Parrallel guides and extension?

[lambeater]

Looking at purchasing the parallel guides 495717 and 495718 for cutting parts for my cabinet build. My question is would it be better to buy the kit or do I really only need the guide set?

thx
Lambeater

 

[VictorL]

It depends. I very rarely used extensions, but when I needed them it saved a lot of time.  Buying together will save you some money and time. You don't have to place two separate orders or drive to your closest dealer. Plus your dealer might not have it in stock when you need it

VictorL

 

[peter halle]

I myself bought both.  It is an accurate way of cutting smaller strips.  I also just like to have all the options at my fingertips when I decide to do a project to maximize efficiency.

Peter

 

[Steve R]

Lambeater,

If you can say that you are never going to need to cut small strips the Parallel Guide  495717 is fine.  The reality is adding the PG Extensions is only $85 more if you buy the kit now... later it will cost you $135. Also can anyone say they won't need to cut smaller strips?  Buy the kit you won't regret it.

When I got into Festool they PG did not exist. I bought the MFT kit and love it but it won't let me measure out a 1.5 inch strip without having to add 2.2mm blade cut to 1.5 inches... kind of a pain.

I saw the PG Set in action at Festool event that Steve Bace lead.  Until I saw it in action.... I was not sure of the value of the product. When Steve Bace (Festool trainer) showed how to use them, it was a  [doh] moment. this device will add value to a project as you an make the same cut many time faster than just using a rail and tables. For a one off cut... the rail is fine. want to cut several strips to form the sides, top and bottom of cabinets.... the PGS will give you better cuts then a table saw, in a smaller space.

The Trick is to set them up correctly the first time and then you are good to go unless you drop them. At this time Festool doesn't offer a case for them...but I hear they are testing some.  If you travel to sites you might want to find a cheap rife case that they will fit in to protect them during transportation.

What the Extensions bring to the party is the ability to cut very thin strips without having to add Blade cut off to the measure. you want 1.5 inch wide strips... set  the measures and you get them... and you an cut as fast as the saw will go.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,
Steve

 

[MrToolJunkie]

The guides are great and I think that buying the whole kit is the best value.  The need to cut strips of all widths exists, even with common cabinets and it is nice to have everything you need.  The key with using the guides is to properly calibrate them to your saw.  Start with the long arms first and then calibrate the short arms.  Take your time and once set, you can get accuracy equivalent to or even better than a tablesaw.  There are a lot of great videos that show how to set up and calibrate them if you need help.  This is another awesome accessory that you may not fully appreciate until you have it and put it to use.

Scot

 

[waho6o9]

I bet when you need it and you don't have it you'll wish you had purchased them.  Go for the kit.  [big grin]

 

[vwdave]

I bought the whole kit. I still have yet to use the extensions to make small rips, but when that day comes I'll be happy I bought everything. It's much cheaper than buying them later or hurting yourself making small rips without them.

Dave

 

[ajones]

+1 if the budget allows get both I use both all the time the extensions are first rate for narrow strips

 

[Alan m]

i have the parralel guides but not the extensions. i wish i got both .
several times i have kicked myself for not doing so . some day i will get around to it.
i wish they made a hard case for them. they are a neusence to transport so i dont bother but always regret not bringing them

 

[BobKovacs]

I've got both, and find that the guides are only worth the hassle of setup if you've got more than four pieces to cut at the same width-  less than that and it's just as easy to measure each one. I've yet to use the extensions, as every time I've needed narrow rips it's only been 1 or 2 pieces, so I'll either just drop the rail on a mark and cut, or I'll run the pieces through the DW745.

 

[LostInTheWood]

+1  buy the set if you are so inclined to buy them at all

+1 BobKovacs

And also good for a precisely matched set of rips when the table saw is just not convenient.  (doing 3rd or + floor built ins, etc.)

 

[sancho57]

It all depends IMO. If you have a table saw you really wont need the guides for one cabinet job. If you have the rails to rip the sheet stock and the MFT to cross cut you wont need the guides. But if you dont have a table saw , then get the guides.

 

[lambeater]

It all depends IMO. If you have a table saw you really wont need the guides for one cabinet job. If you have the rails to rip the sheet stock and the MFT to cross cut you wont need the guides. But if you dont have a table saw , then get the guides.

Thanks for all the info guys. I do have a table saw but all my sheets are prefinished maple ply so there is always the fear of marking the surface, although one face will be covered with VG fir. Also purchased enough ply for my kitchen.

Lambeater

 

[anm8tr]

Buy the kit! If anyone here doesn't recommend them then they are simply not making the cuts to justify using them or have another method at their disposal. I just used both guides the past few days to do many thin cuts and I could not be more pleased to have them. It is amazing how many posts I read of people commenting  that they bought the guides and then never used them. I don't have a fancy table saw or much of a shop yet, but those guides made the work I did so much easier.

Now I just need to figure out why my TS55 blade is burning up the wood.

 

[EvilNuff]

...Now I just need to figure out why my TS55 blade is burning up the wood.

Playing too much Talking Heads for your TS55?  [embarassed]

 

[anm8tr]

...Now I just need to figure out why my TS55 blade is burning up the wood.

Playing too much Talking Heads for your TS55?  [embarassed]

Funny guy! Well in this case I'm not burning down the whole house, not yet anyway.

 

[TomGadwa1]

The burning is caused by using a cross cutting blade where a ripping blade should be used instead. This is true especially if it is hardwood being cut. I install a ripping blade when cutting oak, for instance and my TS55 cuts it like a knife through melted butter! 

 

[anm8tr]

Thx for the reply, I just found it now 6 months after the fact. I haven't touched my equipment for the past 6 months and was just getting prepared to start up again when I realized that I needed to address the blade issue. I saw posts regarding the kerf's on different blades so I just ordered what I thought was the 496305 rip blade with a 2.2mm kerf and I ended up with an older 487377 model with a 2.5 mm kerf.  So I am awaiting an answer from Festool to see what the real answer is. The 496305 listed on Festool USA has the blade listed with a 2.5mm kerf.

 

[sancho57]

I bought the extensions, though I dont use them a a lot, I do use them.

Another thing the extensions do is balance the PG so If your guide rail is longer then the ply you cutting with the PG hanging loose, the entensions will balance the PG so they won't twist the guide rail

(if my description makes sense)