How do you use your TSO GRS-16 PE?

[Bugsysiegals]

As the subject suggests, how do you use your TSO GRS-16 PE?  I'm asking because I'm waiting for the TSO GRS Ultimate to come back in stock and trying to think through how I'd use the GRS-16 PE.

I think I'd primarily use the products to break down sheet goods and consider it could be used in these ways ...

• Square a factory edge, use the GRS to crosscut one edge, and then use the GRS with PG to make a 8' long rip.
• Square a factory edge, use the GRS to crosscut both edges, and then use both GRS-16, GRS-16 PE, and PG's to make a 8' long rip.
• Square a factory edge, use the TPG's and adapters to make rip cut(s), and then use the GRS with PG to make a cross cut(s).

I'm sure there's probably other options too but the last method seems the simplest and most convenient to me.  To elaborate, I'd attach the TPG's with adapters on my FS 3000 which would keep the weight down on an already large rail.  Then I'd attach the GRS to my much shorter and lighter FS 1400 with a single TPG which should be long enough for most if not all crosscuts. 

It seems in this process, I only need a GRS-16?  The only place I can think of where the GRS-16 PE would be needed would be if attaching to the rear of the rail for an MFT/3 or some other bench dog workstation.  This may complicate things so you need both Right and Left Hand PG's and it seems most prefer a solid fence which leads me to my question ... how do you use the GRS-16 PE in your process and has it been used in a way which "saved the day" where the GRS-16 would've been unable or impractical to use? 

 

[nclemmons]

I use mine primarily for sheet good cutdown, squaring a factory edge and then doing rip cuts as you've outlined.  Sometimes I'll cross cut first then rip cut.  Other times the reverse depending on how the sheet is broken down.  If you don't need a full cross-cut, the PE gives you additional flexibility on which side of the piece has a square edge and which direction you want to cut.

Further, in normal table use, there could be times when you want the PE on the front OR the rear. 

I normally use mine on the front edge, but there have been times where I'll slide it to the back of the rail and use a clamp on the front edge under the rail for holding things square.  This lets me more easily slide the wood from left to right for sequential cuts as the back of the rail and the PE is on a table surface rather than hanging off into space.  And it's easier to place the clamp on the front than the back where there is no space under the back of the bench.

Make sense?

In my sheet good cutting, it's often more likely to have a sheet extending over the front than the back of a table, and that's where the rear use plays the biggest advantage with the ability to clamp the front under the sheet with a FT rapid clamp.

 

[rj_mccall]

Another application using the GRS-16 PE is cutting countertops (perhaps you have a rounded nose or working with a “live edge” piece). Your straight edge will be the back of the countertop (unless you had to scribe) and you can cross it to your length by referencing the GRS-16 PE off the back edge of the piece. Granted this is a seldom used feature, but a feature none the less. Hope that helps.

R

 

[Bugsysiegals]

I use mine primarily for sheet good cutdown, squaring a factory edge and then doing rip cuts as you've outlined.  Sometimes I'll cross cut first then rip cut.  Other times the reverse depending on how the sheet is broken down.  If you don't need a full cross-cut, the PE gives you additional flexibility on which side of the piece has a square edge and which direction you want to cut.

Further, in normal table use, there could be times when you want the PE on the front OR the rear. 

I normally use mine on the front edge, but there have been times where I'll slide it to the back of the rail and use a clamp on the front edge under the rail for holding things square.  This lets me more easily slide the wood from left to right for sequential cuts as the back of the rail and the PE is on a table surface rather than hanging off into space.  And it's easier to place the clamp on the front than the back where there is no space under the back of the bench.

Make sense?

In my sheet good cutting, it's often more likely to have a sheet extending over the front than the back of a table, and that's where the rear use plays the biggest advantage with the ability to clamp the front under the sheet with a FT rapid clamp.

I'm not sure what you meant by a "full crosscut" but I understand how having the GRS-16 PE on the rear allows you to clamp from the front so you don't have to walk around ... thanks for sharing this great benefit!

 

[Bugsysiegals]

Another application using the GRS-16 PE is cutting countertops (perhaps you have a rounded nose or working with a “live edge” piece). Your straight edge will be the back of the countertop (unless you had to scribe) and you can cross it to your length by referencing the GRS-16 PE off the back edge of the piece. Granted this is a seldom used feature, but a feature none the less. Hope that helps.

R

Thanks, much appreciated!

 

[Bugsysiegals]

FWIW - I read on another site about cutting countertop and ability to reference off the back edge like mentioned here but also seen them say you want the “keeper” piece of material to be the one your guide rail is over and thus the GRS-16 PE allows you to keep the guide rail over the good piece if you need to cut in reverse because that edge is the one which is squared.