Feedback on Parallel Guides

[ThisVeteranVlog]

Greets FOGr's,

I have a few question for those of you who currently, or have, owned ANY parallel guides. I have the Festool parallel guides and extensions and love them. My current tool and transportation conditions makes having them a must (no truck or table saw at the moment).

I'm wondering for those that had them and sold them: Why did you buy them in the first place and why did you sell them?

Those that still have them: How often do you use them and why do you still use them?

I appreciate the feedback!

Cheers,

Ben

 

[vkumar]

I have had the systems from Festool, Woodpecker, TSO.
I liked the Festool for their ability to accommodate all rip widths. But the ease of putting on the extensions for narrower rips is a bit clunky with the massive overhanging arch.
The Woodpecker is fine in principle but set up is a little finicky and time consuming and not too obvious in setups., and I dont think will allow a wide range of rips, because you are limited by the length of the setup pieces. Also the narrow rips are not too obvious, although there must be a way to do them.
The TSO complete system works with (and requires the use of) their rail squares.  I just love their rail squares and since I had them I decided to try their parallel guide system (complete). Although quite expensive, it is easy to setup and with the available tracks in 3 different lengths, can accommodate a rip as much as 50 inches and as little as 20 inches.  Smaller rips can also be done with the rods that come with the kit.  Although narrow rips are best on a table saw.

I ended up selling both the Woodpecker and the Festool since I found the TSO a lot easier to setup and use.

 

[Df1k1]

I have the woodpeckers. I find it easiest to calibrate them and leave them attached. I then use the sustainer for the rest of the pieces. They’re OK but I find them a little finicky. tempted to sell them to try the TSO parallel guide since I already have the guide rail square but I’m not sure I can justify the hit in price I would have to take. All in all they work like I said a little finicky though

 

[ScotF]

I have the Festool version and the TSO. The TSO is the best of the two for sure and super accurate. The Festool work fine, just not as elegant. Once dialed in they are all accurate.

 

[Stan Tillinghast]

I bought the Woodpeckers probably cause they’re so dang purty, but having everything fit in a systainer, although neat in principal, is finicky, especially for me as I don’t do job site work. I’ll try them some more but if too fussy will sell and get the TSO parallel guide system.

I even bought the hex head screws to replace the Phillips for the attachments to the rail,  as recommended here on FOG.

 

[ThisVeteranVlog]

I have had the systems from Festool, Woodpecker, TSO.
I liked the Festool for their ability to accommodate all rip widths. But the ease of putting on the extensions for narrower rips is a bit clunky with the massive overhanging arch.
The Woodpecker is fine in principle but set up is a little finicky and time consuming and not too obvious in setups., and I dont think will allow a wide range of rips, because you are limited by the length of the setup pieces. Also the narrow rips are not too obvious, although there must be a way to do them.
The TSO complete system works with (and requires the use of) their rail squares.  I just love their rail squares and since I had them I decided to try their parallel guide system (complete). Although quite expensive, it is easy to setup and with the available tracks in 3 different lengths, can accommodate a rip as much as 50 inches and as little as 20 inches.  Smaller rips can also be done with the rods that come with the kit.  Although narrow rips are best on a table saw.

I ended up selling both the Woodpecker and the Festool since I found the TSO a lot easier to setup and use.

Thanks for the feedback! Do you find yourself still using them despite having a table saw? I'm currently working on a YouTube video on parallel guides, its not a how to but hey if you are this type of person - then you should or should not buy them. I have my reasons for owning them, and wanted to see where there are similarities and differences between owners.

 

[ThisVeteranVlog]

I have the woodpeckers. I find it easiest to calibrate them and leave them attached. I then use the Systainer for the rest of the pieces. They’re OK but I find them a little finicky. tempted to sell them to try the TSO parallel guide since I already have the guide rail square but I’m not sure I can justify the hit in price I would have to take. All in all they work like I said a little finicky though

Appreciate the feedback. What's your reason/s for owning them and using them versus just having a table saw?

 

[ThisVeteranVlog]

I have the Festool version and the TSO. The TSO is the best of the two for sure and super accurate. The Festool work fine, just not as elegant. Once dialed in they are all accurate.

Appreciate the feedback, Scot. If you had to make a recommendation to a friend, what would you tell them? What type of tool/workshop circumstance would they need to be in to give a "yes, buy these" or "no, I don't think you need them"?

 

[ThisVeteranVlog]

I bought the Woodpeckers probably cause they’re so dang purty, but having everything fit in a systainer, although neat in principal, is finicky, especially for me as I don’t do job site work. I’ll try them some more but if too fussy will sell and get the TSO parallel guide system.

