UJK Rail Clips vs Benchdogs Rail Dogs

[graveyardshifter]

Hi All. New Festool owner here from Saskatchewan, Canada. Just a DIYer but I bought myself into the system because I'll be working in our basement and wanted the best in dust collection. Bought a DF 500 including the tenon set, CT26, & ETS 125.

I'm planning to buy the TS55 soon so I made my own MFT top (60" x 36"). Now I'm thinking which system to buy for attaching the rail to the MFT. Two options popped up: the UJK Rail Clip and the Benchdogs.co.uk rail dog.

Anyone with any experience using both? Any feedback which is better? Thanks in advance!

 

[Pant]

The rail clips apply force such that the track becomes slightly tilted and you don't get 90 degrees-to-face cuts. Rail is very easy to move and remove.

Rail dogs are extremely annoying to use, it is very hard to lift the track out and the holes are torqued and get loose. The track is hard to get out even when the holes are too loose to get any sort of accurate cut. Also I don't understand how you are supposed to attach them to track to same position every time since there is so much slop. They get tightened into random position in the track and then you get a few mm variance every time you attach them.

Imo rail clips are superior but not getting 90 degree-to-face cuts consistently is still pretty bad so I don't use them. I use a custom solution that involves tapped holes on the track so that force is correctly applied laterally so the track is not tilted out of 90.

Benchdogs also has rail square which allows attaching the track to MFT holes using the grooved adaptors. It is very hard to remove like the rail dogs and after doing maybe 20 cuts the holes I used for its alignment became extremely loose and the whole setup became like 3 mm per 1000mm out of square. Like with rail dogs it is probably the torque on the holes that did it, except it's even worse since he torque is applied with the entire rail length as moment arm.

 

[graveyardshifter]

The rail clips apply force such that the track becomes slightly tilted and you don't get 90 degrees-to-face cuts. Rail is very easy to move and remove.

Rail dogs are extremely annoying to use, it is very hard to lift the track out and the holes are torqued and get loose. The track is hard to get out even when the holes are too loose to get any sort of accurate cut. Also I don't understand how you are supposed to attach them to track to same position every time since there is so much slop. They get tightened into random position in the track and then you get a few mm variance every time you attach them.

Imo rail clips are superior but not getting 90 degree-to-face cuts consistently is still pretty bad so I don't use them. I use a custom solution that involves tapped holes on the track so that force is correctly applied laterally so the track is not tilted out of 90.

Benchdogs also has rail square which allows attaching the track to MFT holes using the grooved adaptors. It is very hard to remove like the rail dogs and after doing maybe 20 cuts the holes I used for its alignment became extremely loose and the whole setup became like 3 mm per 1000mm out of square. Like with rail dogs it is probably the torque on the holes that did it, except it's even worse since he torque is applied with the entire rail length as moment arm.

Thanks for that detailed response. That’s actually what I thought of rail dogs, looks painful to use. I also have concerns with the rail clips not maintaining its shape but it does look like the better option. Thanks again!

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[Rick Herrick]

I use the UJK rail clips without issue.  I have done the 4/5 cut method several times and its perfect IMO.  Takes getting used to, between cuts, though.  After a cut I flip the rail up completely and let it rest against the two Parf Super Dogs I use to hold the clips, in order to get your board out easily.

 

[TSO_Products]

[member=74187]graveyardshifter[/member]  - welcome to the FOG!
your question about Dog Rail Clips is easily answered by the years and thousand of Dog Rail Clips in use in North America since we in troduced here.

You can buy them conveniently from ULTIMATE TOOLS, Canada's oldest established FESTOOL dealer and Canada's largest stocking dealer of TSO Products:https://www.ultimatetools.ca/collections/tso-products/products/dog-rail-clip-ujk

Hans

 

[slackula@gmail.com]

I have never used the rail clips but recently bought the benchdogs' systainer set and am very happy with it.https://benchdogs.co.uk/collections...2-dog-mobile-systainer?variant=32174055456871

Just this weekend I received the b-collars that fit on the dogs and set the guide rail at height which helps with the problem mentioned above, the difficulty of removing the rail.

As I said, I do not have the clips, and I do not consider myself an authority on this subject, but to my mind the rail dogs fit into the t-slot under the rail and the top of that slot is the rail on which the saw slides. This means the saw is perfectly aligned with the center of whichever dog holes you are using.
The bench clips, again to my mind, involve a further degree of separation from the holes by butting the far side of the rail against the dogs and relying upon the accuracy of the extrusion to translate the straightness from the holes to the rail.

The difference may well be negligible or non-existent. Just some thoughts.

 

[mkasdin]

I have never used the rail clips but recently bought the benchdogs' systainer set and am very happy with it.https://benchdogs.co.uk/collections...2-dog-mobile-systainer?variant=32174055456871

Just this weekend I received the b-collars that fit on the dogs and set the guide rail at height which helps with the problem mentioned above, the difficulty of removing the rail.

As I said, I do not have the clips, and I do not consider myself an authority on this subject, but to my mind the rail dogs fit into the t-slot under the rail and the top of that slot is the rail on which the saw slides. This means the saw is perfectly aligned with the center of whichever dog holes you are using.
The bench clips, again to my mind, involve a further degree of separation from the holes by butting the far side of the rail against the dogs and relying upon the accuracy of the extrusion to translate the straightness from the holes to the rail.

The difference may well be negligible or non-existent. Just some thoughts.

my thought is if your doing repetitive cuts then if there is an inaccuracy it translates to all the cuts, thus nullifying the error. Dumb logic, but it makes foolish sense
Along the same lines we would hope that the underside of the t-track is perfectly parallel with the blade kerf or cut line, which it probably is. So I guess you just have to make a few test cuts with the clips and check the accuracy? The accuracy has more to do with the Festool aluminum guide rail extrusion and lack of machining, then the ujk clips?

 

[cubevandude]

I have the UJK Rail Clips and really like them.  I use them with the Lee Valley Stainless dogs.  I got them special order from Lee Valley for $8 a set plus shipping.  If you don't mind waiting this is the cheapest option.
I'm in Ontario.

 

[graveyardshifter]

I have the UJK Rail Clips and really like them.  I use them with the Lee Valley Stainless dogs.  I got them special order from Lee Valley for $8 a set plus shipping.  If you don't mind waiting this is the cheapest option.
I'm in Ontario.

Thanks! I’m in SK. I see the Veritas one which is $26.50, did you just email them for a special order?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[cubevandude]

Thanks! I’m in SK. I see the Veritas one which is $26.50, did you just email them for a special order?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Those are the dogs I use.  Get a couple of "Clamping Knob for 20mm Posts" too.  A couple of the short dogs to make the 90 degree fence also.

Yes I did just email them.

 

[N.wiegerinck]

Interesting topic, can't quite make a decision yet what would work better for me (the clips or the rail dogs with B collar).

I've seen this product in one of Peter Millard's videos, did anyone try this product? Seems interesting and effective!

Video

Product:https://www.sautershop.com/magnet-set-for-guide-rails-sa-vb-mag-kit?c=15503