Latest Woodpecker OTT - Track Square

[Cheese]

FWIW...I think it'd be a rather nice addition to a guide rail for breaking down sheet goods.

I only have two issues with it. The first is the initial squaring of the Woodpeckers handle to the guide rail. Using a 1281 is rather hokey.  [poke]  If you're off by only .005"-.006" at the 1 foot mark, you'll be off by .040"-.050" at the 8 foot mark on a sheet of ply. I'd just use a small Woodpeckers Saddle T-Square and 2 pencil marks spaced 95" apart on a 8 foot piece of plywood.http://www.woodpeck.com/sdltsqr.html

The second issue is how to maintain the perpendicularity while actively using the bulky assembled items. Because we're talking about an 8 foot lever arm (the Festool guide rail) it doesn't take much of a jar/bump to knock this assembly out of square. I think it will work, however, you have to be very, very careful when handling this assembly.

As far as price goes, I think they're in the ballpark. As a matter of fact I was quite surprised to see it under $100.  [eek] After watching the video, it appears that they may be using MIC 6 cast tooling plate which runs about $20+ per square foot. Add in machining time, clear anodizing, fasteners, extra bit & pieces, labeling, QA and packaging and the costs add up pretty fast.

 

[festnoob]

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

Amen.

RMW

[thumbs up]

 

[JayStPeter]

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

As far as price vs. features, the Festool clearly has a lot more features per dollar (it was $45 when I bought it).  As far as price vs. usefulness, I hope the Woodpeck one is a winner.  I may buy it and add my own self-squaring modification to it.  It's the nicest form factor I've seen.  Downside to the OTTs is that you can't read reviews before buying (unless they're the ones that really aren't one-time).

For reference, I've had a hate-hate relationship with my AU for years and would not recommend taking one if it is given to you free.  It will eventually cost you money by screwing up your projects.  Something like it that actually works is infinitely useful.http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-jigs-tool-enhancements/'fixed'-my-angle-unit/30/

 

[Ivanhoe]

I came to Festool/Mafell by way of a different tracksaw company which had a device similar to this and although it's not the same, it's very similar and was easily knocked out of alignment when using a rail of 55".  As Richard mentioned above, I also found myself fussing with it more than I wanted and abandoned it.  I would much rather use the 3rd party parallel guides with the Incra tracks and saving any shorter crosscuts for my MFT. Mafell makes an angle guide which is mounted permanently to a small piece of guide track which is imo much more reliable for this application. (Albeit I still wouldn't use it for any long cuts)

 

[Scorpion]

I think $100 for that is plenty. Looks like two would nest together nicely.  A large machining center would make short work of such a simple piece.  The two out of place holes to the left of the handle are to hold the material down as its machined...otherwise I'd bet the farm they'd mass cut them on a laser.

I do wonder of it would stay put after setup and if accuracy is really comparable to my current processes using a combo of my parallel guides, MFT, and Kapex.  Traveling lightly with less (unable to take Kapex and MFT), maybe it's a winner.

 

[mouppe]

A guide rail connector costs $18 and is much longer than the Woodpeckers offering. With 4 holes already drilled in it, you could use two to clamp it to the guide rail and two to screw it to a squared piece of plywood, aluminium etc.

You would need to shim it to level it with the bottom of the guide rail, but what could be simpler?

 

[Eden1415]

I see your guide rail connector, and cut it in half  [big grin].  Saved $80 bucks. 
I'm going to skip this OTT offer.

Sorry not real good at times with the Jig saw.  One day I will clean it us with my router.

Made two sets of 90 degree clamps that allow me to flip around and be used on either end of the rail.  The holes are for gripping/pushing/clamping. 

A quick alignment with a precision square and away we go.

 

[jeh]

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

As far as price vs. features, the Festool clearly has a lot more features per dollar (it was $45 when I bought it).  As far as price vs. usefulness, I hope the Woodpeck one is a winner.  I may buy it and add my own self-squaring modification to it.  It's the nicest form factor I've seen.  Downside to the OTTs is that you can't read reviews before buying (unless they're the ones that really aren't one-time).

For reference, I've had a hate-hate relationship with my AU for years and would not recommend taking one if it is given to you free.  It will eventually cost you money by screwing up your projects.  Something like it that actually works is infinitely useful.http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-jigs-tool-enhancements/'fixed'-my-angle-unit/30/

I agree that the Angle Unit is not great. The OTT addresses one problem and that is getting 90 degree cuts in the field and it should do that well. I use a square for setup and it works quite well. It probably is at least as good as this, but I'd say it can't match the convenience of the OTT, which is easier to carry and use if you don't have a square close by.

