NEW TSO TPG-30 Parallel Guide

[tazprime38]

I am sitting right on the fence of this purchase.  Here's my one issue- in the event that you need to get both the top and bottom arms for repeatability on long cuts I don't really see why the purchase of a second expensive square is necessary.  Seems like the top square is really just there to hold the guide arm.  Couldn't there be a secondary, less expensive way to attach that upper arm to the rail?  That would potentially knock a couple hundred off the price and bring in more buyers...

I think the proposed TPG Rail Adapter (p/n 610-409)  will achieve this.

 

[Michael Kellough]

I am sitting right on the fence of this purchase.  Here's my one issue- in the event that you need to get both the top and bottom arms for repeatability on long cuts I don't really see why the purchase of a second expensive square is necessary.  Seems like the top square is really just there to hold the guide arm.  Couldn't there be a secondary, less expensive way to attach that upper arm to the rail?  That would potentially knock a couple hundred off the price and bring in more buyers...

I think the proposed TPG Rail Adapter (p/n 610-409)  will achieve this.

Couldn’t find any such thing at TSO Products.

 

[Klemm]

[member=297]Michael Kellough[/member] - give us a little time to bring out products. The Adapter is "proposed" - that is designed but not yet in production.The part is not as inexpensive as you might think. Take a look at other parallel guides on the market which use this type of adapter and look at the pricing. You're well on your way to paying for another multi use tool rather than just a single-purpose Adapter.

Any Adapter will also take more time and a separate handtool to install and remove: no snap-on and snap-off like the GRS-16 connection affords.

Hans

 

[tjbnwi]

When talking narrow rips, do I assume that means rips narrower than the width of the rail? Tom's video showed a rip on a narrow piece to put a good starting edge on it, but never showed cutting to a specific width. Looking at this video from Peter Millard, he's showing a home-made guide, quickly made to cut a specific width on the "waste" side of the rail; has anyone looked at something similar but adjustable for different widths? I would think that a t-track with scale and a movable stop could be used, with a sliding stop for calibration similar to that on the TPG

Waste-side Parallel Guide

As much as possible, I try to do all the ripping first, and then all I have to do is cross-cut to length as needed. I have made rips as narrow as 1-1/2" with the EZ UEG and as wide as 24" (about the capacity). This works for me given my workspace limitations - and the fact that I don't have a long rail (and would have trouble finding a place to store it if I did.

View attachment 1

After ripping, the strips are cut to length as needed - this would be my basic used for the TPG when it's available, to give me repeatable lengths. I normally do the cross-cutting on the collapsible grid (and have also used that as an assembly table too).

View attachment 2

If I need to adjust the width on a part later, I'd use the Rip Dogs parallel guide. I think someone posted the idea of using a single arm of the parallel guide, in conjunction with the GRS-16, something that I had been considering as it would already be calibrated to my rail, but it looks as if the TPG might be a little more user-friendly.

View attachment 3

The "cleaning" rip was shown to show how I start the process with a known good edge.

There are parts that allow you to do narrow rips.

If you are going to do narrow rips, you definitely need the GRS PE for the left end of the rail. I highly recommend a second set of stops so you can calibrate the narrow rip rods and leave them calibrated.

Tom

 

[tjbnwi]

I am sitting right on the fence of this purchase.  Here's my one issue- in the event that you need to get both the top and bottom arms for repeatability on long cuts I don't really see why the purchase of a second expensive square is necessary.  Seems like the top square is really just there to hold the guide arm.  Couldn't there be a secondary, less expensive way to attach that upper arm to the rail?  That would potentially knock a couple hundred off the price and bring in more buyers...

[member=3078]Dane[/member]

When I first stated testing this system I thought the same as you. There has to be an easy, inexpensive way to handle the left side of the rail for long rips and narrow rips.

I've drawn a few different devices, modeled some, tried this and that. Had multiple email communications with TSO. Over the year plus of working with the system I've come up with nothing as nice and simple as the GRS 16 PE for the left side of the rail.

All of the "adapters" were simply scaled down version of the PE. By the time it was machined and the clip installed I doubt there would be much savings. Without the clip it would be cumbersome. One of the beauties is how easily the TPG's can removed and reinstalled without affecting the calibration.

Ultimately, in my opinion, the PE is the most cost effective method of handling the left end of the rail.

Tom

 

[Michael Kellough]

Tom said, “By the time it was machined and the clip installed I doubt there would be much savings. Without the clip it would be cumbersome.”

After posting I thought about it and came to the same conclusion. At best it could be a little smaller and save a little material cost and machining time but not enough to justify it’s existence as nothing more than an expensive fastener. It would be easier to store but since both GSR’s are now sized to fit flat in a Systainer that isn’t a huge benefit.

 

[tjbnwi]

Tom said, “By the time it was machined and the clip installed I doubt there would be much savings. Without the clip it would be cumbersome.”

