet parts with the TS55 and guide rail

[TemplatesByNumbers]

I've followed the discussions on subjects like MFT squareness with interest and I'd like to offer a contribution on cutting squarely with the TS55 and guide rail.

It is a method to cut cabinet parts squarely based on geometry. You can see a summary of how it works here ->http://www.templatesbynumbers.com/?q=geometrylayout

I've also applied this squareness method to routing big mortises e.g. router insert plate cutouts. Information and video here ->http://www.templatesbynumbers.com/?q=routerinsertplate

At the heart of the method is geometry (which obviously I haven't invented!) but I've developed the whole system with the TS55+guide rail in mind and the aim of enabling repeatable cabinet work without the need for a tablesaw. To this end the 'cabinet template' calculates all key dimensions for the method and generates a cutting list and cutting plan.

Templates by numbers is a commercial site (hence this message is in the Sales Zone) but I am interested in feedback from the FOG community. If you would like to explore cabinet work with the system and give me feedback, send me a message and I'll set you up with a complimentary Templates by numbers membership.

Cheers
Andrew

 

[Cannuck]

It looks like the new Festool tape measure would compliment your method very well.  With the ability to draw an arc, easily with the tape measure, the process would be faster - no need to create a trammel.

 

[TemplatesByNumbers]

I agree, looks promising...
I'm participating in a demo day next week in High Wycombe, UK and Festool will be there too. With a bit of luck they'll have the new tape measure with them so I can try it out and get some pictures.

 

[Dave Ronyak]

The methods illustrated in the video make sense for pros who are planning to make multiple copies of components and boxes using the various templates they construct.  I am a hobbyist/DIYer and thus few if any of my projects involve multiple units of the same design and sizes of components.  Thus, the method illustrated in the video is not of much interest to me because it is far too laborious, especially making a scribing storystick for each rectangular component to be cut.  What is needed is an adjustable storystick to use in laying out (scribing the intersecting arcs defining the corners of each rectangular component to be cut or routed) to make this geometrical method more efficient.  For small components, this might be achieved using Woodpeckers' metal storystick.  Seehttp://www.woodpeck.com/storystick.html.  To apply the "cabinets by the numbers" approach the Woodpeckers storystick could/would be modified to hold a mechanical lead pencil at various chosen preset distances along the storystick and all at an equal distance from the storystick (so all the pencil insertion points would themselves define a straight line).  A longer piece of T-track or other aluminum extrusion such as the long MFS extrusions could be used for the adjustable storystick. 

The idea of using a Festool tape measure which has a pencil hole and an indexing pin sounds reasonable, too.  Has anyone confirmed that it is sufficiently accurate and repeatable for this "cabinets by the numbers" approach to layout?

Update Dec. 20, 2008.  I emailed the head of Woodpeckers and he wrote back indicating he is considering making a longer story stick.  I suggested he consider a model with telescoping sections so it could have a decent size range and yet be compactly stored.

An old camera tripod can be a source of quickly adjustable length legs to which a marking device or even a router could be attached for scribing of cuttings arcs.  The legs on my ~35 year old 35mm camera tripod has a very effective camlock lever mechanism which secures the sections of the legs at any point along the length without any slippage.  These might also be used to create an adjustable story stick, except that I still frequently use that old tripod as a camera tripod!

Dave R.

 

[TemplatesByNumbers]

The Festool tape seems to be a rare thing in the UK so I haven't been able to get my hands on one from the Festool guys I meet at Demo days.
My gut feel is that if it can be used to scribe arcs with less than +/- 1mm error, you'll find it hard to measure any deviation from 90 degrees in a cabinet 600mm high.

I do find people are put off by the need to make a trammel but even for one off projects I believe it's worth it. Aligning the MFT to the trammel marks is easy because you can move each end independently whereas with a square you need to pressure the MFT against the square whilst aligning the workpiece. Also with a trammel you have a ready made reference to constantly check your work (see a cabinet build athttp://www.templatesbynumbers.com/?q=makingcabinet). And at the end of the project you can keep the trammel (which is only a straight piece of wood with screws in it) as a record should you ever want to make that size cabinet again.

One final point, I find a lot of DIY users don't get as much time in the workshop as they would like what with family and day job commitments. For them measuring out a trammel is a task they can do around other commitments (maybe even do it at the kitchen table while chatting to the kids?). Then when they do get into the workshop eventually, the trammel will speed up and reduce chances of mistakes with marking out and cutting up the sheet material.

With regards to calculating the diagonal measurement for this technique you might be interested in this calculator that I'm currently developing:
http://www.templatesbynumbers.com/?q=ambicalc
Select 'QuickCab' and you can get all the necessary measurements to use this technique to build a cabinet. Press the 'inches' button first of all to do all measurements in inches.

Andrew

 

[TemplatesByNumbers]

I've got my hands on a tape measure with arc drawing capability thanks to the kind folks at BMI in Germany.[attachthumb=#]

I used the marking out method to cut back pieces for a set of wardrobes. The idea was to cut the backs to size as soon as they came off the delivery lorry, avoiding the need to bring them to the workshop.

The backs are for big wardrobes with sizes up to 2204mm by 854mm needed so it was a good test.

The results were good - seehttp://www.templatesbynumbers.com/?q=viso for the photo story.

Some observations:
- For large pieces it helps to have a second pair of hands to keep the tape from bending when scribing the arcs.
- Make a test scribe to see how well your pencil works with the tape measure. Depending on how you hold the pencil you could be 1mm off.

If anyone is interested in the wardrobe build, a starting page is herehttp://www.templatesbynumbers.com/?q=builtinwardrobe. The rest of the wardrobe parts are being CNC routed so I'll update the page when the parts are delivered.

Andrew