FS-WA Angle Stop 90° issue

[ThunderBeest]

Hei,

I just got the new FS-WA at home. Decided to buy this one even though I'll be cutting 99% of the time perpendicularly.
The first thing I did was to try the 4 cut test. When arriving at my fifth cut I noticed I had about one cm off (!).
That's when I noticed there is a lot of slack in the presets.

I had to adjust the angle by eye in order to get the lines to kinda line up (the line feels almost a mm wide so it is difficult to aim). After I did this the results are a lot better, but I still feel it's not a 100%. It is also really annoying that I need to perform this test every time I adjusted my angle.

Has anyone else tested the FS-WA? Am I overlooking something?

 

[squall_line]

This is the Festool-branded TSO Guide Rail square sold outside of North America, correct?

 

[Packard]

I have the TSO version, which seems to be the same animal.  It was square out of the box.  I did have a problem setting up the parallel guides, but that really was because of inadequate instructions.

 

[Packard]

I have the TSO version, which seems to be the same animal.  It was square out of the box.  I did have a problem setting up the parallel guides, but that really was because of inadequate instructions.

I read somewhere that it was licensed by TSO to Festool outside the USA. 

I did not have a problem with squareness; everything was tight and aligned right from the get-go.  It really made the track saw a finished product for me.

 

[Coen]

This is the Festool-branded TSO Guide Rail square sold outside of North America, correct?

No he is talking about the new FS-WA #577040, not the FS-WA/90° #205229

 

[Packard]

This item?

 

[Coen]

Yes

 

[Packard]

Then I will follow this thread; I will have nothing to add as I don't have this piece of equipment.

 

[guybo]

Hi, check with a good square ,if out loosen these screws to get 90.guy

 

[ThunderBeest]

This item?

Yes this one! I tried adding some pictures but didn't figure out how..
I'll try adjusting those screws Guybo.

What the issue is now is that it can be 90 degrees, it is just difficult to know if I tightened the angle at the right spot, as there's no hard click in the preset angles, there's still a bit of room for wiggling.

 

[Eggy Toast]

Got my FS-WA Angle Stop today after a pretty long wait from Axminster & i have just tested the accuracy. Happy to say it's spot on right out of the box. The best product of its type on the market today given the price point? VERY happy.

 

[ThunderBeest]

Got my FS-WA Angle Stop today after a pretty long wait from Axminster & i have just tested the accuracy. Happy to say it's spot on right out of the box. The best product of its type on the market today given the price point? VERY happy.

You don't find there is any wiggling room? I feel a have a fraction to move when I'm on 0, which makes it difficult to know where I should lock it.

 

[Eggy Toast]

Just gone & given it a 'wiggle' in 0. There is a very slight movement but fortunately in my case i just let go, tightened up & it was all good. If you squared it up with the allen bolts would they not be the same in your case?

 

[euwood]

Hi!

I was just reading this post. You want to know is your product working like it should?
I hope this helps!

---
DIFFERENT PRODUCT
- Festool, Angle Stop FS-WA/90°, Item number: 205229

SAME PRODUCT
- Festool, Angle Stop FS-WA, Item number: 577040
- Festool, Accessories set SYS3 M 137 FS/2-Set, Item number: 577157 (This package include also: Festool, Angle Stop FS-WA, Item number: 577040)
---

FESTOOL, ANGLE STOP FS-WA
Item number: 577040

For preselected stopping marks (angles) it snaps nicely, with help of some kind of small spring loaded ball*. At this position there is no free movement. Then you can lock the position permanently with twisting the tightening knob (colour: black). Right under the tightening knob and the metal "sled" is also some sort of big rubber washer that helps keeping it in place when it has been tightened.

If you are looking the product straight from the side and look more carefully this ball mechanism. You can see how the ball moves in and out when you are changing the angle. Ball comes out more when there is preselected stopping mark (hole) opposite it. Mechanism also makes snapping sound, when it founds it's place.

If your ball is not moving, and not locking the angle, I think your product is defective and it is not working in the way it has been designed. Maybe the metall casting of the particular part has captured the ball and it is not letting it move at all or well enough?

*It is probably some sort of spring plunger (ball plunger/indexing plunger). Material of the ball seems to be some sort of durable white plastic. Is it adjustable?

---
In this YouTube video you can see the place where the ball is (at 2,20/3,06 min), but unfortunately you can't quite see the indexing ball itself, because the filming angle is not perfect. YouTube: Festool, SYS M 137 FS/2 Set - UNBOXING & REVIEW
---

 

[grim_lokason]

I received mine last week and tested it today.

I have the same issues as the OP, mine is wiggling on 0 and i don't have a correct 90° ( tested with a 30cm starret square ), i hadn't test it yet on other presets

 

[johnyhuh]

If 90° cuts are concerned, how about this one instead?

 

[Crazyraceguy]

If you need the ability to have angle adjustability and have absolutely no slop when it is set, look into the rail square from Woodpeckers. It is a bit spendy, but truly fantastic at the same time. It has definitely been worth it for me. It can be adjusted all the way to 60 degrees too. Its only real limitation is that it only goes in one direction, so you have to be aware and plan accordingly.

 

[Coen]

If 90° cuts are concerned, how about this one instead?

Yeah, that is the TSO GRS-16 PE but license-built by Festool. In Europe the Festool branded version is a lot cheaper.

And it's gold btw. It nicely fits on it's side in T-Loc Systainer, but not in a classic Systainer  [sad]

 

[FestitaMakool]

I have the same issues with mine.
I did tear it slightly apart, and there’s a plastic ball with a slightly weak spring behind. (It’s not possible to demolish it further without really demolishing  [big grin])

However, I think you can fit a steel ball and a stronger spring without too much work. That is if you find a similar diameter ball and spring. Other mod is to make the detents slightly wider/deeper, but that’s a lot more detail work and risky.

For 90° cuts, square the protractor and lock it, and your pretty safe. For standard applications most will leave it there until need for an angled cut with repeatability there too.

Festool could have made it more like the protractors that comes with all the other tools, as the table saws and the MFT/3 kit package..  [huh]

 

[mino]

...
For 90° cuts, square the protractor and lock it, and your pretty safe. For standard applications most will leave it there until need for an angled cut with repeatability there too.
...

THIS!

Mine is the same.
IMO it is the price for an adjustable square - for exact 90% cuts you simply have to calibrate it using a machinist square, then it is fine.
I actually think it is better the 90 degree angle stop is not precise but only approximate. That way no one will get the false impression you can rely -just- on the stop for square cuts. Calibration is a must here and it is so obvious no one shoul miss that.

For pro use, get the FS-WA/90 to go along. But for hobby use it is still much cheaper getting a good machinist square for $30 to go along the FS-WA than getting the FS-WA/90 _and_ the FS-WA. No adjustable square can be as precise as a fixed machined one.

As the proud owner of 2 pieces of FS-WA/90 and one FS-WA. Had I to choose one, I would keep the FS-WA and get a machinist square to go along /if did not have one already/.

If you need the ability to have angle adjustability and have absolutely no slop when it is set, look into the rail square from Woodpeckers. It is a bit spendy, but truly fantastic at the same time. It has definitely been worth it for me. It can be adjusted all the way to 60 degrees too. Its only real limitation is that it only goes in one direction, so you have to be aware and plan accordingly.

Once set, the FS-WA is as precise as the GRS 16.

The "issue" is setting it as the built-in stops are only approximate including the 90 degree one - a necessity of the dual-side design. So one need to use a machinist square for setting up for truly square cuts.