Parallel Guide Extension Issue

[black flag]

I've had my Parallel Guides for some time now.  They work great. I have them calibrated perfectly, I get nice square cuts and all is right in the world.

The problem is, when I use the extensions, my cuts are still square but the cuts have a slight bevel.  It's about 3 degrees off.  I use the same rail that I have mounted on my MFT with my PG set and my cuts on the MFT and with my PG's without extensions are perfect. Even using my PG's with my long rail are perfect.  It's when I use the extensions that everything goes bonkers and the bevel appears. The connection of the extensions to the PG's seem to be fit, snug and as they should be.  I just can't figure out what I'm doing wrong.

I usually put the PG's on my MFT and hang the extensions over the side so that the board and PG's are flat.  When I'm cutting oversized goods, I put everything on a flat sheet of MDF and hang the extensions over the side of the sheet. 

I've searched through the forum, watched all of the videos and I haven't been able to find anyone addressing this exact issue. Any help would be much appreciated.

 

[GPowers]

The Parallel Guides were NOT designed to produce 100% square cuts.  They were designed to make parallel cuts. The Parallel guides produces a trapezoid not a square. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trapezoid

Are you not getting parallel cuts when using the extensions?

 

[black flag]

I'm getting parallel and square cuts, but I'm getting a bevel - as if I set the TS55 to 87 degrees to make a bevel cut.  It's at 90 degrees on the MFT, with the PG's but this weird bevel pops up when using the extensions.  I'll try and get a pic....

 

[GPowers]

I'm getting parallel and square cuts, but I'm getting a bevel - as if I set the TS55 to 87 degrees to make a bevel cut.  It's at 90 degrees on the MFT, with the PG's but this weird bevel pops up when using the extensions.  I'll try and get a pic....

So some how ether the guide rail or the TS55 is not sitting flat on the material?

 

[GhostFist]

Are your guides too snug to the sides of your sheet material? perhaps they're not sitting all the way down.

 

[kdzito]

Black Flag,

I hear you as I've had the same problem as I used to get the bevel cut edge with a square face.  This is due to the guide rail not being supported over its entire width (not length).  Also, when you have the parallel guides long end dangling this causes the guide rail to flex/twist across it's width thus pulling the saw with it and winding up with a beveled edge.  

I highly recommend Roger Mueller's video as I took his advice and made a cutting grid.  A cutting grid will let the parallel guide sit flat while supporting the material.  

Kurt  

 

[JeromeM]

I've had my Parallel Guides for some time now.  They work great. I have them calibrated perfectly, I get nice square cuts and all is right in the world.

The problem is, when I use the extensions, my cuts are still square but the cuts have a slight bevel.  It's about 3 degrees off.  I use the same rail that I have mounted on my MFT with my PG set and my cuts on the MFT and with my PG's without extensions are perfect. Even using my PG's with my long rail are perfect.  It's when I use the extensions that everything goes bonkers and the bevel appears. The connection of the extensions to the PG's seem to be fit, snug and as they should be.  I just can't figure out what I'm doing wrong.

I usually put the PG's on my MFT and hang the extensions over the side so that the board and PG's are flat.  When I'm cutting oversized goods, I put everything on a flat sheet of MDF and hang the extensions over the side of the sheet. 

I've searched through the forum, watched all of the videos and I haven't been able to find anyone addressing this exact issue. Any help would be much appreciated.

Your answer may be in this thread http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-how-to/key-additions-to-the-festool-fs-pa-and-fs-pa-vl/  and  http://www.flickr.com/photos/nui-jerome/sets/72157623650184949/

Also the FS-PA should not be tight to the work piece. See http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-tools-accessories/parallel-guides-accuracy/msg115518/#msg115518