Festool FS-WA/90 vs. TSO GRS-16 (Festool not square)

[mikeyr]

I thought I was being smart and saving money by buying a Festool FS-WA/90 equivalent to the TSO GRS-16, it even has a TSO clasp on it.  Well, I got it after waiting almost 3 weeks and happily (stupidly?) started cutting away without checking for square and everything was off, just a tiny bit on short cuts and more on longer cuts.  The thing was not 90degree square when I had a rail on it.  Off by a tiny amount but when I was cross-cutting a 4x8 sheet, it was almost a 1/8" off (about 3/32") on the other end.  Luckily Amazon let me return it and lesson learned, buy from TSO.

Thing is, I could not figure out where it was off, putting a square on it sure looked good, but attaching a rail that same square would wobble a bit or have a tiny gap at the end which of course got bigger as the distance went on.  I experimented and could not figure out why/where it was not square, it sure looked good when checking it but attach the rail and no go.  Before any one asks, I used several (4 squares) different squares and rails, from short rail to long and even holey rail (3 rails).  Same results across the board.

Anyone ever have the GRS-16 be off ? Based on reviews I just assumed they were good at 90degrees.

  I am going to order one from TSO in the next few days, Amazon should refund my money in the next day or 2 although they say 7 days.  All I am looking for is a way to break down sheet goods at a reliable 90, my TS55 leaves a good enough edge on sheet goods that if I can get a 90 I don't need to pass it on the table saw.  Very disappointed in the Festool version of this but is TSO any better ? the reviews say it is.

 

[mino]

Check this thread:https://www.festoolownersgroup.com/festool-tools-accessories/tso-rail-square-not-square/

The issues you see are 99.99% NOT due to the square being off.

If you are a hobby user and can return it, my advice is you return it and just get the adjustable Festool FS-WA and calibrate it for each use. That way you can get absolutely precise cuts even when you do not hit "just the right" rail as the calibration will take care of any micro errors whereever they be.

If you are a pro, I would start by getting a precise reference engineer's square (aka DIN class 1 or, better, class 0) so you actually have a known-good reference and do not have to "shoot blind" like now.

 

[NiteWalkerGR]

I have the same rail square (the festool branded TSO design) and it's dead on.

 

[afish]

I'm also not a fan but TSO does make some really good stuff.  I have said it before but I have been down this road many times.  For the most accurate cuts a large MFT style bench with a very stout fence with no play and a good quality rail hinge like dashboard (NOT THE FESTOOL ONE) is the best for square cuts every time.  This is overkill depending on what you might be cutting but if cutting up a cabinet job and a sheet of material is easily $100+ its money well spent in the long run. Im also not a fan of dogs for large cutting jobs.  I see dogs more of a in the field system for making one off cuts that offer quick easy to set up cuts for things that might not need the "highest" of accuracy like cutting fillers. Everyone has there own way but I always struggled getting "super accurate" and repeatable cuts until I switched to a fence and hinge combo.  I would rip by material on a 3hp cabinet saw and handle all cross cutting on the 4x8 MFT bench.   

 

[mikeyr]

Well, to close out this thread. I got the TSO one today and it is perfectly square with the same rails that were not square with the festool one. So there must’ve been something wrong with it even though I could not figure out what it was. The TSO one locks up square and it’s a pretty blue

 

[mino]

Well, to close out this thread. I got the TSO one today and it is perfectly square with the same rails that were not square with the festool one. So there must’ve been something wrong with it even though I could not figure out what it was. The TSO one locks up square and it’s a pretty blue

That is very strange. Do ring Festool support, if you did not already.

It is not a tool, so no all-inclusive ... , but this would fall under manuf. defect if it is indeed bad.

 

[mikeyr]

I learned a long time ago, Festool does not care, they want the money.  Although I did return the Festool one so they lost the money on that one.  And just because I know how Festool thinks/works does not mean I don't keep buying Festool, I actually like the tools but when one does not work, I return it without a thought, I have a garage full of Festool so they almost always work.

The TSO one is perfectly square, my fault for trying to save some money, I just assumed that the Festool copy would be as good as the original.

 

[mino]

I learned a long time ago, Festool does not care, they want the money.  Although I did return the Festool one so they lost the money on that one.  And just because I know how Festool thinks/works does not mean I don't keep buying Festool, I actually like the tools but when one does not work, I return it without a thought, I have a garage full of Festool so they almost always work.

The TSO one is perfectly square, my fault for trying to save some money, I just assumed that the Festool copy would be as good as the original.

OK, but that generalization is always bad. Every company is several people. You hit a bad experience or you hit a good one. And most bad experiences come from misunderstandings, not malice. Either side.

FUSA is, sizewise, almost a family business. Good it turned out well, in any case.

 

[squall_line]

It also probably bears mentioning that the only way I know of to get the Festool-branded version of the TSO GRS-16 in the United States is to import it from overseas, because TSO has exclusivity in this market.  So I don't know that FUSA would be much help on an imported item anyway.

 

[mikeyr]

True.  It came from UK, Amazon US sells it