After posting I thought about it and came to the same conclusion. At best it could be a little smaller and save a little material cost and machining time but not enough to justify it’s existence as nothing more than an expensive fastener. It would be easier to store but since both GSR’s are now sized to fit flat in a Systainer that isn’t a huge benefit.

It's not a bad thing two have 2 GRS's....

Tom

 

[Cheese]

It's not a bad thing two have 2 GRS's....

Amen... like when you’re neighbor borrows your HKC, guide rail & GSR for building stuff at the cabin in Wisconsin and suddenly you need to break down sheet goods with the TSC.

 

[Dane]

That makes sense, I suppose.  And I certainly understand the multifunctionalty of having the squares and the guides.  Still, for someone starting from zero, like I am, it makes this an almost 600.00 proposition.  I am sure it's worth it- just makes it a bit harder to jump on.

 

[Mike Goetzke]

That makes sense, I suppose.  And I certainly understand the multifunctionalty of having the squares and the guides.  Still, for someone starting from zero, like I am, it makes this an almost 600.00 proposition.  I am sure it's worth it- just makes it a bit harder to jump on.

[member=3078]Dane[/member]

I'm a serious hobbyist that struggled to justify one GRS let alone two. But, the jury is still out until the TPG's are out. Tom says he was able to get reliable long rips with one of each. I haven't had a chance to try my GRS out with my 118" rail yet but the more I think about it just in case rails are not perfectly straight could we shim one side of the GRS rail contact to calibrate it? Maybe tape on the rail since the GRS will be used on several tracks?

 

[Oldwood]

That makes sense, I suppose.  And I certainly understand the multifunctionalty of having the squares and the guides.  Still, for someone starting from zero, like I am, it makes this an almost 600.00 proposition.  I am sure it's worth it- just makes it a bit harder to jump on.

[member=3078]Dane[/member]

I'm a serious hobbyist that struggled to justify one GRS let alone two. But, the jury is still out until the TPG's are out. Tom says he was able to get reliable long rips with one of each. I haven't had a chance to try my GRS out with my 118" rail yet but the more I think about it just in case rails are not perfectly straight could we shim one side of the GRS rail contact to calibrate it? Maybe tape on the rail since the GRS will be used on several tracks?

I think for "reliable repeatable results" on 8 foot rips you need 2 arms. Even if the square is 100% accurate the sheet stock rarely is and if you have a small bump on the plywood where you reference your square you will be out even more. The kit does get a little pricey when you add 2 squares to the price of the parallel guides but it looks like it is very well made.

Just my opinion FWIW

 

[Sanderxpander]

At the same time for 600 bucks you can buy a pretty decent job site tablesaw which gives you very accurate repeatable rip cuts.

 

[ChuckM]

At the same time for 600 bucks you can buy a pretty decent job site tablesaw which gives you very accurate repeatable rip cuts.

And much more!

Feeling good that not too long ago I sold my TS75 and track.

 

[Koamolly]

So I called TSO today and they are saying nothing is coming out out now until mid March. 

 

[dlu]

At the same time for 600 bucks you can buy a pretty decent job site tablesaw which gives you very accurate repeatable rip cuts.

However…

• A table saw eats up a lot more space, and
• A $600 saw is not going to be an easy tool to use for breaking down sheet goods.

So it really depends on the space you have and the work you are planning to do.

 

[dr.r.lam]

mid March.

I was just wondering if there were any updates too!

Did you get the impression that this was when they would release the pre-order? Or if that could be delivery for the pre-orders?

 

[Sanderxpander]

At the same time for 600 bucks you can buy a pretty decent job site tablesaw which gives you very accurate repeatable rip cuts.

However…

• A table saw eats up a lot more space, and
• A $600 saw is not going to be an easy tool to use for breaking down sheet goods.

So it really depends on the space you have and the work you are planning to do.

Fair enough, and no disrespect to the quality of TSO product, I own and love their GRS-16. Just pointing out that we're talking about a 600 dollar set of accessories for a tool that itself costs at least another 600/700 dollars (with the necessary rail). If you spent that accessory money on a tablesaw you'd get a whole new set of possibilities plus a lot of what you can do with that set. P

 

[Koamolly]

mid March.

I was just wondering if there were any updates too!

Did you get the impression that this was when they would release the pre-order? Or if that could be delivery for the pre-orders?

The person I spoke with didn’t think anything would be available before mid March.  I said I was following discussion here, thinking some portion was coming out now.  He didn’t think so.  Maybe Hans can give an update regarding what will be available when.

 

[jasen]

If you look on their Web page it tells you when available - most products May 1. If its earlier it will be a bonus. I can see a lot of interest out there as everyone is eagerly waiting

I know you can choose either Left or Right set (I have PE vcersion), curious as to what/why - Left or Right? Purely an aesthetic thing or the way they work? Any advantages / disadvantages?

 

[dlu]

I know you can choose either Left or Right set (I have PE vcersion), curious as to what/why - Left or Right? Purely an aesthetic thing or the way they work? Any advantages / disadvantages?

Left is for the near end of the rail, right is for the far end.