- Joined
- Sep 22, 2007
- Messages
- 636
I was looking at a Wixey Saw Fence Digital Readout and wondered how it could work with the Festool Guide Rails. After all, they say it works on any table saw and doesn't the TS in TS-55, TS-75 stand for Table Saw? 
Then it dawned on me, measure on top of the rail instead of under it (see pictures 1 and 2). The Wixey digital readout sticks about 1/2 inch below it's rail so it is perfect for use with the Festool Guide Rails, with some minor modifications.
Here is a link to the Wixey Saw Fence Digital Readout, and it is on sale.
Wixey Fence at Woodcraft
[attachthumb=1]
[attachthumb=2]
[attachthumb=3]
First, the Wixey rail has a V groove in it for attaching rail sections (the kit has 2 rails about 32 inches long but more can be added). The end of the V groove can be threaded with a 3/8 - 16 tap and a 1-3 inch bolt can be attached to the end. The threads are not real deep so you don't want to over-tighten a screw in it, but a 2 inch bolt was plenty long enough to tighten more than enough. I found a 2 1/2 inch washer to stick between the bolt and the end. The washer acts as your "zero" measurement, keep the digital readout from being pushed off, and protects the end. I recommend doing both ends. The washer can be as small as 1 3/4 inch, I used what I had.
[attachthumb=4]
[attachthumb=5]
Next, is the digital readout itself. Because of the case design (a magnet sticks out further than the bottom of the case), a "straight edge" needs to be added to the bottom. This straight edge could be a small piece of wood, plastic, or metal. It can be very short and used with the Guide Rails directly or made long enough that you can mark the measurement and the put the guide rail down on the mark. I used a couple of 1 inch right angle metal pieces I had lying around so I could screw (#4 metal screw, 1/4 inch long) the right angles onto the back of the case, instead of the bottom. You could glue this straight edge on if you are concerned about screwing into the case. I looked inside the digital readout case and there is 1/4 inch gap between the inside case bottom and the circuit board.
I pushed the digital readout up against the washer added above and the pulled it back to leave a small gap ( about 1/16 of an inch, nothing critical). Attached the straight edge to the bottom of the digital readout and up tight against the washer.
[attachthumb=6]
Now you can "Zero Calibrate" the readout with the straight edge against the washer. And you are in business to start measuring. You can use one Wixey guide and measure to 29 inches or use both guides and measure to 60 inches. I understand extra parts can be ordered to measure longer distances but I have not tried that. It measures in 5/1000 inch increments. It can also do millimeters. Overall, I am very pleased with the Wixey. I like the Beall Tilt Box over the Wixey Angle Gauge since the Beall also acts as a level.
Then it dawned on me, measure on top of the rail instead of under it (see pictures 1 and 2). The Wixey digital readout sticks about 1/2 inch below it's rail so it is perfect for use with the Festool Guide Rails, with some minor modifications.
Here is a link to the Wixey Saw Fence Digital Readout, and it is on sale.
Wixey Fence at Woodcraft
[attachthumb=1]
[attachthumb=2]
[attachthumb=3]
First, the Wixey rail has a V groove in it for attaching rail sections (the kit has 2 rails about 32 inches long but more can be added). The end of the V groove can be threaded with a 3/8 - 16 tap and a 1-3 inch bolt can be attached to the end. The threads are not real deep so you don't want to over-tighten a screw in it, but a 2 inch bolt was plenty long enough to tighten more than enough. I found a 2 1/2 inch washer to stick between the bolt and the end. The washer acts as your "zero" measurement, keep the digital readout from being pushed off, and protects the end. I recommend doing both ends. The washer can be as small as 1 3/4 inch, I used what I had.
[attachthumb=4]
[attachthumb=5]
Next, is the digital readout itself. Because of the case design (a magnet sticks out further than the bottom of the case), a "straight edge" needs to be added to the bottom. This straight edge could be a small piece of wood, plastic, or metal. It can be very short and used with the Guide Rails directly or made long enough that you can mark the measurement and the put the guide rail down on the mark. I used a couple of 1 inch right angle metal pieces I had lying around so I could screw (#4 metal screw, 1/4 inch long) the right angles onto the back of the case, instead of the bottom. You could glue this straight edge on if you are concerned about screwing into the case. I looked inside the digital readout case and there is 1/4 inch gap between the inside case bottom and the circuit board.
I pushed the digital readout up against the washer added above and the pulled it back to leave a small gap ( about 1/16 of an inch, nothing critical). Attached the straight edge to the bottom of the digital readout and up tight against the washer.
[attachthumb=6]
Now you can "Zero Calibrate" the readout with the straight edge against the washer. And you are in business to start measuring. You can use one Wixey guide and measure to 29 inches or use both guides and measure to 60 inches. I understand extra parts can be ordered to measure longer distances but I have not tried that. It measures in 5/1000 inch increments. It can also do millimeters. Overall, I am very pleased with the Wixey. I like the Beall Tilt Box over the Wixey Angle Gauge since the Beall also acts as a level.
