Is the 106" guide rail worth getting?

[Sean7a]

Didn't have a chance to rock n roll and read through this entire thread BUT, a great tip only recently brought to my attention...  Purchase a larger rail and cut that rail down to size to ensure that the stock you are using to connect two rails is one in the same.  NOW you are that much closer to a dead nuts on straight rail, rather than combining two random 55" rails.  Create your own size rails from the same piece of stock.

 

[Paul G]

Just to stir the pot, I prefer to use connected rails and have never had any accuracy issues.  I have two 1400's and a 1080.

I used to set them up with a straight edge but invested in the Betterley StraightLine Connector.  Great accessory!

Thanks for the info on Betterley, looked it up and saw the youtube vid. If I was doing much connecting that's the way I'd like to do it. Watching that vid though reinforces my decision to get the long track, I just wouldn't want to hassle with that again and again. Right now I'm using a DIY 9' wood guide for my skill saw, the 118" festool will be a major improvement by all measures., straighter, lighter, more accurate. I'll probably pick up that Betterley in the future for the times I do need to make a connection.

 

[wondersofwood]

Some of the comments have me wondering if I should try to upgrade my 55" to a 75".  I have a TS55R on order for May 1st, with a TS3000 (118") and MFT/3 also ordered.

I have room to store the 3000, so that's not a problem (to use for plywood rips), but I'm now wondering if I'll be more happy with the 75" when making cross cuts on 48" ply, because of the lead in and out space.  My space is small, but I have room for the 75" when cross cutting.

 

[Bob Marino]

Some of the comments have me wondering if I should try to upgrade my 55" to a 75".  I have a TS55R on order for May 1st, with a TS3000 (118") and MFT/3 also ordered.

I have room to store the 3000, so that's not a problem (to use for plywood rips), but I'm now wondering if I'll be more happy with the 75" when making cross cuts on 48" ply, because of the lead in and out space.  My space is small, but I have room for the 75" when cross cutting.

My opinion is you will perfectly fine with the 55" instead of the 75" rail for crosscutting sheetgoods, but that is not the reason I would suggest sticking with the supplied 55" rail. What about cutting 24" or 12" crosscuts? The 75" is way more cumbersome. Now, if you wanted to add a third, shorter rail, that is a different story.

Bob

 

[Paul G]

Didn't have a chance to rock n roll and read through this entire thread BUT, a great tip only recently brought to my attention...  Purchase a larger rail and cut that rail down to size to ensure that the stock you are using to connect two rails is one in the same.  NOW you are that much closer to a dead nuts on straight rail, rather than combining two random 55" rails.  Create your own size rails from the same piece of stock.

I understand the logic in this, makes sense if you must have it smaller for transport and/or storage.

 

[semenza]

Some of the comments have me wondering if I should try to upgrade my 55" to a 75".  I have a TS55R on order for May 1st, with a TS3000 (118") and MFT/3 also ordered.

I have room to store the 3000, so that's not a problem (to use for plywood rips), but I'm now wondering if I'll be more happy with the 75" when making cross cuts on 48" ply, because of the lead in and out space.  My space is small, but I have room for the 75" when cross cutting.

My opinion is you will perfectly fine with the 55" instead of the 75" rail for crosscutting sheetgoods, but that is not the reason I would suggest sticking with the supplied 55" rail. What about cutting 24" or 12" crosscuts? The 75" is way more cumbersome. Now, if you wanted to add a third, shorter rail, that is a different story.

Bob

Yes.

55", 75", 3000" is a really good all around combination of rails.

Seth

 

[Paul G]

Yes.

55", 75", 3000" is a really good all around combination of rails.

Seth

[eek] how much does that one cost?  [wink]

 

[GarryMartin]

The ideal combination for me is the FS 3000/2, the FS 1900/2 and two of the FS 1400/2-LR32 rails along with a pair of rail connectors. This setup excels at breaking down 2440x1220 sheets (including non-parallel cuts) in the workshop, but also provides for relative ease of transport should it be necessary; combining the 1900 and one of the 1400 LR32 rails gives a working length in excess of 3300mm. And of course, the two FS 1400/2-LR32 can be used with the TS55 or the 32mm system individually, or joined together as necessary.

(Oh and the 1080 off the MFT/3 of course...)

P.S. Can't see any reason at all for people to get the FS 1400/2 nowadays when you could have the FS 1400/2-LR32 instead. Very little difference in price but massive uplift in potential functionality.

 

[Bob Marino]

Yes.

55", 75", 3000" is a really good all around combination of rails.

