Qwas rail dogs fit very loose

[paulhtremblay]

I bought some qwas rail dogs. When I attach them to the bottom of my 55 '' track, there is a huge amount of play, no matter how much I tighten them. When I put the track in my MFT, I can actually wiggle it quite a bit out of square.

 

[rmwarren]

I believe there was a thread a few months ago where someone had a similar problem and it turned out the bolts were bottoming out before they fully tightened. The dealer sent them new bolts to correct to problem.

RMW

 

[paulhtremblay]

I believe there was a thread a few months ago where someone had a similar problem and it turned out the bolts were bottoming out before they fully tightened. The dealer sent them new bolts to correct to problem.

RMW

Yes, that's what is happening. But I have four rails dogs and 3 Festool rails, and the rail dogs don't fit on any of them. In other words, both sets of rail dogs are defective. I wonder if the thickness of Festool rails has changed slightly.

 

[paulhtremblay]

Just came back from the hardware with new bolts. The new bolts fit tighter, but still allow for way too much play.

 

[rrmccabe]

So are you saying when they are tight the dogs still move? Or they are just sloppy side to side until tightened?

 

[paulhtremblay]

So are you saying when they are tight the dogs still move? Or they are just sloppy side to side until tightened?

When the dogs are completely tightened, they move. If I tighten the dogs and hold the rail upside down, I can move the dogs about 1/2 an inch. If I insert the dogs in the MFT, tighten it as much as possible by hand, I can then move the rail at least 1/8 of an inch. There is space between the bottom of the nut and the lip of the rail. If the Festool rail were thicker, the dogs would probably tighten properly. As it is now, I can slid out the dogs, even when I tighten them as much as possible.

 

[elfick]

Is the lip bottoming out on the screw? Did you can try a washer as shown on the raildog page. ( http://www.qwasproducts.com/RailDogs.html )

 

[paulhtremblay]

Is the lip bottoming out on the screw? Did you can try a washer as shown on the raildog page. ( http://www.qwasproducts.com/RailDogs.html )

I have the full length dogs, so I didn't notice the picture with the washer. Yes, the washer would probably work. I couldn't find one small enough at the hardware store, and anyway assumed I had some other problem. Also, I have a Festool track, so I wonder why I would need the washers. If washers are the fix, why the heck doesn't the seller provide the 15 cent part?

 

[elfick]

Also, I have a Festool track, so I wonder why I would need the washers. If washers are the fix, why the heck doesn't the seller provide the 15 cent part?

I agree... I don't thing it was intended to be that way. I'd guess you got a defective part and the neck wasn't trimmed to proper length. I'd suggest getting a hold of qwas or your retailer. I'm sure they'll make it right.

 

[rrmccabe]

I would just contact Steve at qwas. He is always on top of things.

 

[mjaynes]

I have the exact same issue!  I even searched this forum yesterday morning and didn't see any recent posts on the topic - so I thought it was just me.   I can hand tighten and still slide the Rail Dog out - and the bolt is bottomed out.  My problem with using the washer is negating the shoulder on top of the dog that is designed to register in the rail groove.

 

[elfick]

My problem with using the washer is negating the shoulder on top of the dog that is designed to register in the rail groove.

I totally get that... Two possible fixes come to mind. You could try filing/grinding down the neck. You could also file down the sides of the washer so it fits inside the slot thus avoiding negation of the neck/slot alignment.

 

[rrmccabe]

If the shoulder is sticking through the track extrusion too far my vote would be file that should down so its less than track thickness.  Still will register but wont inhibit clamping.

 

[rrmccabe]

Here is a picture of mine clamped tight.

You can see the shoulder is shorter than track thickness.

 

[paulhtremblay]

Got an email from Bob Marino today. He informed me that some of the screws "did not have the threading tapped all the way down." He is sending me new, shorter screws. I'll post again when I get the new screws.

 

[paulhtremblay]

Thanks for the picts. It does seem my shoulder was too long.

I got the replacement screws today that seem like ordinary screws with no shoulder. They fit completely tight without any wobble.

The bad screws turned out fortuitous. I had almost started cutting using the rail and bench dogs in my MFT3 top. I bought just the top and not the base. After the screws didn't fit I looked at more videos featuring the MFT3 table with the rails and guide, and saw it would really help me normal size pieces much faster than if I just had the dogs. The full table will also help me cut smaller pieces, whereas just the tabletop with dogs would have made that task difficult, always having to use scrap pieces on both sides of the rail.

So I saved the MFT3 top from getting any cuts in it and got the right tool.