Parallel Guide extensions - Err shouldn't they be the same length?

[Toolinator]

These puppies just arrived today, however I noticed that the metric rule (tape) on the guides didn't seem to line up on the two extensions... then I noticed that they weren't the same length?! 

Holy toledo Festool, get your quality control together! Unbelievable, this is the 6th tool now with a QC defect.

 

[sae]

It's a ploy to get you the buy the Kapex, so you can cut it on there.

 

[land_kel]

It's because it passes thru New England first, so the shorter one Is "deflated" a tad. It knows where you live!

 

[Just F Me]

These puppies just arrived today, however I noticed that the metric rule (tape) on the guides didn't seem to line up on the two extensions... then I noticed that they weren't the same length?! 

Holy toledo Festool, get your quality control together! Unbelievable, this is the 6th tool now with a QC defect.

Mine are off as well.  One parallel guide is almost 2 inches longer.

 

[fshanno]

They are as long or longer than the published rip capacity then it doesn't matter.  The tape difference can easily be adjusted out so it's not significant.

First thing I did was replace the metric tape with Imperial so I couldn't tell if mine was off from the factory.  Also I wanted the rule to just about touch the tick on the stop.  The factory had it back almost 1/16th from the edge.

Mine won't stay adjusted anyway.  I gave up on trying to get them perfect.  It's within 1/16th and that's good enough.  I do a test plunge on each end at the beginning of a session to see how much to add or cut when setting the stop.  And yes, it will differ a tiny bit from day to day.  I think temperature could account for it.  With that accommodation to the vagaries of system I get near perfect rips.

 

[roblg3]

Maybe I don't understand....I know that the tool needs to be calibrated before the first use.  This looks to be a mm or less?  It also looks like the difference is in the calibration area?  Do I not get it?

 

[sancho57]

I see where your coming from. However it doesn't affect the tool at all. The length of the tapes are the same. If the 1 mm difference in length bugs Ya you can always trim it. But it will calibrate and work as designed the way it is

 

[Gary in Texas]

Nothing wrong with the parellel guides.  You have to calibrate them, easily within that range.  No QC issue whatsoever......

Calibrate and use them!!! 

 

[tjskinny]

My short extension scales were off and the existing slots to calibrate them wasn't quite long enough to get there.  I got the rat tail file out extended the slot another 2 to 3 mm and now they are calibrated and work very well. 

 

[Toolinator]

Okay, phew, I'm not alone. Yes, I need to figure out how to calibrate them... and then calibrate

 

[jools]

I ripped 12mm mdf into 2400 x 160mm x 5pcs yesterday from one sheet with 2x1400 rails and the parallel guides. Stood them on edge and all the same size. Flipped 2nd and 4th peice and still perfect parallel. Once calibrated, set your rails straight and use good technique with the ts55 this result is repeatable. I'm working onsite and alone so although I have a site table saw using it with full sheets is impossible. Like any tool it's only as good as the set up, experiance and technique allow. When I calibrated the short extensions I too had to elongate one of the holes by a couple of mm. All tools need a little tweaking to do what we require with the exception of the one lee-neilson plane I own which was perfect from the box!
Jools

 

[John H]

Nothing wrong with the parellel guides.  You have to calibrate them, easily within that range.  No QC issue whatsoever......

Calibrate and use them!!! 

Do you not see that one is longer than the other???

For the money you paid for those, you would expect them to be the same - no?

I had a set, found them to be very clumsy to use and there are other alternatives on the market that in my opinion simply work better

Send them back

 

[Larso]

I have a set of these and they arent that great,good but not great.I agree the length is of no consequence to the operation but it definately is a quality control issue that should be caught before shipping.
I really belive we should recieve all woodworking tools accurate and ready for use straight from the box.
The idea of calibrating or adjusting a brand new item before use has never sat well with me.

 

[sancho57]

With this type of tool yes you need to calibrate it if anything to adj it for the blade thickness. There are many aftermarket blades that are not 2.2 MM and even some Festool blades. Plus if you sharpen your blades you will lose blade thickness as well.

Just my opinion. Your milage may differ

 

[Pixel]

These puppies just arrived today, however I noticed that the metric rule (tape) on the guides didn't seem to line up on the two extensions... then I noticed that they weren't the same length?! 

Holy toledo Festool, get your quality control together! Unbelievable, this is the 6th tool now with a QC defect.

Mine are off as well.  One parallel guide is almost 2 inches longer.

You are wrong in your assumption that one is 2" longer than the other her's why.

When they were making your guides the engineer accidentally cut your first rail 1" too short, probably due to a stray piece of material being up against the stop, to make sure you were not "short changed" he cut the second rail 2" longer to make up for the shortfall on the first rail.

 

[Gary in Texas]

Nothing wrong with the parellel guides.  You have to calibrate them, easily within that range.  No QC issue whatsoever......

Calibrate and use them!!! 

Do you not see that one is longer than the other???

For the money you paid for those, you would expect them to be the same - no?

I had a set, found them to be very clumsy to use and there are other alternatives on the market that in my opinion simply work better

Send them back

John H, you've got me LOL.  Can you tell me what the MAC or DAC are for the parallel guides.  Most manufactured items have an "acceptance criteria" and as long as the part meets either the manufacturing acceptance criteria or the design acceptance criteria, it's good to go.  Please provide me with the design drawing of the parallel guides so that we can determine if the OP's guides are within or outwith the design.  If they fall outside Of the design min/max, then I will accept it is a QC issue. 

Too many on the FOG are quick to jump to conclusions over a slight discrepancy on something such as the parallel guide, or a slight blemish on the sole of their TS, etc....and are quick to jump to incorrect decisions about QC or design issues.....

The guides are adjustable and can/have to be calibrated.  Period.

As far as better options, well, I do have the Seneca alternatives also, with the Incra miter track.  The plastic ruler material on the Incra has to be calibrated...  Hmmm....