Guide Rails

[jonathanBRG]

  I need to finally get a guide rail for my TS55 saw.  I hate to think of toting a 110" precision rail around from site to site....I also hate to think of the imprecise nature of joining two 55" guide rails together and hoping for dead straight results.  Does anyone have experience with either of these options.  I would love to get the two 55's.  Can I expect perfect cuts off the joined rails?  Thanks.

 

[Notorious T.O.D.]

Perfect is a quite relative term...but I am quite satisified with the results I get from carefully joined rails.  Having to break them down and put together may be more of a hassle than carrying a longer one. Also, depends if you need a breakdown or third rail for shorter cuts at the same time too.

Best,
Todd

 

[Sean7a]

Yes, you certainly can and will get a perfect cut with two joined rails every time.  A great way to ensure the rails are joined dead on is to loosely connect the rails and put a tiny bit of space between the two.  Next, lay the saw, TS55 or 75 across this "gap."  The saw's base plate will act as a bridge and ensure the rails are dead on parallel and inline with each other.  While the saw is bridging this gap just tighten the connectors and voila.

Get your rails ASAP.  Last day for 10% off rails and other TS saws and accessories is today (Saturday the 31st).

 

[Wonderwino]

Properly joining the rails is necessary for making a straight cut.  I like the convenience of the longer rail to save time setting up for a cut.  I used three rails joined together to make multiple 17' long, joint ready cuts, on a bar I built last year.  There is no better way to do that, on site or in a shop.

 

[tjbier]

Yes, you certainly can and will get a perfect cut with two joined rails every time.  A great way to ensure the rails are joined dead on is to loosely connect the rails and put a tiny bit of space between the two.  Next, lay the saw, TS55 or 75 across this "gap."  The saw's base plate will act as a bridge and ensure the rails are dead on parallel and inline with each other.  While the saw is bridging this gap just tighten the connectors and voila.

Good advice.
I have a 55" and a 75", to connect them I use my 6' level and hold it on top of the rail with the connector rod side just hanging off the table so I can tighten the underside screws, then the top screws and go cutting.
I would like a longer rail, but not for on site work. Too many things could happen to a $260 rail that would make me unhappy!

 

[Sean7a]

Yes, you certainly can and will get a perfect cut with two joined rails every time.  A great way to ensure the rails are joined dead on is to loosely connect the rails and put a tiny bit of space between the two.  Next, lay the saw, TS55 or 75 across this "gap."  The saw's base plate will act as a bridge and ensure the rails are dead on parallel and inline with each other.  While the saw is bridging this gap just tighten the connectors and voila.

Good advice.
I have a 55" and a 75", to connect them I use my 6' level and hold it on top of the rail with the connector rod side just hanging off the table so I can tighten the underside screws, then the top screws and go cutting.
I would like a longer rail, but not for on site work. Too many things could happen to a $260 rail that would make me unhappy!

  Hey, you're welcome.  Almost too easy, right?