Seneca Parallel Guide Improvements

[Dick Mahany]

I recently had a large project that required a lot of parallel guide work for panels and narrow face frames.  I used the Seneca parallel guides and really like the design and they were well machined. However I did experience some creep (likely due to my technique) on successive cuts.  I had difficulty tightening the supplied star knobs sufficiently and also didn't care for the nylon set screw on the narrow strip adapters.

Replacing the knobs with short-stud adjustable lever handles and using brass tipped set screws solved those issues and I had excellent repeatability after that.  The lever handles are easily indexable by lifting and rotating if needed, also they are small enough and do not interfere with saw travel.  Here are a few pictures to show the modifications.

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

The parts came from McMaster Carr:
Handles - 6271K67
Set Screws - 90669A537

 

[Paul G]

Thanks for sharing your upgrade, very nice

 

[Klemm]

very good improvement and easy to do. Thanks for the detail and "where-to-buy" - quite thoughtful
regards
Hans

 

[brucebo]

smart, cost-effective fix.  Thanks for sharing and including part#'s/supplier!

 

[95hilux]

Cheers I was having the same problem and maybe McMaster-Carr should give you are commission on all the business you are sending there way.

 

[wkearney99]

Incra is also selling some handles sort of like those.  Set of four for $15.95.
http://www.incrementaltools.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=BKNOBS2

The difference being they're designed to allow a push/turn kind of ratchet to let you use them in spaces where you might not have enough swing to get a full handle turn.  Like on the back of a fence or t-track near material.  I'd imagine handle-only ones would allow for better torque but the Incra ones are pretty convenient.

 

[rst]

I'm fairly crtain that the one shown are the adjustable handle type, only real difference is that his look like the are probably industrial steel models compared to the plastic ones sold by Incra.  I buy them (plastic) from my local hardware store and I had bought them at Grizzly before they closed in Muncy, PA.

 

[Renovatedspaces]

I just picked my Seneca Parallel guides up. Put them together and find that the narrow stock adapters have play in them. Is this normal?

 

[CaptFrantic]

I just picked my Seneca Parallel guides up. Put them together and find that the narrow stock adapters have play in them. Is this normal?

Now I know this is a huge kick from the past.

But I'm experiencing the same issue. anyone have the same experience? How can we fix this?

 

[shyconversationalist]

I just found this thread yesterday, ordered the parts on McMaster yesterday, just installed them, and now there is absolutely zero play in my guides.  Those levers are incredibly well made.  Amazing!!!

Thank you.

 

[TSO_Products]

- the problem encountered by the OP of this thread is just one of the reasons we started on the design of a new generation design: the TSO Parallel Guide.

- without any of the slippage opportunities found in the other two well known  parallel guides nor the need "to crank down and tighten..."
https://tsoproducts.com/tso-parallel-guide-system/

Life can be sweet [smile]

Hans

 

[Roachmill]

I can't say I've ever had my Seneca guides slip and I've used them a lot; especially for narrow ripping as I don't have a table saw. Perhaps they've updated their nobs? I've had mine at a guess 18 months or so.

The few mm of sag in the narrow rip stops was annoying to begin with. I use a physical rod (eg a ruler with a stop) to set them so don't have to worry about it. Using that method removes any calibration completely and, in a lot of cases, the need to work with measurements as your rod is set to whatever the actual width is you're wanting.