Using Festool Guide Rails for Non-Festool Router? Router guide?

[MikeDVB]

Hey guys!

I don't think the GF is going to approve me purchasing a Festool router - as I promised no more tools this month - but I'm looking to see what I can do for routing dados.  My table saw is just a jobsite saw and I don't really feel comfortable using a dado stack on it, nor do I have one.

I do have 32", 55" and 118" tracks for my TS 55 - so if there is any way I can use those to guide my router - that'd be great.

Ultimately I think I'd like to pick up a Festool router - but it's not in the cards right now.

Does anybody know of a guide accessory I can use on my Bosch router to use the festool rails?  I can just clamp the rail and then use the edge guide on the bosch to follow the outer edge - but I'd prefer something that will keep it from moving either way and only permits lateral movement along the rail.

 

[gnlman]

Hi. You could buy the festool guide stop accessory to use on your rails... and fashion a base to accept the rods....doubtful it will align with your bosch router, but hey...maybe....thinking a wooden base with some tee nuts and knobs on the base to lock it down...I have one for my 1400 and it is much faster (and safer) than using a table saw....I only have a dewalt jobsite saw, and it will not take a dado set...I only use it for narrow cuts as it's faster...no need for a big table saw with the track saw..
Greg

 

[MikeDVB]

Hi. You could buy the festool guide stop accessory to use on your rails... and fashion a base to accept the rods....doubtful it will align with your bosch router, but hey...maybe....thinking a wooden base with some tee nuts and knobs on the base to lock it down...I have one for my 1400 and it is much faster (and safer) than using a table saw....I only have a dewalt jobsite saw, and it will not take a dado set...I only use it for narrow cuts as it's faster...no need for a big table saw with the track saw..
Greg

I'm really just trying to find something workable until I'm able to get a Festool router.  I was handling them a bit at my local shop last week and I think I'd like the tool.  Just gotta wait.

Ultimately I'd like to get a SawStop Table Saw - even if it's just a job site saw - mostly because I'll take any extra precautions I can to save my fingers.  I like to think I'm smarter than the tool and that I am as safe as I can be - but if it turns out I make a mistake - I'd rather destroy a blade than lose some fingers.

My Bosch saw will take a dado set - I'm just not comfortable running a dado set on it because in hard wood with a normal [not thin-kerf] blade it will bog a little.

 

[Dick Mahany]

A simple adapter can be made with some threaded rod and a piece of plywood or some other material of choice.  I have several Bosch routers and use them with my Festool tracks often.

1618 in plunge base
[attachimg=1]

1618 in Dhandle base
[attachimg=2]

Colt in plunge base
[attachimg=3]

Note the over constrained use of both guides on the rail.  In this mode I have maximum stability at the expense of disabling the fine adjust capability on the Festool guides.  It can simply be reset so that only one guide pilots on the rail and allowing the micro adjust.
[attachimg=4]

 

[MikeDVB]

Awesome!

So you just got the router guides and then used threaded rod of the appropriate size to an intermediate adapter?

 

[Dick Mahany]

Awesome!

So you just got the router guides and then used threaded rod of the appropriate size to an intermediate adapter?

Yes.  Festool guides don't come with the metal guide rods and I got the all thread at my local home center.  I found that removing the metal clamping plates inside the guides worked better with the threaded rod.  The threaded rods in the festool guides are inexpensive 5/16" and 3/8" for the Bosch routers.

In all it was a cost effective alternative. (As much as I would like a Festool router, my budget is used for other tools since these tools have worked so well)

 

[MikeDVB]

Awesome.  I'll have to order the guides .

 

[gnlman]

That's what I was talking about Dick....great stuff and pictures....and yes if you are thinking of getting a festool router in the future this is a really nice accessory to have and not too expensive too get you by for now!

Yes looking at sawstop as well....jobsite saw as well...would like bigger saw with nicer better quality fence, but I don't use the saw much and the room it would take up doesn't work for me....but really like the cast iron tops...lol
Good luck with your dado's...be safe.
Greg

 

[MikeDVB]

Room is definitely at a premium for me as well - but I'm in the process of organizing everything in my shop to give me more space.  I have an 4'x8' assembly table but it has wheels I can flip down to move it - and it's the right height for outfeed on my jointer and table saw so I'm not having a separate outfeed table as well.

It's great being a woodworker and being able to build storage solutions that either are expensive to buy pre-made or simply not produced commercially.