Holy Rail Question

[rbenko]

There are two sizes available for the holy rail:

Festool 496939 32mm Hole Drilling 55" Guide Rail  $136
Festool 491622 32mm Hole Drilling 95" Guide Rail  $346

I already own the 55" rail and need a longer one for some pantries I plan to build.  If I buy another 55" rail and connect it to my existing one, I would have 110" and it would cost me just $136.  Why would anyone pay $346 for the 95" rail if they could buy two 55" rails for $272?  Is it just for the convenience of not having to connect two rails together?  Is there a reason for me to consider buying the 95" rail if I already own the 55" one? 

Also, just to clarify, I only intend to use these rails with the LR-32 system.  I have separate long and short rails for use with the tracksaw.

Thanks.

 

[semenza]

Welcome to the forum!  [smile]

I have always thought the 95" was an odd length for drilling holes. I suppose it might fit a 96" tall cabinet or shelf? I guess it depends what type units are being built. Perhaps the length works with the whole 32mm Euro system?

Anyway for hole drilling I guess it would be convenience. I could see situations where 110" would be too long to fit such as drilling cabinets after assembly. And I  think  there are probably some dollars built into the price for shipping cost on all of the longer rails. Just guessing on the latter.

Seth

 

[ben_r_]

I have two 55" holey rails with a Betterley Straightline Connector and IMO thats the better way to go. Your logic is sound.

 

[mikeyr]

I think its because when you put 2 holy rails together the holes at the connect point are 32mm apart.  I watched a youtube video where the guy showed they were off and had to separate the 2 holy rails by a few mm.  That convinced me to buy the longer rail.

 

[SS Teach]

Doesn't Festool have connectors that are specific for holey rail system as opposed to the standard rail?

 

[rbenko]

I think its because when you put 2 holy rails together the holes at the connect point are 32mm apart.  I watched a youtube video where the guy showed they were off and had to separate the 2 holy rails by a few mm.  That convinced me to buy the longer rail.

Thanks Mike.  Since I just plan to use the holy rails with the LR-32 system, this is the type of feedback I was looking for. 

 

[rbenko]

Doesn't Festool have connectors that are specific for holey rail system as opposed to the standard rail?

Product number 496938
Guide Rail Index LA-LR 32 FS, 30.00 USD

"This product is used to produce accurate spacing when joining two LR 32 guide rails. The guide rail connectors (482107) are required and must be purchased separately."

 

[paulc75]

I just use a Blum hinge base plate with 5mm machine screws to set the cored spacing then cinch up the connectors. Works a treat and no loss of accuracy.
Sometimes easier to use what's on hand [big grin]

 

[Bob D.]

Doesn't Festool have connectors that are specific for holey rail system as opposed to the standard rail?

Product number 496938
Guide Rail Index LA-LR 32 FS, 30.00 USD

"This product is used to produce accurate spacing when joining two LR 32 guide rails. The guide rail connectors (482107) are required and must be purchased separately."

So, by the time you add in two guide rail connectors ($18x 2) and this spacer ($30), you are right there at the price of the 95" rail. They're not letting any money get away.

 

[ben_r_]

Doesn't Festool have connectors that are specific for holey rail system as opposed to the standard rail?

Product number 496938
Guide Rail Index LA-LR 32 FS, 30.00 USD

"This product is used to produce accurate spacing when joining two LR 32 guide rails. The guide rail connectors (482107) are required and must be purchased separately."

So, by the time you add in two guide rail connectors ($18x 2) and this spacer ($30), you are right there at the price of the 95" rail. They're not letting any money get away.

Except going with the two 55" rails you get 110" instead of 95" and a MUCH more portable and easier to store solution. And if you were able to swap the 55" rail that came with a TS55 for a holey rails for free like many of us did, then only one 55" holey rail has to be purchased.

 

[Svar]

Doesn't Festool have connectors that are specific for holey rail system as opposed to the standard rail?

Product number 496938
Guide Rail Index LA-LR 32 FS, 30.00 USD
"This product is used to produce accurate spacing when joining two LR 32 guide rails. The guide rail connectors (482107) are required and must be purchased separately."

This $30 accessory can be made in about 30 sec with LR32 that you already have (otherwise why do you need the accessory?). Drill two holes in a scrap of wood, stick two shelf pins in them (which you also already have, otherwise why are you drilling shelf pin holes?).

 

[GarryMartin]

Doesn't Festool have connectors that are specific for holey rail system as opposed to the standard rail?

Product number 496938
Guide Rail Index LA-LR 32 FS, 30.00 USD

"This product is used to produce accurate spacing when joining two LR 32 guide rails. The guide rail connectors (482107) are required and must be purchased separately."

