How are you guys storing your long rails?

[Badhomeowner]

I recently got a 118'" from FedEx freight and I'm actually afraid to take it out the plywood box. I think I underestimated the sheer length of this thing. How are you guys storing your long rails?

 

[squall_line]

[welcome] to the FOG!

This has been re-hashed a number of times, so others may chime in, but here are the top 4 results from a site search on "Rail Storage":
https://www.festoolownersgroup.com/festool-how-to/long-guiderail-storage-solution-(for-me-at-least)/
https://www.festoolownersgroup.com/festool-jigs-tool-enhancements/guide-rail-storage/
https://www.festoolownersgroup.com/...ling-mounted-boom-arm-and-guide-rail-storage/
https://www.festoolownersgroup.com/...te-rail-storage-for-3000-mm-guide-rail-23439/

 

[Birdhunter]

I hang mine on a nail in the basement.

 

[Peter_C]

To make sure the plastic rail cut strip doesn't get damaged make sure it is stored without any pressure on it.

I store mine upside down, with the plastic strip facing out, hanging under a shelf for now with a simple bracket I made from scrap plywood. 

 

[ear3]

My solution was to build a special long case.  This means I can store the rail when not in use in the loft of my shop, and transport it when I have to do site work.  Case even fits a normal 4 door sedan if you can push down seat between trunk and back.

 

[twistsol]

Mine hang horizontally on slat wall hooks through the holes in each end of the rail. The hooks are stuck to the slat wall with double sided jelly dots so they don't come off when removing the rails from the wall.

They do take up a huge amount of real estate in this configuration so I need to make some sort of bracket so they can lay flat, but other priorities are in the way at the moment.

 

[semenza]

Hi,

  Up to 1900 are hanging vertically.

  3000 is on a shelf just below the top of my cutting table.

  4115 (was 5000) in my lumber rack.

Seth

 

[Vtshopdog]

I just kept mine in the factory masonite box for maybe 6 or 7 years and then last year made a plywood box with Parf Guide dog holes.  The lid and bottom clip together with dominos to align the top surfaces and I installed machine thread T-nuts to bolt them together forming a rigid, flat work surface that I just toss on some sawhorses. It's about 9.5' by 2' when assembled.

Once lid and bottom are bolted together I have a nice 90 degree Parf grid for long rips.  I mount the rail using Parf rail clips and have two kerf channels in the assembled top.  Mostly use it for ripping long dimensional lumber.

I don't have photos of it assembled, but you can get the idea from below views of inside/bottom

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

 

[Crazyraceguy]

My short ones (1080 and 1400) hang vertically on a plywood knee-wall right behind my work space. The longer ones (1900 and 3000) stand vertically on the other end of the same wall. They have a little shelf to keep them off of the floor and a small rotating tab to keep then from falling forward.
But I'm kind of an outlier, working in a huge shop. That section of wall is over 9 feet high and looks comparatively small. I had to extend to top for the brackets holding the Bessey clamps.

 

[RJNeal]

At my shop I hang them on a bracket that I made. Once again having trouble posting pictures. I’ll try to expand. Since I figured that trying  to hang a 10’ rail 12’ off the floor ringing a pin thru small hole would be like a carnival event.
On a 12” by 12” piece of plywood I put a three pieces of 1x3. One one the top edge centered horizontally. Then the other two pieces vertically on a slight angle outward. The space between the later two on the top where it meets the first piece is the width dimension of the track. Next I placed a 1/4” bolt located on a slight angle upward, to receive the hole in the track. I think a put in a insert. The bolt length showing is 1 1/4”. So I slide the rail up and the wood guides it in correct placement of the bolt then I push inward to hang it.
Hope this helps.
Rick.

 

[RMDavis]

I use the garage door method using these hangers from FastCap: FastCap Track-Rack.

Works quite well for me.  Readily available in the shop - unless the door's open  [smile]

 

[squall_line]

At my shop I hang them on a bracket that I made. Once again having trouble posting pictures. I’ll try to expand. Since I figured that trying  to hang a 10’ rail 12’ off the floor ringing a pin thru small hole would be like a carnival event.
On a 12” by 12” piece of plywood I put a three pieces of 1x3. One one the top edge centered horizontally. Then the other two pieces vertically on a slight angle outward. The space between the later two on the top where it meets the first piece is the width dimension of the track. Next I placed a 1/4” bolt located on a slight angle upward, to receive the hole in the track. I think a put in a insert. The bolt length showing is 1 1/4”. So I slide the rail up and the wood guides it in correct placement of the bolt then I push inward to hang it.
Hope this helps.
Rick.

Like this?

[attachimg=1]

 

[RJNeal]

Yes thank you squall-line.
Much appreciate that.
Rick