Seth

[eek] how much does that one cost?  [wink]

491498 55" Guide Rail, FS 1400
  $115.00
491503 75" Guide Rail, FS 1900
  $185.00
491937 106" Guide Rail, FS 2700
  $295.00
491501 118" Guide Rail, FS 3000
  $325.00

  Bob

 

[Paul G]

Yes.

55", 75", 3000" is a really good all around combination of rails.

Seth

[eek] how much does that one cost?  [wink]

491498 55" Guide Rail, FS 1400
  $115.00
491503 75" Guide Rail, FS 1900
  $185.00
491937 106" Guide Rail, FS 2700
  $295.00
491501 118" Guide Rail, FS 3000
  $325.00

  Bob

Thanks much, but I was having a little fun with the typo of 3000". Feeble attempt at humor on a Tuesday morning.

 

[tbellemare]

I'm guessing that one,

3000"

, comes on a roll...

Tom

 

[semenza]

Yes.

55", 75", 3000" is a really good all around combination of rails.

Seth

[eek] how much does that one cost?  [wink]

I was wondering. Even after looking again I hadn't noticed.  :  I get all those dual numbers rolling around in my head while I am typing.  [laughing]

The 3000mm is the way to go. I think the 3000" is for trimming board ends on boardwalks.  [big grin]

Seth

 

[Paul G]

Yes.

55", 75", 3000" is a really good all around combination of rails.

Seth

[eek] how much does that one cost?  [wink]

I was wondering. Even after looking again I hadn't noticed.  :   I get all those dual numbers rolling around in my head while I am typing.  [laughing]

The 3000mm is the way to go. I think the 3000" is for trimming board ends on boardwalks.  [big grin]

Seth

LOL, as long as we don't mix them up on our projects. Speaking of numbers, do the guide rails have rulers on them?

 

[deepcreek]

What I'd like to see in person is the 5000mm rail that comes in at 16-feet, 5-inches long!  You have to wonder if anyone has ever bought one.

 

[peter halle]

Seth has one I believe.  He uses it to rip 12' + lumber.

Peter

 

[ccarrolladams]

What I want to see if the 5000mm rail that come in at 16-feet, 5-inches long!  You have to wonder if anyone has ever bought one.

Indeed, I bought a 5000mm guide rail. Because the primary plywood I use in my shop is 4' x 10' pre-finished 19mm thick Maple, when we make the long angle cuts, our 3000mm rail is not long enough. To store the 5000mm rail conveniently I made our cutting table 18' x 4' with rail storage shelves a foot below the sacrificial surface along both long sides. The 5000mm rail is stored on one side, the 3000mm rail and a 1900mm rail on the other side.

Actually I pre-ordered the 5000mm rail more than 2 months before our best dream completion date for the new shop. I paid for the rail in advance and had to ask my dealer to store it a couple of weeks while the remodeling concluded. I had visions of a forklift running over the long rail. It was an investment that has paid for itself many times over!

 

[Paul G]

What I want to see if the 5000mm rail that come in at 16-feet, 5-inches long!  You have to wonder if anyone has ever bought one.

Indeed, I bought a 5000mm guide rail. Because the primary plywood I use in my shop is 4' x 10' pre-finished 19mm thick Maple, when we make the long angle cuts, our 3000mm rail is not long enough. To store the 5000mm rail conveniently I made our cutting table 18' x 4' with rail storage shelves a foot below the sacrificial surface along both long sides. The 5000mm rail is stored on one side, the 3000mm rail and a 1900mm rail on the other side.

Actually I pre-ordered the 5000mm rail more than 2 months before our best dream completion date for the new shop. I paid for the rail in advance and had to ask my dealer to store it a couple of weeks while the remodeling concluded. I had visions of a forklift running over the long rail. It was an investment that has paid for itself many times over!

I'm going to consider this in designing the future shop, thanks for sharing.

 

[semenza]

Seth has one I believe.  He uses it to rip 12' + lumber.

Peter

Yeah, but it's a real pain to use for cross cutting 48"  [eek]  [blink]

Seth

 

[Paul G]

Thanks again everyone for your input, I've got the 118" guide rail on order.

Bumping a related question, are there ruler increments on guide rails and if not are there ruler tapes that can be attached that won't interfere with sliding the saw? I've never seen a track saw saw or guide rail in person.

 

[ccarrolladams]

Paul, the Festool guide rails do not have rulers engraved on them.

Frankly I see no practical way to apply a ruler tape in such a way it would still allow a saw or router to slide on the rail. Besides, such a ruler would need to be far from the edge.