Discontinue the 1400mm guide rail

[Gary in Texas]

Any chance anybody has looked into making a jig, or coordinating with a machine shop, to have/make the unholey rails made holey?

I tried praying over my FS1400/2 and threw some holy water on it, didn't work.  YMMV.     

 

[abgoto]

Since the 1400mm guide rail (491498) is the same price as 1400mm LR32 guide rail (496939), eliminate the former and include the later with the TS55.

Both 1400 guide rails may be the same price in the US, but it's the only place that happens. Over here in Europe, the holey rails are roughly 25% more than the regular ones.

That price discrepancy between Europe, Australia and the US is interesting.  Either we're getting a bargain, or Festool is testing a pricing policy that might be rolled out to other countries in the future.  I think including the holey rail with the TS55, even if that meant raising the price of the saw by $25-30 would introduce more people to that system, and would probably lead to more sales of the LR32 set and possibly routers as well.

Sell one of your non-holey FS1400/2 rails to help offset the cost of the holey rail.

You are absolutely right and that is most likely what I will do.  It would be nice if instead, before even knowing about the LR32 system, I already owned two LR32 rails.

So sell both of your standard rails and get two "holy" rails.  End of problem!!!

I understand I can sell my rails and purchase new ones.  I'm offering a suggestion that at least in the US, makes sense for both the company and the customer.  It's not going to help me, but it would help future buyers of the TS55.

Best prices I can find for the rails are £48 for the standard and £74 for the holy rails, makes it an additional circa 50% difference.

What are the benefits of the Holy rail for use with the TS-55 or other tracksaws? I could see the benefit to Festool to encourage others to buy their routers, but had I only a tracksaw I cannot see what benefit the holy rail would bring to me?

My original point was from the perspective of a North American customer.  Our pricing is different than yours, but I'll play.  List price differential between the two rails in the UK is 25%.  On Amazon UK, the standard rail is 59 GBP, the LR32 rail is 73 GBP, the difference is 14, the percentage difference is 24%.  On the Axminster site, the TS55 without a rail is 319, with a rail is 340.  If the TS55 with the LR32 rail could be purchased for 14 GBP more (354), you would still be money ahead over buying the TS55, then buying the LR32 rail (392).  I mentioned I would be willing to pay $25-30 more to get the LR32 rail.  14 GBP = 21 USD.  The percentage increase is 14/340 = 4.1%.  I'm assuming that Festool's COGS is higher on the LR32 rail than on a standard rail.

To answer your specific question, if you have the will power after using the tracksaw to not purchase any other tools from Festool, there is no advantage to the LR32 rail.  In the UK, you have the option to buy the saw with or without a standard 1400mm rail.  In your case, the choice would be obvious, as it is only 20 GBP more to get the saw with the standard rail.  Maybe the ideal pricing strategy would be:
1.  TS 55 without a rail
2.  TS 55 with a standard rail for 20 GBP more than option 1.
3.  TS 55 with a LR32 rail for 34 GBP more than option 1.

 

[Sparktrician]

Any chance anybody has looked into making a jig, or coordinating with a machine shop, to have/make the unholey rails made holey?

I tried praying over my FS1400/2 and threw some holy water on it, didn't work.  YMMV.     

You've got to promise to save the holes.  Contact the "Save The Holes Foundation" for more info... 

[big grin]

 

[Ed Bray]

My original point was from the perspective of a North American customer.  Our pricing is different than yours, but I'll play.  List price differential between the two rails in the UK is 25%.  On Amazon UK, the standard rail is 59 GBP, the LR32 rail is 73 GBP, the difference is 14, the percentage difference is 24%.  On the Axminster site, the TS55 without a rail is 319, with a rail is 340.  If the TS55 with the LR32 rail could be purchased for 14 GBP more (354), you would still be money ahead over buying the TS55, then buying the LR32 rail (392).  I mentioned I would be willing to pay $25-30 more to get the LR32 rail.  14 GBP = 21 USD.  The percentage increase is 14/340 = 4.1%.  I'm assuming that Festool's COGS is higher on the LR32 rail than on a standard rail.

To answer your specific question, if you have the will power after using the tracksaw to not purchase any other tools from Festool, there is no advantage to the LR32 rail.  In the UK, you have the option to buy the saw with or without a standard 1400mm rail.  In your case, the choice would be obvious, as it is only 20 GBP more to get the saw with the standard rail.  Maybe the ideal pricing strategy would be:
1.  TS 55 without a rail
2.  TS 55 with a standard rail for 20 GBP more than option 1.
3.  TS 55 with a LR32 rail for 34 GBP more than option 1.

I'm sorry but that is just incorrect. The situation is that in the UK the cheapest place to get an lr32 rail is £25 more expensive than the cheapest standard rail at £48, this is more than 50% difference. List prices do not really matter as no one sells them at those prices in the UK (or if they do, not in any quantity), and in the UK(EU) companies are not allowed to fix prices and insist on selling at only the list price.

I have also yet to hear of any Festool Dealer in the UK who are prepared to swap a standard rail for a holy rail even if paying the difference so the point is pretty much moot anyway.

 

[travisj]

I realize this is a cold topic, but my gateway to Festool was/is a TS55 (I am picking it up Monday).  my dealer (Betterley) told me to check out FOG prior to my purchase to make sure I was getting all the information I wanted.  He also told me that he would substitute my rail of choice with the saw charging me the price difference.  Luckily for me I found threads like this and ordered the holey rail with the saw.

 

[plgard]

is there a reason holes couldn't be put in all the guide rails?  fewer parts to stock, everyone that gets a tool with a guide is a little closer to using the LR32 system...

I've used my LR32 with my 55 and 300, don't remember the holes getting in the way.