Guide rail holder...

Lou Miller

Member
Joined
Jan 22, 2007
Messages
480
Since I primarily use my Festools on jobsites, I needed something that I could put all of my rails in and transport them safely in my truck. The bag that Festool sells just isn't good enough for me, as they'll eventually get nicked up by other things slamming into them while in the back of the truck. Besides, I'm cheap.

So I decided to throw something together today that will work. What I came up with isn't pretty, and the workmanship is pretty lousy. However, the basic idea works, and I'll probably remake it down the road a bit. It took me all of 20 minutes to put this thing together and a 1/2 sheet of 12mm baltic birch. It'll hold 3-55" rails, 2-42" rails, and 1-32" rail. I still have to make a lid for it, but I'll get to that tomorrow sometime.

What I did was make it long enough to hold 55" rails. Then I simply added blocks to the bottom to take up the extra space that shorter rails would leave. That way all the rails are even at the top. In the process of making this, I thought of several different ways to make it better than what it is, but I'll leave it alone for now. 

Anyway:





 
Thanks Lou!!

Great Post!! 

I've been meaning to do the same type of thing...  Simple & bullet proof.  I like your idea of "plugs" for the shorter rails.

jim
 
Lou,

Nice. What tools did you use to mill the dadoes? Festool or Tablesaw? Will you use this when the rails are stored in the shop?
 
Les Spencer said:
Lou,

Nice. What tools did you use to mill the dadoes? Festool or Tablesaw? Will you use this when the rails are stored in the shop?

I milled everything in my shop on the TS with a stacked dado. Very rarely do I use my Festool gear in the shop (other than the sanders that is). I'm much more comfortable using the stationary machines. My Festool gear is mostly for onsite stuff.

I'll probably keep the rails in the container all the time. I used to keep them in the cardboard containers that they were shipped in, but they're getting pretty ratty looking now. While I'll use it in the shop too, the new container is nice for me because of the way it fits in my truck. I drive a full size pickup with an extended cab. The container fits very nicely in the back seat with all of my other tools. When onsite, I doubt I'll even take it out of the truck much. Just open the back door and slide out whatever rails I want, and leave the container in there.

BTW- I didn't get around to making the lid today. Felt it was more important to sit around, drink beer and eat steak (24 oz. ribeyes cooked on the grill, mmmm) today :) I'll get to the lid soon enough.
 
Back
Top