Festool 492636 Parallel Edge Guide With Crappy Fine Adjustment For 1400 Router

[Programmergeek]

I bought a parallel edge guide and first impression was this is nice and heavy however the fine adjustment is horrible.  there is about a 1/8 or more play.  This could of been easy remedied with a tighter tolerance or small spring and washer.  Anyhow it is not up to the accuracy I demand. 1/8 - 1/4" play on a dado is just unaccapital.  Going to just order a micro jig much better piece. 

However I went to bring it back to the store I bought it at Dryers Lumber in Chatham and they will not return it because it is used.  I used it for one cut and it screwed it up a piece I had been working 3 hours on! part doesn't even have a mark on it.  I though Festool had a 30 day return policy.  Is that the tools only and not the accessories?  The retailer will not do anything to help me out either.

 

[copcarcollector]

I though Festool had a 30 day return policy.  Is that the tools only and not the accessories?  The retailer will not do anything to help me out either.

Tools, not accessories have a 30 day return policy. I believe a 'tool' is anything with a power cord or a serial number.

Maybe list it on the classifieds here...?

 

[dltflt]

Have you called Festool service. I have the parallel guides and they work beautifully. No play what so ever. Also look on You Tube for videos on setting it up.

 

[copcarcollector]

Also a good idea... (though I think Don T might be talking about the parallel guides for the track saw...)

toll-free at 888-337-8600 on Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET.

 

[dltflt]

I was sorry. I misread that one.

 

[TylerC]

I agree with [member=18038]copcarcollector[/member]. Call the service department. However, they'll be closing today at 5:00 pm EST for the weekend/Christmas and will reopen on December 27.

The parallel guides are very precise but can be a bit tricky to get right the first time. The service team should be able to help you out.

 

[Programmergeek]

Tried to call no answer. I just went off the number on there web site which is the distributor just also sent them a email.  I have a ton of festool stuff never tried to return anything but this is really just for rough work not precision

I agree with [member=18038]copcarcollector[/member]. Call the service department. However, they'll be closing today at 5:00 pm EST for the weekend/Christmas and will reopen on December 27.

The parallel guides are very precise but can be a bit tricky to get right the first time. The service team should be able to help you out.

.  Unfortunately I was not just routing a edge I was making dados this is not useful for that. 

 

[Frank-Jan]

I don't like the play in the fine adjustment wheels either, but I don't see how they would cause play in your groove.
The fine adjustment is only used to move the fence, then you have to tighten it down before routing (turn the big knob).

 

[TomE]

The edge guide came as part of my OF1400 kit, not as a separate accessory so I'm guessing you made it a separate purchase.

I use the 'fine' adjustment to hit the bit edge on the layout line, turn the locking knob and plow the cut.

If I need to tweak the width of the dado a tad, I turn the fine adjuster in or out (depending on which way the adjustment needs to go) enough to snug before loosening the lock knob... this eliminates any directional play, slightly loosen the locking knob and turn the fine adjuster in the same direction to tune-in the cut.

One can also use the indexing marks on the body of the guide along with the numbers on the adjuster to visually set the guide. Making sure that the adjuster is in the same 'slop stop position' lock it down again and go to work

Adding a smidge of lubricant to the 'spool' and threads of the adjuster makes for slightly better feel when turning it too.

This method works for me as I doubt that I'll ever need any more precision than what is offered by the Festool guide.

 

[ear3]

When you say "play" do you mean that there is backlash in the wheel, like on a handplane?

I bought a parallel edge guide and first impression was this is nice and heavy however the fine adjustment is horrible.  there is about a 1/8 or more play.  This could of been easy remedied with a tighter tolerance or small spring and washer.  Anyhow it is not up to the accuracy I demand. 1/8 - 1/4" play on a dado is just unaccapital.  Going to just order a micro jig much better piece. 

However I went to bring it back to the store I bought it at Dryers Lumber in Chatham and they will not return it because it is used.  I used it for one cut and it screwed it up a piece I had been working 3 hours on! part doesn't even have a mark on it.  I though Festool had a 30 day return policy.  Is that the tools only and not the accessories?  The retailer will not do anything to help me out either.

 

[Programmergeek]

Sorry I was not clear.  Yes if you dial it in one direction and lock it you are good now it is is tight moving in lets say you can use the numbers and add a little more.  That works fine as long as it is in the same direction and you are concince of how much it moves and you lock it down.  But your doing a dado and now you want to cut a bit closer to you that is where the problem arises.  If you loosen the lock nut the guide moves almost 1/4" back and forth on there so called fine adjustment knob because of the play.  The guide is useful but for 90 dollars and saying it has a fine adjustment knob that knob should make the guide wind up where you put it so if you dial in lets say the number 4 forward or backwards it should move the same amount each way and that does not happen. 

 

[Tayler_mann]

I've probably made 200' of 1/2" and 3/4" dados with my edge guide. Never have had an issue even when using a smaller bit and making multiple passes moving the adjustment wheel and making even more passes. I actually haven't found anything as accurate as this to make dados. Not even an extremely accurate table saw with a Forrest dado stack will get you as precise results.

People just believe that everything should be perfect in their tooling and that it should set aside any skill spent building. Festool tools are the most precise power tools I've ever used however, they are not perfect and that is where the skill of the tradesman comes into play.

 

[TomE]

The guide is useful but for 90 dollars and saying it has a fine adjustment knob that knob should make the guide wind up where you put it so if you dial in lets say the number 4 forward or backwards it should move the same amount each way and that does not happen.

Understood, the slop is there (not a 1/4" on mine) but once I account for that slop knowing that it is there the adjustments are very accurate.

The Micro Fence you mentioned is probably what you want and at $200-$900 depending on which kit is purchased it's probably a good value for what you apparently need.

Now if you can convince Festool into a refund for an accessory item or outright sell it to help offset the cost of the MicroFence... go for it.

 

[Holmz]

The technical term is not "slop", but "lash" and "backlash".

There are a few ways to make a dado, so I am not sure I would buy yet another jig until you've understood the pros and cons of the various methods.

 

[TomE]

Technical terms or not, I'm pretty sure most would know what 'slop' means but thanks for the correction.

 

[peter halle]

I am not an engineer certainly, but when talking about gearing there is normally some backlash / slop /etc.  I am not saying that your accessory is acceptable and believe that you should send it back to Festool for examination and possible replacement.

Peter

 

[Holmz]

Technical terms or not, I'm pretty sure most would know what 'slop' means but thanks for the correction.

I was not trying to be Kurt, but rather reinforcing the idea of taking up the lash... Or always going one way.

That said, if one was mostly doing dados then there are likely better tools for that. But if one already has a router, then a router is the more obvious tool. And routers are all-round handy.

 

[peterboy]

Every machine that uses a screw thread for a means of measurement or movement has backlash and is only accurate after it is taken up, be it a colchester lathe, bridgeport mill or a micrometer that measures to a 1/10 of a thou they are all the same. If there was no backlash the screw wouldn't turn,if you use a spring to take up the slack the cutting tool will no longer be governed by the screw but the spring. Use as intended and all will be well.