Parallel guides extension ?

[mastercabman]

I am thinking of getting the parallel guides,since there's a 10% discount and i have a couple job to do that i think it would great to have.But I'm not so sure about the extension.I know what they can do,but if i need to rip anything that small,i can use my table saw.
Is it worth it?  Am i going to regret not getting them? 
The parallel guides are just $207.00 .As for the set  $292.50.
i have other accessories that i like to get,so if i don't get the extension,then i would have some extra to get what i need.

 

[ajones]

I bought the set. on special over here in the UK too. dont regret it at all. money well spent.

 

[tbellemare]

It's tremendously easier and, I think, safer to use the Parallel Guide Extensions to make narrow rips off sheet stock.

However, if you're happy using a table saw and your money can be spent more usefully on something else, you can always get them later, (or not).

You save $31.50 if you buy them with the Parallel Guides as a set - but if you don't have a need for them and won't use them anyway, you lose $85 for buying them as a set.

That's the way I'd look at it...

Tom

 

[Corwin]

Have you looked at some of the home-grown versions of a parallel guide?  You will likely be much happier with a version that sits on top of the material rather than along the sides as the Festool guides are.  As I see it, the only rational reason for Festool to have designed such an arrangement was to accommodate the extensions -- so, if you don't want the extensions, why go with such a poorly designed guide?  Don't get me wrong, I love my Festools, but, not every Festool product is a hit.  And the design of these parallel guides sure does miss the mark in my book.

Several of us have designed our own versions of a parallel guide -- some just recently and others long before Festool offered their new product.  When I first posted a photo of my guide here, it was met with little interest.  Some replies were that you didn't need a jig to align your rails, and just marking a V where you wanted to cut was all that was needed.  Others said that, since I use Incra scales, the unit was too expensive.  It seems funny to me now to see how much praise has been given to these rather pricey Festool guides when I truly believe that they are a poorly design accessory.  Sorry Festool, but I call 'em like I see 'em -- anything less and my opinion wouldn't be worth squat.

 

[tbellemare]

the only rational reason for Festool to have designed such an arrangement was to accommodate the extensions

Corwin:

Do you use the Festool Parallel Guide Set or have you used it regularly? I'm curious because I, personally, hate to recommend anything that I don't feel completely comfortable about to any of my customers or potential customers.

In my limited use and observation of my customers' use, they are the best product for their purpose...

I would love to see how you would like for them to be improved or how you think we could easily come by something similar that is an improvement.

If it isn't a silly request, would you please point me to the obviously better solutions?

Thanks, and kind regards,

Tom

 

[Corwin]

I would love to see how you would like for them to be improved or how you think we could easily come by something similar that is an improvement.

If it isn't a silly request, would you please point me to the obviously better solutions?

Thanks, and kind regards,
Tom

Hi Tom, 

Not a silly request at all.  I'll start by pointing you to the more parallel guides thread.  These designs work better than what Festool offers in that you do not have to adjust the guides to the size of your material, you don't have to shim thinner material and the scales won't sag towards the ends.  You can also make these to accommodate whatever width you'll need...

Years ago I made a parallel guide for larger work, like ripping down 4'x8' or 5'x5' material.  That jig works in a similar fashion to those in the previously linked thread, but has a one-piece base to make the jig easier to handle -- carry and position the jig with a guide rail attached rather than carry and position a guide rail with some parallel guides attached.  Also, the guide rail is attached to the jig via a piano hinge to enable you to easily rip strips that are narrower than the guide rail.  I describe the jig and how to cut the narrower strips in posts 15 thru 21 of the Squaring Melamine & Working... thread.  This jig may be somewhat large for taking onsite for some people, but it works very well for me in my shop.

I hope this sheds some more light on why I feel the Festool parallel guides are not the best design and that one might prefer to look to a home-brewed solution.  I'm sure that for someone that has nothing else to perform these functions, the Festool guides are useable.  But I certainly feel that they are not as fast and easy to use as the homemade jigs I have mentioned here.  But, to each their own.

 

[fso]

Have you looked at some of the home-grown versions of a parallel guide?  You will likely be much happier with a version that sits on top of the material rather than along the sides as the Festool guides are.  As I see it, the only rational reason for Festool to have designed such an arrangement was to accommodate the extensions -- so, if you don't want the extensions, why go with such a poorly designed guide?  Don't get me wrong, I love my Festools, but, not every Festool product is a hit.  And the design of these parallel guides sure does miss the mark in my book.

Several of us have designed our own versions of a parallel guide -- some just recently and others long before Festool offered their new product.  When I first posted a photo of my guide here, it was met with little interest.  Some replies were that you didn't need a jig to align your rails, and just marking a V where you wanted to cut was all that was needed.  Others said that, since I use Incra scales, the unit was too expensive.  It seems funny to me now to see how much praise has been given to these rather pricey Festool guides when I truly believe that they are a poorly design accessory.  Sorry Festool, but I call 'em like I see 'em -- anything less and my opinion wouldn't be worth squat.

Good point of view. I was contemplating getting the parallel guides, but having the guide lay on top of the material is obviously a better choice.  Could you post a picture or link to the design you mentioned.

 

[Corwin]

Good point of view. I was contemplating getting the parallel guides, but having the guide lay on top of the material is obviously a better choice.  Could you post a picture or link to the design you mentioned.

Thanks!  I assume that my last reply above was posted while you were typing your reply.  Check the links in that last reply I posted.  If you would like any further information, please feel free to ask.

