Festool FS PA parallel guide - NEW!!!

[Frank Pellow]

...

I was beginning to think that the engineers at FESTOOL had never heard of a table saw or a panel saw so they didn't really understand what we were ultimately looking for.  Either that or FESTOOL secretly is a table saw or panel saw manufacturer and doesn't want to cut into it's own business.

...

There is nothing secret about the fact that Festool manufactures such a saw.  (see:http://www.festool.net/mediandoweb/...&ID_O_TREE_GROUP=1770&PARENT=1763&AKTIVPROD=1)  They just don't sell it in the USA or Canada.

 

[fshanno]

There is nothing secret about the fact that Festool manufactures such a saw.  (see:http://www.festool.net/mediandoweb/...&ID_O_TREE_GROUP=1770&PARENT=1763&AKTIVPROD=1)  They just don't sell it in the USA or Canada.

EXACTLY!  See what I mean?  I don't think the engineers at FESTOOL, brilliant as they are, have ever seen a table saw.

But anyway, don't you think this is a big deal?  Cool aluminum extrusions with green knobs, portable, safe, accurate and replaces most of the functionality of a table saw or panel saw?  This is like finishing the job they started with the first Festo saws and guides.

I'd like to think of my TS55 as an upside down sliding table saw.  The guide is a part of the sliding equipment but only part.  I need the geniuses at FESTOOL to finish my sliding table saw.  And I can disassemble my slider and put it in the pack of the pickup in a couple of minutes.

We've all come up with our own gizmos that try to do this.  Some of us have cobbled together elaborate cutting tables.  Some have gone small and fabricated elegant little creations out of bits of wood and aluminum and plastic.  Most of the TS related posts on this site are about people trying desperately to put into the guide system what should have been there from the start or even before the start.  Is there anything on the market?  Anything at all?  Any after market add-on products?  No?  So we're stuck.  If it's going to happen FESTOOL has to do it.

So I'm still wondering if this new product is a sign that FESTOOL is about to finish the job.  And don't foget FES ol' buddy, narrow rips from narrow stock.

 

[maxtool]

Have you seen Jerry Work's article on how to use the MFS 700 or MFS 400 with an extra extrusion to get square and parallel cuts on the MFT3.
Because I can use this with my router AND with my MFT, I'm considering purchasing a set.
What do you think? Any experience?

Here's the links:
First, right here at:
http://festoolownersgroup.com/index.php?topic=97.0

Then some detailed references at:
http://www.festoolusa.com/Web_files/MFS_Jerry_Work.pdf

http://www.burrellcustomcarpentry.com/subpage53.html

 

[Cannuck]

  Doesn't look like the FS PA handles thin rips from thin stock (such as 1 1/2" rips from 3" stock, i.e. the holy grail of guided saws)? 

I know we're all speculating here, until we actually have one of these guides in hand.  It does look to me however, that the guide will handle narrow rips quite well.  It looks as though the depth stops are as narrow as the extrusions for the parallel guides.  If the depth stops slide the whole length of the parallel guide, then they can be set underneath the guide rail as well - accommodating narrow rips. 

The extensions that extend past the cut line of the guide rail, also could be used to keep the guide parallel, for really narrow cuts.  You're reversing the thinking of the setup in that case.

The limitation of the system would appear to me, to be only the thickness of the material that it will work with.  If for instance, the parallel guides are 5/8" thick, then you couldn't use material thinner than that ( at least not easily).

 

[jakiiski]

They're not even available in Finland yet (just called the main distributor in Helsinki), trying to get them to get a pair and bring them to the woodworking convention in Lahti 17-18.10.  :

Woodworking show went, visited the Festool importer and no, they did not get the damn thing there! Seems they're not really available yet...  ??? Anyone been able to see/buy one yet?

 

[bill-e]

I wonder if we will get this in the US.  Will it need UL approval.  Bob or any other dealers care to comment? ;D

Gene,

This is the first I am seeing of it and it would fill a gap in the system quite wel. I will inquire tomorrow.

Bob

Bob, any update?

 

[Bob Marino]

I wonder if we will get this in the US.  Will it need UL approval.  Bob or any other dealers care to comment? ;D

Gene,

This is the first I am seeing of it and it would fill a gap in the system quite wel. I will inquire tomorrow.

Bob

Bob, any update?

I haven't heard anything yet, but will check it out.

Bob

 

[Bob Marino]

Looks to be about the beginning of next year, nothing precise on the date or price yet.

Bob

 

[jakiiski]

The originator of this post chain already got his, review also coming - in this topic

It seems to have adjustable squareness via the two adjustable bolts, so reaching perfect 90 degree angle should be doable with that device, excellent!

 

[Les]

Will be interesting to hear how it fits in the guide rail. One of the problems with the rail connectors is they are too loose.

 

[Dave Ronyak]

What I can't understand is why some company like Incra or Rockler hasn't already addressed this concept with after market stuff that works with FESTOOL guides.  Would that be some sort of patent infringement?

Or Woodpeckers (or Woodcraft / Pinnacle brand).  Woodpeckers already makes a range of precision layout tools machined from aluminum.  Seehttp://www.woodpeck.com/.

I made a pair of extended range "side stops" using Festool components corresponding to those used in their Side Stops supplied with th Hole Drilling set to grip the rib on the Guide Rail.  I used dowel rods and made my own adjustable end stop blocks from hardwood.  They enable me to make repeated rip cuts up to a width greater than 3 ft.  They work basically the same as those designed by Jerry Work that utilize MFS sections and custom shop made HDPE blocks to connect to the Guide Rail and as adjustable stops.  They have to be set on the rail, and then the combination set on the workpiece to set up for a rip cut, then the stops must be removed to enable the saw to engage and follow the rib on the Guide Rail.  It takes much less time to do than for me to type this short paragraph.  If you own a pair of Side Stops, you can use those parts; the only downside is you'll have to recalibrate the Side Stops before you use them again for the Hole Drilling jig for Euro hinge and other 32mm hardware installations.  Again, recalibration does not take a lot of time.

Dave R.