Festool changed the design of the stops a few years ago such that the new ones could be used to space the rails too.

You can see the old stops athttp://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-how-to/festool-lr32-how-to/

The new ones are P/N 496938 but also ship with the newer LR 32 kits. Just be careful you take heed of this information or you could end up with two sets. Don't ask how I know...  [embarassed]

[attachimg=1]

 

[Bob D.]

Doesn't Festool have connectors that are specific for holey rail system as opposed to the standard rail?

Product number 496938
Guide Rail Index LA-LR 32 FS, 30.00 USD

"This product is used to produce accurate spacing when joining two LR 32 guide rails. The guide rail connectors (482107) are required and must be purchased separately."

So, by the time you add in two guide rail connectors ($18x 2) and this spacer ($30), you are right there at the price of the 95" rail. They're not letting any money get away.

Except going with the two 55" rails you get 110" instead of 95" and a MUCH more portable and easier to store solution. And if you were able to swap the 55" rail that came with a TS55 for a holey rails for free like many of us did, then only one 55" holey rail has to be purchased.

Yes, true, you end up with 110" rail. And yes, I did the same and swapped out the stock rail for a holey rail even up AND bought a second holey rail and a pair of connectors so I could put them together. I don't even know why they make the 55" rail without the holes. Why wouldn't you get the holey rail so you could expand into the LR32 system later on if you chose not to at the start. AND, from Festools' point of view aren't you more likely to move into the LR32 system IF you already have the rail? I mean if I had a standard rail and wanted to get the LR32 kit I would need at least the one rail which would add $136 to the overall cost of expanding my Festool collection. However, if I already had the one rail suddenly the cost comparison between the Festool LR32 system and any other jig under consideration got $136 closer and hence I might be inclined to go with the Festool option. So anyone who has a holey rail now feels like they're missing something. For some that will always be in the back of their mind that the system is incomplete and they will be thinking they should buy the rest of the kit.

 

[slalom]

I am glad that I read this thread. I was thinking of purchasing an LR rail to connect to the regular rail that I use for my track saw. My logic was that being Festool they could interconnect and then I could have the LR holes when I needed them and a longer track when I need more than the 1400mm. Darn.

 

[Bob D.]

AFAIK the holey rail and the standard rails will line up and
connect just fine, you'll just have holes in only one of them.

The only thing you will lose if the ability to punch out a long
run of holes beyond the capability of the one holey rail.

 

[jjowen]

[attachimg=1]

 

[Bohdan]

AFAIK the holey rail and the standard rails will line up and
connect just fine, you'll just have holes in only one of them.

The only thing you will lose if the ability to punch out a long
run of holes beyond the capability of the one holey rail.

If you join the holey and plain rail you can punch half the holes, reverse the rails and line up the holes using the stationary router cutter and then punch the rest of the holes.

For how often you need the long rail this might be a solution. In my case I got sick of this and converted all of my rails to holey ones.

http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-tools-accessories/converting-any-standard-rail-to-a-holey-rail/msg415310/#msg415310.

 

[Bob D.]

[attachimg=1]

Nice, I like that.

 

[ChiknNutz]

Question...is the 496938 just a spacer to get the "holey rail" properly spaced and then you still need two of the 482107 connectors?  The description does say you still need the 482107 connectors, so I am assuming the 496938 is just a spacer though its description says it is a "guide rail connector".  I don't have any of the rails yet, looking to buy now, but just trying to figure out what I really need.  I am planning to get the TS75 with two of the holey 55" rails so they can serve multiple purposes.

Doesn't Festool have connectors that are specific for holey rail system as opposed to the standard rail?

Product number 496938
Guide Rail Index LA-LR 32 FS, 30.00 USD

"This product is used to produce accurate spacing when joining two LR 32 guide rails. The guide rail connectors (482107) are required and must be purchased separately."

Festool changed the design of the stops a few years ago such that the new ones could be used to space the rails too.

You can see the old stops athttp://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-how-to/festool-lr32-how-to/

The new ones are P/N 496938 but also ship with the newer LR 32 kits. Just be careful you take heed of this information or you could end up with two sets. Don't ask how I know...  [embarassed]

[attachimg=1]

 

[Dove_Tail]

Another approach to boring holes on tall cabinets is to "cheat".

- Bore your holes on the cabinet side half way using the 55" holey rail
- Move the rail up to the second half of the cabinet side
- Register it using the router bit in the last hole bored while locked into a hole on the rail
- Work your way the rest of the way up

This works fine if you only have a few cabinets to bore.  You have to fuss with non-festool clamps a bit, but it saves buying another rail.