 

[Scorpion]

Made two sets of 90 degree clamps that allow me to flip around and be used on either end of the rail.  The holes are for gripping/pushing/clamping. 

A quick alignment with a precision square and away we go.

That's a really slick idea...nice idea.

 

[Holzhacker]

I used to find the woodpecker OTT very creative and desirable. There are a number of older ones I wish I had gotten in on.
Not so much though anymore with the offerings more recently. They seem more like gimmicky quickies to lure in Festoolians rather than actual creative and helpful woodworking tools.
Of course the pricing isn't great either. Nonetheless for the creative or good stuff I'll pay.

 

[jafenske]

I get that OTT are generally expensive. The OTT I have purchased before are quality tools that have worked well for me. As a community of makers it makes sense that many of you would have made your version of this tool to solve this problem with your work flow. These tools are made in America by Americans and I think that that has value.

 

[WestcoastwoodcraftMark]

As discussed earlier there are several versions of this jig floating around, this is the one I would purchase  from Rip Dog tools if it ever becomes available for sale.

 

[fritter63]

Ironically , I use the big WP red square for this....

 

[Scorpion]

As discussed earlier there are several versions of this jig floating around, this is the one I would purchase  from Rip Dog tools if it ever becomes available for sale.

I like the ripdog design better.  To me it makes more sense to attach to the top slot than beneath because clamps can still be used to affix the rail to the material if desired without removing the attachment.  For the side it also will lay perfectly flat on a surface or against the wall.  Probably the biggest advantage is how far apart the attachments to the rail are which should make it less prone to lose alignment.

 

[Bill L]

Without something that "locks" the far end of the rail, I would be afraid of drifting out-of-square as I progress down the rail. I suppose you could line it up on the squared end, then gingerly apply a track rail clamp at the far end. But it would be so easy to break square.

Also, I find myself often needing every available cm of length of my 1400 rail. So I would frequently be needing to take the square off, then putting it back on and re-squaring.

Now I will brag to my wife that I just saved $99!

 

[anthonyz]

Without something that "locks" the far end of the rail, I would be afraid of drifting out-of-square as I progress down the rail. I suppose you could line it up on the squared end, then gingerly apply a track rail clamp at the far end. But it would be so easy to break square.

Also, I find myself often needing every available cm of length of my 1400 rail. So I would frequently be needing to take the square off, then putting it back on and re-squaring.

Now I will brag to my wife that I just saved $99!

If you are finding drift, clean off your sticky grip strips on the back of your track. I don't have any issue of my track moving, unless I am cutting on something, as smooth as MDF, and I have dust which has reduced the effectiveness of the Grip strips on the back of the tracks.  So, although I see other ways to achieve making your own square, or using a square, to square up your track, the drift thing seems that doesn't really apply to the square. You would still have the room to place a clamp on the other end of the track if for some reason someone has an issue of drift.

 

[Scorpion]

If you are finding drift, clean off your sticky grip strips on the back of your track. I don't have any issue of my track moving, unless I am cutting on something, as smooth as MDF, and I have dust which has reduced the effectiveness of the Grip strips on the back of the tracks.  So, although I see other ways to achieve making your own square, or using a square, to square up your track, the drift thing seems that doesn't really apply to the square. You would still have the room to place a clamp on the other end of the track if for some reason someone has an issue of drift.

I use pre-finished ply mostly for cabinets and the grip strips aren't great however with the Gecko I think the square type of accessory would be awesome. 

 

[Eden1415]

Once square,  clamp at the other end.  Melamine has the same problem.

BTW  I though you were suppose to always get a new tool to complete a project for your wife???  Did I get some thing wrong?  Give money back???

 

[Crazyraceguy]

At least part of the cost is wrapped up in the OTT concept. One which I strongly dislike. I get that it is attempting to generate "buzz" or "hype" but you certainly don't need that with quality tools and the cost could be reduced by spreading the research/development over a greater volume. Everyone that may have been interested gets left out because they didn't know soon enough?
There are several OTTs that I would like to have..... too late now though

 

[jimbo51]

I am not sure I understand how the new slot on the redesigned tool works. A drawing or picture would have helped.

Did anyone else receive the Woodpecker survey? I did notice that there was not a comment section. I added a comment/complaint in the section on tools used.  Wonder if I will get a reply.