How to cut styles and rails out of 7in boards with the parallel guide system?

[Garba]

I am a new Festool user and I need to cut rails and styles out of 7 inch alder boards. I was wondering how most festool users do it? I have the parallel guide system but haven't found an easy way of setting it for these narrow boards. I would really appreciate some help. Thanks.

 

[PeterK]

I would use my table saw! 
We used the parallel guides at the Lebanon class last week - I don't own them. If you have the optional extensions for the guides, you can quite easily do narrower cuts. To do this, the boards are too narrow to support the guide rail so you will need to use some of the extra boards under the rail to give it full support. If you don't have the optional extensions, I don't believe you can make a cut under about 6" width or so. Hopefully one of the experts here will chime in.

 

[Garba]

Thanks for your reply.
I don't have a table saw, but I do have the extensions for the parallel guides, but I am not sure how to set them to cut 2 inch styles out of the 7 inch boards.

 

[clintholeman]

Take a double square or combination square, measure the width of the rails and stiles, put the edge of your square on the splinter guard near the parallel guide rails, bring the stop on the guide rail up to the square, tighten the stop at the desired width, and then lay it down on a table [MFTs are great for this], clamp the parallel guide down so it doesn't move, I use an older sliding clamp to lock the piece in place and cut.

I used to have a jig that I used for ripping the r and s's but the guide rails are even more accurate and way faster.

 

[PeterK]

Brice Burrell has a review that might help you.

http://www.burrellcustomcarpentry.com/gpage2.html

I think Jerry Work has one as well.

 

[Brice Burrell]

Take a double square or combination square, measure the width of the rails and stiles, put the edge of your square on the splinter guard near the parallel guide rails, bring the stop on the guide rail up to the square, tighten the stop at the desired width, and then lay it down on a table [MFTs are great for this], clamp the parallel guide down so it doesn't move, I use an older sliding clamp to lock the piece in place and cut.

I used to have a jig that I used for ripping the r and s's but the guide rails are even more accurate and way faster.

Good explanation Clint. Garba, if that doesn't get you squared away let us know.

Brice Burrell has a review that might help you.

http://www.burrellcustomcarpentry.com/gpage2.html

Yeah, that guy did a heck of a good review. ;D

 

[tjskinny]

Here are a couple of sites that might help:

http://www.woodshopdemos.com/fes-par-1.htm

and

http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-how-to/ripping-long-narrow-rough-stock/

 

[peter halle]

TJ,
[welcome] to the FOG!

Thanks for the links.

 

[harry_]

Take a double square or combination square, measure the width of the rails and stiles, put the edge of your square on the splinter guard near the parallel guide rails, bring the stop on the guide rail up to the square, tighten the stop at the desired width, and then lay it down on a table [MFTs are great for this], clamp the parallel guide down so it doesn't move, I use an older sliding clamp to lock the piece in place and cut.

I used to have a jig that I used for ripping the r and s's but the guide rails are even more accurate and way faster.

Good explanation Clint. Garba, if that doesn't get you squared away let us know.

Brice Burrell has a review that might help you.

http://www.burrellcustomcarpentry.com/gpage2.html

Yeah, that guy did a heck of a good review. ;D

Careful Brice I have seen many an elbow/shoulder get ruined that way  [popcorn]

 

[Brice Burrell]

Careful Brice I have seen many an elbow/shoulder get ruined that way  [popcorn]

;D