First off, I need to say hi to everyone here. This is my first time posting.
I have recently taken into opening my own shop for custom woodworking. Don't know if I can make it work financially or not, but I am going to give it a try.
I own and use a couple of Festool tools, namely the TS 75 and a Domino. I use the 75 primarily as a substitute for a panel saw, to crosscut ripped plywood to length for cabinet construction. I have never been very impressed with the Angle Unit the Festool sells for use with their rails; just doesn't look very sturdy or reliable for daily shop use to hold the rail dead square. And for what it costs, I would expect it to be absolutely reliable. So I made made my own version for just that purpose, inspired by one I saw in an article of "The Journal of Light Construction". My jig originally started out with just the aluminum arm hard bolted to the rail, but that didn't prove to stay dead-nut square. I thought that the 6 machine screws and nuts (3 in each U-channel of the rail) would have been a pretty solid connection, but that wasn't secure enough apparently.
So I just finished adding the maple blocks and a 3/8" ply angle arm to try to lock the rail and fence into a square configuration. Is it going to be as fool-proof as I want and expect it to be? I certainly hope so, i. e. I will let you all know after a month or so of steady use. I think that the new "tri-arm" looks rather clunky, but if it works I bet that I will get used to it.
Anyways, Just thought that I might share this. I see that Dave Lame is starting to design something for his rail, so maybe this will help him. I have been following wow's evolving design process, but I couldn't wait for it to mature. And I fear that his design will end up costing quite a bit more then he is presently thinking, but I am still watching, and I might still be interested.
I have recently taken into opening my own shop for custom woodworking. Don't know if I can make it work financially or not, but I am going to give it a try.
I own and use a couple of Festool tools, namely the TS 75 and a Domino. I use the 75 primarily as a substitute for a panel saw, to crosscut ripped plywood to length for cabinet construction. I have never been very impressed with the Angle Unit the Festool sells for use with their rails; just doesn't look very sturdy or reliable for daily shop use to hold the rail dead square. And for what it costs, I would expect it to be absolutely reliable. So I made made my own version for just that purpose, inspired by one I saw in an article of "The Journal of Light Construction". My jig originally started out with just the aluminum arm hard bolted to the rail, but that didn't prove to stay dead-nut square. I thought that the 6 machine screws and nuts (3 in each U-channel of the rail) would have been a pretty solid connection, but that wasn't secure enough apparently.
So I just finished adding the maple blocks and a 3/8" ply angle arm to try to lock the rail and fence into a square configuration. Is it going to be as fool-proof as I want and expect it to be? I certainly hope so, i. e. I will let you all know after a month or so of steady use. I think that the new "tri-arm" looks rather clunky, but if it works I bet that I will get used to it.
Anyways, Just thought that I might share this. I see that Dave Lame is starting to design something for his rail, so maybe this will help him. I have been following wow's evolving design process, but I couldn't wait for it to mature. And I fear that his design will end up costing quite a bit more then he is presently thinking, but I am still watching, and I might still be interested.