Splinter guard strips on metal tracks repeatedly falling off

U

ultane

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Nov 5, 2013
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Almost all of my various tracks have the splinter guard strips falling off, especially in warm weather. I replaced one of them with a new Festool strip. But then others started to fall off. I was told that I could use double sided tape to replace them. But the residue on the strip, and on the metal is contaminated with dust.

I’m a little short on money, and would like to not buy more of the Festool splinter guards, as they don’t hold up, especially in the heat. Does anyone have any ideas on how to clean the sticky glue off the parts without ruining the soft splinter guard, and what kind or brand of double sided tape to use?

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I have used Makita splinter strips with great success. I take off the loose Festool strip nd replace with the Makita strip (the Makita strips are black like the Festool strips used to be).

Jack
 
As mentioned acetone to clean off. Then Tom offered up this alternative double stick adhesive for the strips. Also a good time to turn the strip around and extend it a tiny bit so it gets cut off again, creating a clean new edge as a cutting guide.https://www.amazon.com/3M-Indoor-Mo...=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1529092197&sr=1-1&keywords=3M+Indoor+Window+Film+Mounting+Tape.5-Inch+x+13.8-Yard%2C+Clear%2C+1+Roll%2FPack

How you care for your rail is very important. NEVER let the weight of the rail rest on the edge of the splinter strip, especially for storage. I also nip the corners of the splinter strip as they are not used since the saw never cuts at the absolute edge.
Edit: I do have a long rail though and very rarely attach them together.
 
All of my guide rails are older with the black splinter strips, and I have yet to have any issue with them -- even after a dozen years. Festool really needs to return to the old strip material.
 
Festool now has an association with 3M on the body shop end.  Perhaps the knowledge base available to them thru probably the largest manufacturer of tape adhesives can solve this issue.  And yes Fstool it is an issue.  Stop worrying about repositioning - rarely does anyone do that.  They just want the strip to stick.

I have resorted to using contact cement to apply my strips.

Peter
 
Every time I use any of my 4 different sized tracks, the splinter strips are in a different position than in the previous use. Unreliability of exact cut line is the norm. I think I'll need to use a competitors strips in the future, and wait for a redesign here.
 
I have two older Festool rails with the black splinter strips and have no problems with them but,I had the same problem with the clear Festool strips so I changed all mine to the Makita strips.

Mike
 
As a different data point: I have three 140mm rails with the transparent ones (all ~4 years old), no problems.
 
Gregor said:
As a different data point: I have three 140mm rails with the transparent ones (all ~4 years old), no problems.
Click to expand...

Same here, but we get to keep the good stuff here in Euro country.
All the inferior stuff is shipped to the US and sold for top dollar :-)
 
I tape up the ends with metal tape. They are a pain. Only down side to the makita strips is when you need to change them it’s quite a bit of gunk removal.
 
I have two of them (1400mm), with the transparent strips. Both are about 2 years old. Haven't had any trouble with the strips at all up to now. Let's hope it stays that way.
 
NL-mikkla said:
Gregor said:
As a different data point: I have three 140mm rails with the transparent ones (all ~4 years old), no problems.
Click to expand...

Same here, but we get to keep the good stuff here in Euro country.
All the inferior stuff is shipped to the US and sold for top dollar :-)
Click to expand...
I don't see Festool going through the hazzle of creating an additional (especially willfully inferior) product just for the US market.

Which might exactly be the problem: adhesives are usually formulated for the environmental conditions of a certain area, different environmental conditions might lead to the adhesive failing. Or there might be an issue that the rails havn't been cleaned correctly, thus something sticking to the metal keeps the adhesive from bonding (this could be tested though by removing a strip, cleaning the rail with plenty of acetone and applying a fresh one).

The former though might have a problem similar to what is portrayed in this video:


(Equipment not made for a certain region)
 
As a reader of most posts here, honestly I think that for some weird reason the climates in North America just mess with the adhesives.

Now that the majority of the rails offered in North America are being produced in North America there is an opportunity to stylize the offerings here.

Peter
 
I wonder how much expansion and contraction of the white plastic has to do with this problem?  I have used a strong carpet tape and cleaned the aluminum completely and still have the ends come loose but only on the 118" rail.  It has held up fine on the shorter rails (after the carpet tape that is).
 
I know this doesn't help but just as a point of interest related to the problem.................

        Many years ago when the Festool strips were the black ones people complained that the strips and adhesive were too hard to remove when replacing the strip.  Yes, I thought so too. It was a real job to get the old adhesive off. Festool responded with the new clear strips and easier to remove adhesive.  Guess we need something in between the two.  [unsure]

Seth
 
With them old strips a bit of rubbing alcohol and a razor blade it was super easy to strip of the gunk. To the point it wasn't really a problem. Just shear it off and with some alcohol as a lubricant it just slices off.

I did dry wipe afterwards as the red alcohol based cleaning agent we use over here leaves a very thin film residue it seems but a quick dry wipe and it is gone.

I don't get along with the new strips, so I got Makita and at one point DeWalt black strips, works well.

 
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