Latest Woodpecker OTT - Track Square

[Colonel Panic]

Clever idea but overpriced like many of their OTTs. I have several of their products like squares and story sticks but I'll pass on this one since I can make one with some birch plywood and a bit of hardware.

 

[ear3]

Just saw it as well.  Looks like you have to resquare it every time you take it off and put it back on the rail.

I just don't see how this would be more accurate or even that much more of a time saver compared to careful measuring.

 

[copcarcollector]

Similar idea to the Qwas Square (below), and a couple of other shop made versions I have seen here on the FOG.

I think the idea is that you would leave it on the rail more often than not. Interesting...

 

[copcarcollector]

http://www.woodpeck.com/tracksquare.html

 

[Kev]

They're just making a little hay till the FSK's hit !!

I'm often very negative about WP and the OTT offerings. $US100 for something you can make with 2 T bolts and a piece of plywood?? Give me a break [mad]

 

[JayStPeter]

I kind of like it.  It does need something to index it to the rail though for me to really pull the trigger on it.  The one I made a few years ago basically had another bar on it similar to the one that mounts the rail.  Used that to align the edge of the rail.  That bar was a little longer to give enough length to get it right each time.
I like the handle on that one and would rather have something made of Aluminum.  Price doesn't bother me, but the re-squaring hassle makes it worse than home made.

 

[anthonyz]

They should have placed an adjustable bar on the top side. That once you squared the Woodpecker square up, the bar on the top could be slid against the track and tightened down so there is a square reference built into the Woodpecker square. Gonna pick up some Aluminum plate and make my own.

 

[Shane Holland]

For anyone who is interested in getting one of these, we have them with free shipping.

Woodpeckers OneTIME Track Saw Square

Thanks.

 

[Master Carpenter]

The bar under the rail looks too short. I wonder how much deflection to square you get if you have side pressure at the far end of your cut.
Interesting tool, but I think I'll continue my method of using one arm of my parallel guides for this type of cut.

 

[Birdhunter]

I guess I am a tad slow, but how do you hold the "handle" and move the saw more than a foot or so?

 

[deepcreek]

I just don't see it working very well in terms of precision.

The slightest error in squaring the Track Square will be magnified as you proceed down the guide rail.

 

[blaszcsj]

I don't like how the knobs make it thicker than 3/4". I use a foam spoil board and with this I would have to make sure I'm always off the edge to make this work with pretty much any sheet good.

 

[Tayler_mann]

I agree these are very over priced imho. I could set a CNC file up for something like this in about 10 min and machine it out of aluminum for about $50 a piece. For that matter I could laser them out of 1/2" acrylic or CNC then out 1/2" styrene. If that is all I made I could imagine doing 300 per day in my mahibe shop.

I feel they could have had a better OTT than this I am somewhat disappointed. I usually love and wish I could order all of woodpeckers OTTs.

 

[thedude306]

I'm not sure you guys are giving it enough credit.  I have the Bosch angle guide (it's basically a similar piece that attaches to bosh and Mafell rails that is adj) and I love the thing.

The concept is sound.

 

[jeh]

I agree these are very over priced imho. I could set a CNC file up for something like this in about 10 min and machine it out of aluminum for about $50 a piece. For that matter I could laser them out of 1/2" acrylic or CNC then out 1/2" styrene. If that is all I made I could imagine doing 300 per day in my mahibe shop.

I feel they could have had a better OTT than this I am somewhat disappointed. I usually love and wish I could order all of woodpeckers OTTs.

If your cost to make is $50 then a markup of $49.99 is not too much as you put it. They would not be in business if they sold everything at cost. Consider everyone lucky that they exist and make products that a lot of people like.

If you can make them cheaper and want the hassle of dealing with people, shipping, returns, etc then go for it.

 

[RellikJM]

Festool already makes an accessory that can do this and more : Angle Unit - 491588 $98

 

[rmwarren]

I was fiddling with something like this last year, it never made it to prime time due to lack of time. Fiddling included making a shop-made version from 2 pieces for 1/4" by 2" AL bar, then the more robust version I posted about. My observations from all this are:

• I never trusted the first version since it only took a minor whack to knock it out of alignment, something I did nearly every time I used it, often while jostling it into position against the sheet goods
• It took some time to get it set up dead-on square, I used a WP 16" by 24" square to do so and then tweaked it after a test cut

Also I agree that it would take something much longer than a 12" by 8" square to set up a 15" by 48" right angle, especially using the splinter guard to reference off of.

Just my [2cents] and I am not a designer/professional/etc. but I have worked on the concept a bit. If they have overcome the mounting challenges sufficiently to assure that it can't/won't move, then my only concern would be aligning it easily. I would not reach for it if I had to keep adjusting or checking it every time I used it.

On the other hand, I don't have any issue with their price. After making up 10 copies of the second design and calculating everything they would have to sell for >$200. That is WP territory without even the red anodizing...

RMW

 

[Colonel Panic]

Festool already makes an accessory that can do this and more : Angle Unit - 491588 $98

Festool making a better tool at a lower price? What's the world coming to? [big grin] [big grin] [big grin]

 

[Dogberryjr]

I'm relieved when a new OTT is announced and I don't lust for it.

 

[rmwarren]

I'm relieved when a new OTT is announced and I don't lust for it.

Amen.

RMW