Fumbling with Parallel guides and extensions

kwik

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Joined
Feb 1, 2015
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Anyone just "give up" on the parallel guides and extensions ?  Seemed like a Great idea.  A lot of fumbling when setting them up.  Anyone have a link or tips on set up ?
 
Sorry to hear that you are having issues.  I imagine that we could point you to info that might help if you will let us know more specifically what you are having issues with.

Peter
 
Not issues. Just feels clumsy  I'm sure practice is the answer. Just got started with them. I think I'll try the full sheets on the floor/foam.  Surfed YouTube  some good videos.
 
You are right, they are clumsy,  you need spring clamps or alterations to stop them from flopping around.
 
While it took a few uses to figure out they are quite good. At times they can be awkward, but I am happy with mine. Great for breaking down plywood and outstanding for ripping thin strips. It would be nice if they were wider.
 
I know that there are many whose opinions will differ than mine, but I like the parallel guides.  Once I got them calibrated they stay calibrated unless I do something to my saw such as change the toe of the blade or change the position of the blade closer or further away from the rail.  These are things that rarely happen.

You asked for help with the parallel guides.  First I would personally recommend that you keep the extensions installed at all times.  This helps balance the whole system out.  This was not a tip that was shown early on following the introduction of the parallel guides but rather came later.  It helps.

Also, take your time calibrating it.  There will be a direct relationship to the accuracy of the cut.  Garbage in and garbage out is an old phrase.

The arrows cast in the indexing "feet" might he hard to see in low light.  If you take a drop of a bright paint or even a black magic marker to them then it can help with visibility.  I don't expect any tool manufacturer to make allowances for my shortcomings.

Watch and learn thru watching some videos.  Here is a link to a search on youtube that might be useful:  https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=festool+parallel+guide+system

Hope that this helps.

Peter

 
I find that when I use the Parallel Guides, especially with the extensions, it helps tremendously to do any cutting on my sacrificial cutting table (grid) so the loop on the extensions drops down below the surface of the table.  The one thing I'll do differently the next time I make one of these will be to move the two long stringers out by 6" or so from the centerline to make it easier to manipulate the lucking lever on the Parallel Guides from under the table. 

 

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Like most Festool products there is a learning curve. First it is a production tool, not efficient for a couple of cuts but very efficient if you are doing multiple repeats cuts such are breaking down plywood for cabinets. Two, the extension needs to be install to keep it balances. Three you need a cutting table that permit the parallel guides to hang freely off the end. I find that they work better with the FS3000 when cutting 8' sheets of plywood. Fourth you don't want the parallel guides to be tight against the piece you are cutting they should be a little looses. Small square to held you set the indexing feets.

I also use the edge stops in the LR 32 system for repeat cuts of smaller size. I think the maximum is 43 cm with them. They are my prefer system with I am doing a small number of parallel cuts.

 
Thank you for the input. I went out and messed with the parallel guides again.  I believe I "could" make um work. I do have the long track for the full sheets.  I have looked at all the videos on YouTube.  Great ideas.  However, I'm not crazy about the guides at the end of the track/work piece. It looks like the Incra guides lay on top of your sheet.  I like the look of that.  I won't ever do any production work.  I may be in over my head on these guides and extensions.  I have the mft3/55, love it and all the tracks. I think I'll just sharpen my pencil.  Thanks again
 
I like both the festool and incra parallel guides, but since I already have the festool ones, I can't see investing more money for the inra guides. I modified the stops according to Ron Paulk's suggestion found in the link below at about minute 2:20.  I also saw another modification on FOG somewhere that I also used. I epoxied the tip of a sewing needle to the small arrow groove to make a more defined pointer device. In the attached photo you can see both modifications. Another advantage of Ron Paulk's suggestion is one is able to clamp the parallel guides to the work. In the photo, you can see the scratches to the aluminum tab which were made when clamping the guides to the work piece.

 

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I brought them about a month ago and I have to say im struggling to find a reason to keep them. I find the clumsy and a pain to move from cut to cut.

Calibration was easy and they were pretty much good to go out the box.

I was planning on buying the extensions for small rips but I don't think I will bother.

The weakest Festool product I have brought and I own a few  [wink]
 
Jimmy FineCut said:
I brought them about a month ago and I have to say im struggling to find a reason to keep them.

[eek] Ah come on not another one... it should be BOUGHT not BROUGHT, for example:

The today we BOUGHT a new car, OR, he BROUGHT a bottle of wine to the dinner party.

Simples  [big grin]
 
hopper said:
I modified the stops according to Ron Paulk's suggestion found in the link below at about minute 2:20. 
Thanks, Hopper.  I watched that video before I used the guides the first time and guess I just overlooked or forgot about his modification.  Now it makes a lot of sense, as well as your needle modification, and I will be trying both.
 
Steveo205 said:
Jimmy FineCut said:
I brought them about a month ago and I have to say im struggling to find a reason to keep them.

[eek] Ah come on not another one... its BOUGHT not BROUGHT, for example:

The today we BOUGHT a new car, OR, he BROUGHT a bottle of wine to the dinner party.

Simples  [big grin]

Your sentence is flawed, it's it's, not "its", that's its problem.  [tongue]

No doubt someone will pick up on something I've typed wrong now. Pedantry is a squeaky clean hobby.
 
bnaboatbuilder said:
Your sentence is flawed, it's it's, not "its", that's its problem.  [tongue]

No doubt someone will pick up on something I've typed wrong now. Pedantry is a squeaky clean hobby.

"Your sentence is flawed, it's it's, not "its", that's its problem."

Three run-on sentences can be painful too. :)

I've several hundred semi-colons in the workshop I have no idea what to do with, much like the biscuits I bulk ordered before purchasing a Domino.
 
Wuffles said:
bnaboatbuilder said:
Your sentence is flawed, it's it's, not "its", that's its problem.  [tongue]

No doubt someone will pick up on something I've typed wrong now. Pedantry is a squeaky clean hobby.

"Your sentence is flawed, it's it's, not "its", that's its problem."

Three run-on sentences can be painful too. :)

I've several hundred semi-colons in the workshop I have no idea what to do with, much like the biscuits I bulk ordered before purchasing a Domino.
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/607/04/
 
benwheeler said:
Wuffles said:
bnaboatbuilder said:
Your sentence is flawed, it's it's, not "its", that's its problem.  [tongue]

No doubt someone will pick up on something I've typed wrong now. Pedantry is a squeaky clean hobby.

"Your sentence is flawed, it's it's, not "its", that's its problem."

Three run-on sentences can be painful too. :)

I've several hundred semi-colons in the workshop I have no idea what to do with, much like the biscuits I bulk ordered before purchasing a Domino.
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/607/04/

I thought that was going to be a useful link on what to do with biscuits I no longer need, then I realised you're not playing along with the gag.
 
Wuffles said:
benwheeler said:
Wuffles said:
bnaboatbuilder said:
Your sentence is flawed, it's it's, not "its", that's its problem.  [tongue]

No doubt someone will pick up on something I've typed wrong now. Pedantry is a squeaky clean hobby.

"Your sentence is flawed, it's it's, not "its", that's its problem."

Three run-on sentences can be painful too. :)

I've several hundred semi-colons in the workshop I have no idea what to do with, much like the biscuits I bulk ordered before purchasing a Domino.
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/607/04/

I thought that was going to be a useful link on what to do with biscuits I no longer need, then I realised you're not playing along with the gag.
Sorry about that.. Perhaps if you soften the biscuits up with enough cream they'll become edible?
 
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