 

[joiner1970]

Have you looked at some of the home-grown versions of a parallel guide?  You will likely be much happier with a version that sits on top of the material rather than along the sides as the Festool guides are.  As I see it, the only rational reason for Festool to have designed such an arrangement was to accommodate the extensions -- so, if you don't want the extensions, why go with such a poorly designed guide?  Don't get me wrong, I love my Festools,

Its not designed that way just to accomodate the extensions its that way because the guide attaches under the rail more firmly. If you had the homemade guides even though i like the idea of them they can twist the edge of the rail if you lift the rail where as the festool ones wont.

 

[ajones]

While shop made jigs/guides fabricated by the user are great, and may even influence tool manufacturers to come up with their own solutions
for me If I can go and buy something off the shelf that suits me.Im sure that festool will in time offer the MK 2 verion of the guides. What is available on the shelves is down to innovators whether they are individuals or corporations

 

[Rob-GB]

While shop made jigs/guides fabricated by the user are great, and may even influence tool manufacturers to come up with their own solutions
for me If I can go and buy something off the shelf that suits me.Im sure that festool will in time offer the MK 2 verion of the guides. What is available on the shelves is down to innovators whether they are individuals or corporations

I quite agree.

I like the many 'home brewed' alternatives, for their solution orientated genius and for their effectiveness, but I really like my 'official' ones. [eek]
This is due to several factors:-

No workshop space or shed or spare room I can annexe at the moment [sad]
The time it would take for me to- source, buy, then articulate into a working model, is, when estimated as an hourly rate for my time and labour + the materials and the odd taps/dies, files, etc that I am bound to need, so darn close to what the current offer cost then I get the carrycase thrown in! It was a no brainer for me ;D

I will still add a few mods to them as I need to... because I always end up finding an unusual 'need' relating to woodworking tools ;D ;D
( I would have been a good character in "Needful Things" by Stephen King  [big grin])
Rob.

 

[GPowers]

I found the extensions too be very useful.

Everyone here on the board states over and over again to start off cutting your sheet goods with a clean edge. The start you break down of the sheet good and finish on the MFT/3 to square off the ends. The extensions make the first cut easer.

The first project I used the Parallel guides for was building a cutting table. Need a bunch of plywood  strips 120mm wide. The extension worked perfect for this application. This would have be difficult on the table say. Cutting the 120mm strips with the Parallel guides was a snap. 

I also hate it when you only have half of the tool to do the job. So most of the time I buy the Festool set when purchasing something.

Very happy that I bought the extensions.

 

[Rob-GB]

I found the extensions too be very useful.

Everyone here on the board states over and over again to start off cutting your sheet goods with a clean edge. The start you break down of the sheet good and finish on the MFT/3 to square off the ends. The extensions make the first cut easer.

The first project I used the Parallel guides for was building a cutting table. Need a bunch of plywood  strips 120mm wide. The extension worked perfect for this application. This would have be difficult on the table say. Cutting the 120mm strips with the Parallel guides was a snap. 

I also hate it when you only have half of the tool to do the job. So most of the time I buy the Festool set when purchasing something.

Very happy that I bought the extensions.

Me too! My current pet peeve (or complaint) is that most other router manufacturers include the side fence and bars! Just think of what any router user is going to do without the basic items! [eek]
Okay you can buy it with the kit box et al but I am sure sales would be greater if the OF2200 was offered as the basic version plus the bars, side fence and a 6.35(1/4") collet in addition to the 12.7mm one they include here, especially in areas that the customer may have a large collection of existing cutters that are not generally metric shanks. [embarassed] The marketing dept needs to get out more ;D  (preferably offshore)
Rob.

 

[mastercabman]

OK,I'm still thinking about the extention.Meanwhile i like to know what is the max width when the parallel guides are installed on the 55" rail?

 

[honeydoman]

I love the parrell guides,  I learned how to use them last november in the festool class as the woodcraft store in my area when I first looked at them were not very helpful.

I have also written an article on using them

http://www.thisiscarpentry.com/2010/06/04/festool-cabinet-training-class-kreg/

the extensions are designed for small rips, and work fine for that.  I do not do that many small rips and if so I use my delta unisaw if in shop or a portable table saw I carry in my van.

CabMan..... on the 56" rail they will fit across a 48" sheet of ply.

but you will probably need to buy the longer rail to rip sheet goods down for bookcase and cabinets etc.

and yes you can make a homemade version, but why?  save a few bucks?  these I think are very accurate, and great for repeat cuts without remarking ply.  saves time and makes me money.

And I understand that lots of people ared always looking for ways to make the same thing or homemade version, which is fine for those.

just like the mft top  you could spend several hours cutting down mdf drilling holes etc, fine  I rather buy another new top when needed and move on.  time is money.

any way.

enough!

 

[Corwin]

...

any way.

enough!

If this is too much for you, why did you reply?  Seriously, why do you feel the need to include this???    ???

 

[Brice Burrell]

...

any way.

enough!

If this is too much for you, why did you reply?  Seriously, why do you feel the need to include this???    ???

I certainly can't speak for Kreg here but his replies are always so positive and enthusiastic that I don't think he meant anything by his "enough' comment.

 

[tbellemare]

I took as Kreg meaning that he was done with his review.

Tom

 

[Corwin]

I took as Kreg meaning that he was done with his review.

Tom

That's a very creative interpretation, Tom.    [unsure]

I realize that some of the home-brewed jigs are not for everyone.  While they may take a little time to produce, it also takes some time at work to earn the money to pay for the Festool units.  They certainly don't require a large amount of shop space to make either.  But, time, space and money aside, the point that I wanted to make was that one can do better than the product Festool offers.  And with a modest amount of space, time and effort, you too can produce a jig that just might save you time and effort each and every time you put it to use  You will not need to go to school to learn how to use these jigs and they will not twist the edge of the guide rail.

This now concludes my thoughts on this subject.    [wink]

 

[honeydoman]

That is all I meant. As I could go on and on. So I was just done with my review