Metabo Guide Rails + Festool
- Thread starter mrboult
- Start date
Metabo must have read my old post: http://festoolownersgroup.com/festo...s-what-festool-should-do/msg497464/#msg497464
Metabo should have added a second T-track on the edge, just like Festool, but opening facing to the side, not up (to make attaching accessories easier).
Metabo should have added a second T-track on the edge, just like Festool, but opening facing to the side, not up (to make attaching accessories easier).
Slowlearner
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Svar said:Yes, looking to buy a yacht now.mrB said:I assume you sold it to Metabo for lots of $$$
A yact w 3 propellars. Lol -from tv show Honeymooners..
mrboult
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Thought I'd post my opinions on the new Matabo rails, having used them on several projects now.
I've been interested in the most secure way of joining rails for a while now, as I never liked the standard festool or makita rail connectors. In my precise work I guess I am working (or trying) to the most accurate tolerances I can achieve, given the thickness of tape measure marks and mechanical pencils. I always struggled to make an accurate 2.4m cut with two joined rails. Being off sometimes by nearly 2mm in the centre of the cut could be common without due diligence every time.
Secondly I had for a while liked the idea of a 1400 rail (all I often need on an install) in two parts in a smaller bag/package.
So to keep my 'trial' costs down I purchased the Metabo 1600 rail and chopped it in two to test the system.
I have to say that so far I love it. While a 1600 joined track length is not as easy to test/push the accuracy and reliability of the joining system as a longer 2400 cut, it has been perfect none the less. A cut along the length of the joined 800 rails is absolutely spot on straight. I love now having this smaller rail bag in my kit with a 1600 rail inside.
Having seen how well it works I'm interested in having three or four 800mm tracks in the small festool bag. Having reliable long tracks in a small package for storage and transport is a real dream come true for me.
EDIT:
A bit more info. . .
- The glide strips on the top face are like the makita with ridges rather than smooth like festool. This concerns me mildly as I've seen the makita rail wear the baseplates of saws over time quicker than the festool rails.
- All the underside strips are rubber extrusions that side into the profiles in the rail. I was concerned about the grip of the slim rubber traction strips but they have performed as good as festool on sheet goods so far. The splinter guard is a little loose and wobbly when the rail is off the work piece, but resumes a consistent position every time the rail is placed on the work piece.
- The joining bar appears to be exactly like the mafel/bosch one but I've done no direct comparison.
- The 1600 length feels very secure when joined and the transition of the saw between rails is imperceptible in use.
I've been interested in the most secure way of joining rails for a while now, as I never liked the standard festool or makita rail connectors. In my precise work I guess I am working (or trying) to the most accurate tolerances I can achieve, given the thickness of tape measure marks and mechanical pencils. I always struggled to make an accurate 2.4m cut with two joined rails. Being off sometimes by nearly 2mm in the centre of the cut could be common without due diligence every time.
Secondly I had for a while liked the idea of a 1400 rail (all I often need on an install) in two parts in a smaller bag/package.
So to keep my 'trial' costs down I purchased the Metabo 1600 rail and chopped it in two to test the system.
I have to say that so far I love it. While a 1600 joined track length is not as easy to test/push the accuracy and reliability of the joining system as a longer 2400 cut, it has been perfect none the less. A cut along the length of the joined 800 rails is absolutely spot on straight. I love now having this smaller rail bag in my kit with a 1600 rail inside.
Having seen how well it works I'm interested in having three or four 800mm tracks in the small festool bag. Having reliable long tracks in a small package for storage and transport is a real dream come true for me.
EDIT:
A bit more info. . .
- The glide strips on the top face are like the makita with ridges rather than smooth like festool. This concerns me mildly as I've seen the makita rail wear the baseplates of saws over time quicker than the festool rails.
- All the underside strips are rubber extrusions that side into the profiles in the rail. I was concerned about the grip of the slim rubber traction strips but they have performed as good as festool on sheet goods so far. The splinter guard is a little loose and wobbly when the rail is off the work piece, but resumes a consistent position every time the rail is placed on the work piece.
- The joining bar appears to be exactly like the mafel/bosch one but I've done no direct comparison.
- The 1600 length feels very secure when joined and the transition of the saw between rails is imperceptible in use.
Michael Kellough
Member
Which saws are compatible with the Metabo rail?
Hiersekorn
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So, just to save me from a (potentially expensive) mistake, if I bought a Metabo track saw, I can use it with my existing Festool rails? And, I assume, vice versa?
Hiersekorn said:
NO No NO ! [eek]
You can use the metabo rails with you Festool saw. Connecting a Metabo rail to a Festool rail will present some usability issues that will be problematic or even unusable. It will certainly negate any savings you are hoping to realize.
If you want to use Metabo rails, then get the lengths you need and their joining connector, but do not try to join them with a Festool rail if you want a good experience and good cuts.
mrboult
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All festool saws will work on the metabo rails.
Metabo saws will work on the festool/Makita rails UNLESS the saw base is too wide and gets in the way of the 2nd t-track on the festool/Makita rails. (No personal experience here)
Festool and metabo guide rails will connect. However you’ll only have one (festool type) connection bar joining the rails so it won’t be that sturdy. Also the smoothness off the saw as it glides/transitions between rails might not be ideal?
The new metabo rails are very similar to the original festool rails (only one t-track) but with a Mafell like connector bar.
Metabo saws will work on the festool/Makita rails UNLESS the saw base is too wide and gets in the way of the 2nd t-track on the festool/Makita rails. (No personal experience here)
Festool and metabo guide rails will connect. However you’ll only have one (festool type) connection bar joining the rails so it won’t be that sturdy. Also the smoothness off the saw as it glides/transitions between rails might not be ideal?
The new metabo rails are very similar to the original festool rails (only one t-track) but with a Mafell like connector bar.
How are these plate connectors perfect? If there's enough slack for it to slide in then there's going to be wiggle. Even a tiny bit of wiggle is going to make a small difference at the ends.
Of perhaps the real deal is that the other companies do a better job of cutting the track square. Which is quite possible.
Seems to me the best way is to make those ends super square using the best tech available. Then you know at a glance before you cut that everything is going to be fine. If the ends are touching you're good.
Of perhaps the real deal is that the other companies do a better job of cutting the track square. Which is quite possible.
Seems to me the best way is to make those ends super square using the best tech available. Then you know at a glance before you cut that everything is going to be fine. If the ends are touching you're good.
Michael Kellough
Member
You do need slack to get the connector into position. The new Metabo rail connector copies the Mafell connector (although it is incompatible with Mafell and Bosch rails). It has two four thin cams that when rotated take out all the slack and maintain pressure again the walls of the slot.
The TSO connectors for Festool rails have chamfered edges that act like a wedge so they too take out the slack and keep the rails aligned when the screws are tightened.
The TSO connectors for Festool rails have chamfered edges that act like a wedge so they too take out the slack and keep the rails aligned when the screws are tightened.
mrboult
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The ends of the Metabo connector bar are bevelled to allow the very tight fitting rail connector to slide in. Then the 4 cams secure and align everything further.
Ultimately I’m seeing perfect results every time with zero effort. And when I say ‘perfect’ I’ll refer back to my previous comment of the “thickness of tape measure marks and mechanical pencils”.
Ultimately I’m seeing perfect results every time with zero effort. And when I say ‘perfect’ I’ll refer back to my previous comment of the “thickness of tape measure marks and mechanical pencils”.
Michael Kellough
Member
Went looking for a picture of a Mafell connector and found this interesting post Svar started a few years ago featuring his redesign of the Festool rail to allow a Mafell type connector.
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