Guide Rails

[jmbfestool]

Just before I start going on. I have taken some pictures which when I get the time as well as finishing my Carvex review ill load them up.

Now I have owned 2 x 1400 guide rails for a long time now. I cut one of them one into 600 and 800 because I damaged it slightly and bought a new 1400 a while ago. Now the new one comes with the new clear splinter guard and my old ones are black.  I noticed the Clear is harder and less flexible than the black and l also has a slight rebate for the sticky tape. Also the sticky tape isnt as wide as the old black so less surface area is sticking on the guide rail.   Now I think all this adds to the clear splinter guard coming of easier. I have not used my new clear guide much and already the ends are coming up. I have replaced my old black ones the other day and thats how I figured out the differences between the two. I also noticed on my black 1400 rail its flush on either end but the clear 1400 rails the clear splinter guard is 4mm shorter on both ends why is that?!?  The 600 and 800 which had the black on I replaced with clear and I noticed because of the clear being rebated is stopping the sticky tape coming in contact with the guide as the rebate is slightly more than the thickness of the tape.  The solutions is to have more over hang so the rebate is overhanging the guide but why have they changed it?!?!?  The guide has a lip which is where the splinter guard hits against to locate it evenly across the guide doesnt it?

Has any one noticed that the clear doesnt stick as well as the black. Some might not of even had the black  but I do agree the clear is easier to see your pencil mark and it easier when its casting a shadow. I have had to use some glue to stick my ends back down on my new guide because it got durt under and wouldnt stick back down. I have never had the problem with the black stuff.

 

[woodguy7]

Yup, replaced all my rails with the clear tape & i must say that the ends are coming away.  Like you said, never had this problem with the black tape.

I do like the clear better though.  What did you use to stick them back with ?

Woodguy.

 

[jmbfestool]

Yup, replaced all my rails with the clear tape & i must say that the ends are coming away.  Like you said, never had this problem with the black tape.

I do like the clear better though.  What did you use to stick them back with ?

Woodguy.

I used a small amount of mitre bond on the ends properly not the best glue to use for this but its what was next to the guide rails at the time and I didnt have my spray glue with me. Also I know mitre bond does come of easily enough as long as you haven't put loads on. I just put a small drop just to stop the ends coming up. Its done the trick but I shouldnt have to do that.

Cheers
JMB

 

[joiner1970]

JMB,

The new clear splinter tape is designed to be less sticky apparently, I had a call from Festool a few weeks ago asking me lots of questions about the ts55 and asking for my ideas on how to improve it. When talking about the rails he asked if I liked the new splinter guards. He then said they are designed to be easier to replace with glue that doesn't leave any residue like the old ones did but this seems to make them peel off easier too. I only have an 800 with the new type splinter guard but mine seems fine so far.

Chris

 

[jmbfestool]

JMB,

The new clear splinter tape is designed to be less sticky apparently, I had a call from Festool a few weeks ago asking me lots of questions about the ts55 and asking for my ideas on how to improve it. When talking about the rails he asked if I liked the new splinter guards. He then said they are designed to be easier to replace with glue that doesn't leave any residue like the old ones did but this seems to make them peel off easier too. I only have an 800 with the new type splinter guard but mine seems fine so far.

Chris

I think thats absolutely ridiculous. I used a chisel to remove the thick residue when I removed the black strip and it was really easy. I now have 3 guide rails with the white strip and 1 black still  and all 3 you can see on the ends its not fully down it it wont go down because of the rebate and it isnt sticky enough.

Why have they rebated it?!?!?