New Festool Rail Connectors ( 577039 )

[semenza]

Does anyone have these yet ?

Exactly how do they work? 

Seth

 

[me_two]

Not available till February in Australia.

 

[Willy Eckerslike]

One of the connectors is not that different to the existing but the other uses a split arrangement which expands the connector outwards as you tighten the oversize grub screws. 

It works well enough for the accuracy I need. There's a graphic etched into each connector to show which goes where on the tracks and the order to do so.  I used to check for straight using a third track but I've stopped doing that now as it's always been good enough. 

They're expensive for what they are but that applies to a lot of Festool accessories.

Downsides (annoying but not enough to not use them)
- the hex wrench supplied with the connectors replaces the blade wrench stored in the handle of the saw.  There's only one so if you only take your HKC to the job and you've stored the wrench in the TSC55.....
- only one end of the wrench is any use for blade changing. I liked using the other end once I had loosened the bolt especially if wearing gloves on a cold UK morning
- the connectors don't now fit into the moulded slot in the TSC systainer liner because the grub screws stick out of the expanding rail.

 

[semenza]

Aah, I see. So the zig zag slots are for expansion to allow the screws to push the connector sides out. The side to side pressure keeping the connectors tight and also aligning the rail rib.

I had been thinking the zig zag allowed for some shifting / adjustment to align the rails.

Seth

 

[FestitaMakool]

That’s correct. The new one is expanding, correcting it self to the rail that the saw rides on (the important one) The other is the same as the old, slight slack and screws that’ll make dimples if over tightened. Order of mounting is etched, so the user understand that the expanding must be fastened on both connecting rails first.

I have a set, let me know if you want any photos.

 

[GregorHochschild]

Are you confident in the accuracy of the new connectors? Any idea how they compare with the TSO connectors?

 

[Cheese]

Does that new Festool rail connector look familiar...it should, it's basically a variation of the older Mafell rail connector, just a bit thicker. The Mafell also needs only a 1/4 turn.

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[tallgrass]

They should just have licensed the TSO connectors. Just like they licensed the right right angle guide.

 

[Svar]

The FT connectors are too narrow for this design. I think the wider side will also bend slightly when screws are tightened. Compare that to Mafell where straight edge (registration) side is very wide and will not be affected when cams are turned.

 

[Cheese]

The FT connectors are too narrow for this design. I think the wider side will also bend slightly when screws are tightened. Compare that to Mafell where straight edge (registration) side is very wide and will not be affected when cams are turned.

I agree with you, I also think the wider side may bow out and that will kill registration.

Ya, there's a lot to like about the Mafell connector. It's actually a pleasure to use

 

[Svar]

The FT connectors are too narrow for this design. I think the wider side will also bend slightly when screws are tightened. Compare that to Mafell where straight edge (registration) side is very wide and will not be affected when cams are turned.

I agree with you, I also think the wider side may bow out and that will kill registration.
Ya, there's a lot to like about the Mafell connector. It's actually a pleasure to use

I was actually toying with the idea of using two opposite steel wedges inside the t-slot for alignment. But a thin piece of metal like that simply does not make a good straight edge regardless of the design.

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