I even bought the hex head screws to replace the Phillips for the attachments to the rail,  as recommended here on FOG.

Thanks for the opine, Stan. Why did you buy parallel guides, in general, to begin with? Do you own a table saw? Why the guides if you already have a table saw?

 

[ScotF]

I have the Festool version and the TSO. The TSO is the best of the two for sure and super accurate. The Festool work fine, just not as elegant. Once dialed in they are all accurate.

Appreciate the feedback, Scot. If you had to make a recommendation to a friend, what would you tell them? What type of tool/workshop circumstance would they need to be in to give a "yes, buy these" or "no, I don't think you need them"?

If just starting, without a doubt the TSO - MUCH better execution and design and the squares are a must-have accessory. If cost is an issue, then the Festool version is fine - just not as refined and you do not get the benefit of the rail square for accurate 90 degree cuts.

 

[rmhinden]

[member=73012]BenMarshallDesigns[/member]    Just in case you want another view.

I first got the Precision Dogs Precision Parallel Guides.  Like the Seneca (and some others?), they are based on the Incra T-Track.  They work fine once set up and give repeatable results.  Because they use the T-Track, it's easy to get longer or shorter tracks and you can change from Imperial to Metric tapes easily.  They were less expensive than the Seneca by a little, and a lot less than the Woodpecker.  Seems to me like the Precision Dogs, Seneca, and Woodpecker all do the same thing, slightly different implementation but functionally the same.

I never really consider the Festool version, seemed complicated and expensive. 

Because I already had the TSO GRS-16, I got their Parallel Guide Rail system (Right hand set) when it first came out.  I find that easier to use and compliments their Guide Rail Square quite nicely.  Especially if one is already using the Guide Rail Square to make 90 degree cuts.  At some point, I might add the rest of their set (PE and Right Hand set) if I am cutting a lot of plywood.

Hope this is helpful.

Bob

 

[ThisVeteranVlog]

[member=66813]rmhinden[/member], I appreciate the input!

What were the circumstances that led you to picking up some parallel guides? Were you hitting some limitations in your work flow or just because?

 

[ThisVeteranVlog]

[member=6605]ScotF[/member]

In general though and in your opinion, why would someone need to pick up any set of parallel guides? A track saw, guide rail and table saw can get you a long ways - so why the parallel guides?

 

[rmhinden]

[member=66813]rmhinden[/member], I appreciate the input!

What were the circumstances that led you to picking up some parallel guides? Were you hitting some limitations in your work flow or just because?

I got the first set to make repeatable parallel cuts, better than I could do by measuring and marking the plywood.  It's also quicker once it's set up to make the cuts.

Bob

 

[ScotF]

[member=6605]ScotF[/member]

In general though and in your opinion, why would someone need to pick up any set of parallel guides? A track saw, guide rail and table saw can get you a long ways - so why the parallel guides?

For repeatable rips, of course! In all seriousness, ripping big sheets of plywood on a table saw is not the easiest and parallel guides is much faster and safer, in my opinion. Yes, you can mark each cut and line up the track, but you will likely get some slight variances in each rip. If you are making casework, these small variances can add up. It is much more accurate to use guides to ensure each part is exactly the same. Narrow rips are where a table saw excels. Wider pieces are where a track saw excels.

 

[vkumar]

A + 2 to what [member=6605]ScotF[/member] and [member=66813]rmhinden[/member] said.

 

[rst]

I have used Seneca's since they were released and they work great.  I actually have two sets, one with 28" and one with 52" Incra rules.  I also have the Festool's.  Recently I needed to cut 85 pieces 6" by various lengths up to 85".  The Festools made this a breeze attached to my 118" rail.  The Seneca's are more useful for larger pieces.  I am often making pieces in large quantities, hence the various setups.

 

[ThisVeteranVlog]

[member=25351]rst[/member], wow that's a lot of ripping!!! What kind of work/project were you doing to use that many rips??

 

[rst]

6" x various lengths of 3/16" acrylic for consruction reception area job and employee displays.

 

[pettyconstruction]

I have the Woodpecker version, and as stated, are finicky.
The reason I got them was twofold, one
They were being fazed out by Wp
2: I bought them used on the Fog ( good price)

Any repeat cut that is made is more accurate with some sort of jig, removing a tape measure and pencil.

I have a table saw, track saw, and hand saws.lol.

If I where to do it now, I would get the TSO version, as I have a rail square already .
The WP systainer is nice but TSO has one also.

Btw. The tape measure and pencil are never going to give the results of a jig,
Be it a pattern bit on a router or a table saw. It introduces a Chance of error that doesn’t exist with a pattern.  The pattern has to be made well though.

Cheers, Charlie

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