NEW TSO TPG-30 Parallel Guide

[member=59331]TSO Products[/member] So I'm looking at this system and wondering. .probably too late for a design change or if it's even do-able, but how great would it be if it doubled as a fence for the MFT with flip stops when used on the GRS PE mounted to the hinge? As it is now, the parallel edge guide would be in the way of the material being cut going up against the GRS-16 PE. I'm sure I'm not alone in wanting this. It would solve a lot of problems.

Edit: Looking at it more it seems with a simple different flip stop accessory you could use it for this purpose. The material would butt up against the T-track of the parallel guide instead of against the GRS-16 PE. The only downside would be the material would not be supported underneath the guide rail as is the case with the Festool fence. However there are people using Incra or 8020 fences on their MFT's that also have this limitation.
 
That's great to hear. I've emailed about the insider email so hopefully there's something about it in there. Sounds like a costly option though... a tempting one nonetheless!
 
TSO Products said:
  [member=65072]tomp[/member] [member=57948]ChuckM[/member] [member=4105]tjbnwi[/member] [member=18283]RobBob[/member]  [member=4687]glass1[/member] [member=69595]lerabotperche[/member]  [member=297]Michael Kellough[/member] [member=19439]Paul G[/member]

TPG-50 coming! – we hear you [big grin]
We will make a 50 inch cutting T-Track width version available as a stand-alone SKU for those who need it. Thanks for the examples you had in mind: "Refrigerator cabinet".
We’re producing the extrusions in heat-treated 20 ft + length before all the secondary operations. So the lengths we offer are limited only by practical commerce considerations such as shipping cost – just like the extra long guide rails which need to $hip by LTL truck line. For everyday needs it pays  to keep things under 48 inch max. shipping length to avoid UPS/FedEx length surcharges kicking in at that point. Beyond that: whatever you’re willing to pay for.

Don’t laugh: one of our BETA Testers, Duane H., early on needed a super length track for cross-cutting-to-matched-length paneling boards for a high-end auto dealership interior. The GRS-16 helped him get perfect square and equal length cross cuts. So yes, there are extremes which can, on some projects, justify extreme tools. We will keep a few full length 20 ft extrusions back for just such one-off requirements – seriously, only at TSO  [smile]

Hans
PS: look for another Post addressing Narrow Stock questions

Hans,

When I had the festool Parallel guides including extensions, I was able to cut just over 900mm capacity by flipping the extensions over and connecting them to the ends of the parallel guides. I would use this set up to cut 900mm lengths of boards ie for shelving etc. I would have used them to cut the side panels for long boxes if I had the extra capacity.

Would it not be possible to join shorter lengths of the extrusions together to give us the extra capacity?

Tariq
 
tjbnwi said:
Pretty sure I have a 51" cut capable as a prototype.

Tom

Tom,

Do you find that the set-up for the 51" cut is a little cumbersome, moving the track with the guide attached between cyts? I made one for the Track I was using before I "found" Festool, and it is awkward picking it up off and handling it between cuts, particularly in a small shop like mine. The intent of the longer arm was to allow cutting base cabinet ends - so 34-1/2" capacity would be what I need and I may cut it down to limit that. That particular extrusion can be extended using a connector between the sections so that may be an option if I need more capacity.

The track shown in the photo is from EurekaZone, and I use their UEG for ripping sheets to width - have ripped as narrow as 1-1/2" and commonly up to 23-1/2" for base cabinet ends. I took the Basic Festool course from Greg Paolini; the Festool parallel guide was one of the tools that we were taught to use, but I was honestly not impressed and thought that the UEG was much simpler and easier to use.

It may be that the 30" cut length is enough for a good percentage of the jobs I do, but 36" shelf lengths are pretty common so that would be a problem. I've looked at the home-made parallel guides made by Dan Pattison, and had the idea that one of these guides, combined with the GRS might be an idea for getting consistent, repeatable cut length - clamp the guide to the sheet, butt the LH edge of the track to the guide and the square against the edge of the sheet. You would have to remove and reposition the guide for each cut, but wouldn't have to handle the track with the guide attached each time.

Dan Pattison's Parallel Guide

 

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[member=65072]tomp[/member], it comes off and on the rail so easily I just pop it off and pop it back on. Faster than struggling with it.

Tom
 
The TPG 48 in the wild......

These are prototypes, thus the difference in color and various hardware.

I use the Gecko on all pre-finished material.

Tom
 

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Using the gecko on pre-finished materials is a great idea Tom. Recently, I was using pre-finish ply for some drawers and was having issues with the track slipping while I was cutting.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Pnw painter said:
Using the gecko on pre-finished materials is a great idea Tom. Recently, I was using pre-finish ply for some drawers and was having issues with the track slipping while I was cutting.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[member=40801]Pnw painter[/member],

One thing I have done to make the process easier is I've removed the bolts and nuts that retain the Gecko to the rail. This allows me to just drop the Gecko in place and lift it off easily.

