Upgrade/Replacement for FS KS Angle Unit

[Corwin]

I have wished that the FS KS Angle Unit could be more like many of the newer miter gauges and today I addressed that issue.  The idea came to me today in the shower, so this afternoon I went down to my local hardware store a picked up a length of aluminum angle, drilled a few holes and assembled the jig you see below.  Haven't actually used this yet, but it looks like it ought to work.

To construct, I simply disassembled the FS KS Angle Unit to salvage the plate that attaches to the guide rail.  This could be done differently, but it was on hand.  Next I cut 2"x2" aluminum angle to 12" length.  Drilled two holes in aluminum angle to align with existing holes in the plate I salvaged from the Angle Unit -- and two more to mount to my miter gauge.  Screw it up.  Done.

Now if I could fit it all into a Systainer...

Corwin

 

[Ned]

Corwin--

Great prototype. 

I don't see that you need the FS-KS plate at all.  Couldn't the aluminum angle have been drilled to fit the rail and the miter gauge, and that's it?  Am I missing something?

Ned

 

[John Stevens]

Are you going to try it with a guide rail mounted on your MFT?  I was going to put a miter track in my MFT after the holidays but I might try it your way, on the MFT & modified as Ned suggests.  If you try it first, please give us an update.  Many thanks for sharing this idea.

Regards,

John

 

[Corwin]

Yes, you would not have to use the plate from the FS KS Angle Unit.  Instead you could easily make your own part.  Using this plate, however, was simple, immediate and accomplishes the task.  Actually, if there is an area for improvement in my jig, it is this very part.  Would be better to align the jig with the Guide Rail using the rail's hat rather than the inside lip of the T track...

Other jigs work on the MFT -- this one wasn't designed specifically for that, but rather to be used with a cutting table/support just as one would use the FS KS Angle Unit.  The jig was simply photographed on top of my MFTs as my cutting table is out in the garage where it is a little too cold right now.

In case it is still not too clear, the jig's miter channel is placed against the material to be cut -- indexing off the edge of the material.  The jig then allows the Guide Rail to be placed at the desired angle relative to that edge. 

Corwin

On Edit:  After rereading Ned's reply, the aluminum angle is not sufficient for attaching the miter gauge to the Guide Rail -- you would need a wider piece that would allow the jig to stand clear of the Guide Rail.  The plate salvaged from the FS KS Angle Unit places the miter gauge just the right distance away from the Rail for it all to work. 

 

[John Stevens]

Other jigs work on the MFT -- this one wasn't designed specifically for that, but rather to be used with a cutting table/support just as one would use the FS KS Angle Unit.

Of course, I should have realized that.  Thanks.

Regards,

John

 

[Corwin]

Maybe I can explain this a little better...

One of my main considerations in making this jig was to leave the aftermarket miter gauge unmodified such that it would still fulfill its intended purpose on other tools.  As made, the miter gauge can be installed on this jig then removed when done.  

If one were to dedicate a miter gauge for this jig, one could attach the miter gauge to the rail without using a standoff plate.  To do this, however, would require you to either cut off some of the end of the miter gauge's bar that slides within the miter channel OR to disassemble the bar and drill it such that it can be remounted going the other direction.  Otherswise the bar of the miter gauge protrudes beyond the Guide Rail's cut line -- and you would cut off the end of the bar on your first try.  

As is, the standoff plate allows the miter gauge to remain unmodified and still usefull for other tools.

Hope this explains the issue better.
Corwin

 

[justinh]

This is a very cool upgrade.  I ended up with a random hole in my schedule and modified the angle gauge as shown.  It works  like I expected the Festool unit to.  Thanks much for the tip.

Justin