Tom
 
tjbnwi said:
[member=65072]tomp[/member], it comes off and on the rail so easily I just pop it off and pop it back on. Faster than struggling with it.

Tom

Thanks for the info, guess I'm going to give it a try.
 
I'm a recent owner of the GRS-16 PE. I also purchased a used (but looked unused) Woodpeck PGS. Then couple weeks later the TPG is announced  :-\.

I tossed a few ideas at another FOG member Peter_C. I had noticed along with the two threaded holes on the leading/trailing edge of the GRS there were also two 1/4" through holes. Since WP PGS uses a three track extrusion (two on top one on the bottom) it is very simple to attach it to the GRS with a couple of "T" nuts and thumb screws. When required you can additionally use the standard WP arm assembly at the far end for long cuts. Even a very inexpensive Incra dual track works, but, the WP PGS has laser etched rule and can be easily calibrated on the GRS.

The TSO TPS seems to have the advantage of more secure attachment and is one piece but for even a serious hobbyist that already has the WP PGS this may prove to be a great solution.

When I built many cabinets for our kitchen remodel several years ago I purchased a WP story stick system. So I have one piece extrusions of 24" and 48" available to play with.

Mike
 

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tjbnwi said:
I use the Gecko on all pre-finished material.

Hey Tom, just to be clear, so you clamp the TSO end to the ply and then place the Gecko on the far end?

I notice there are 2 Geckos in the photo.
 
Cheese said:
tjbnwi said:
I use the Gecko on all pre-finished material.

Hey Tom, just to be clear, so you clamp the TSO end to the ply and then place the Gecko on the far end?

I notice there are 2 Geckos in the photo.

With the GRS and the TPG on the entry end I find th rail does not drift. I use the Gecko on the "free" end because it will drift.

I have 6 Gecko’s, booth 4 of them from a member here who was liquidating.

Tom
 
DynaGlide said:
[member=59331]TSO Products[/member] So I'm looking at this system and wondering. .probably too late for a design change or if it's even do-able, but how great would it be if it doubled as a fence for the MFT with flip stops when used on the GRS PE mounted to the hinge? As it is now, the parallel edge guide would be in the way of the material being cut going up against the GRS-16 PE. I'm sure I'm not alone in wanting this. It would solve a lot of problems.

Edit: Looking at it more it seems with a simple different flip stop accessory you could use it for this purpose. The material would butt up against the T-track of the parallel guide instead of against the GRS-16 PE. The only downside would be the material would not be supported underneath the guide rail as is the case with the Festool fence. However there are people using Incra or 8020 fences on their MFT's that also have this limitation.
[member=65062]DynaGlide[/member] -  Months ago we used a prototype (anodized blue) TPG-30 and attached it to a GRS-16 PE which was already connected to the MFT/3 Hinge Plate and had the 1080 Guide Rail locked onto it.
A real simple way for repeated crosscuts on the MFT/3 and no longer worrying about keeping anything squared up.
        simple, quick and repeatably accurate: TSO

Thanks for raising the question.
Hans
PS: unable to get the jpg attached with three tries
 
jasen said:
Anyone got their TSO Insider with info? Patiently waiting :)

Not yet (west coast of the US, so I was expecting to be late to the party, but not this late :-)
 
[member=65062]DynaGlide[/member] - found out the picture file I was trying to download was too large for the FOG to accept:
here is my earlier response this time with picture:
[member=65062]DynaGlide[/member] -  Months ago we used a prototype (anodized blue) TPG-30 and attached it to a GRS-16 PE which was already connected to the MFT/3 Hinge Plate and had the 1080 Guide Rail locked onto it.
A real simple way for repeated crosscuts on the MFT/3 and no longer worrying about keeping anything squared up.
        simple, quick and repeatably accurate: TSO

Thanks for raising the question.
Hans
 

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So is the scale automatically calibrated to the edge of the guide rails clear strip? This is a great solution.
 
dlu said:
jasen said:
Anyone got their TSO Insider with info? Patiently waiting :)

Not yet (west coast of the US, so I was expecting to be late to the party, but not this late :-)

This so-called insider thing is not working. I am not an insider subscriber, but if the intention of the insider mailing is to excite and please subscribers or potential customers, it fails. Instead, it seems to be frustrating or irritating some of those who are insiders.

The system needs to be looked at and fixed. West coast, east coast, if it mattered, should mean delays of hours, not days (I can't imagine the insider mailing list has 100,000 addresses on it). It is an unnecessary distraction when TSO is trying to release a new product.
 
DynaGlide said:
So is the scale automatically calibrated to the edge of the guide rails clear strip? This is a great solution.

Looks like you need to calibrate this system like others. You can see a bolt in the flip stop - this must need adjustment.
 
FWIW, I've emailed the info@ address with the subject line above and heard nothing other than an automated acknowledgment of the email. Nothing in spam folder either :(

I'm pretty sure I've signed up tonks ago and never had anything so just assumed they were like hen's teeth. But this time I'm all ears.
 
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