Woodpecker's Parallel Guide System One Time Tool

[semenza]

As per forum guidelines , dealers are not allowed to post "marketing" about items that Festool considers to be a competing product. Non-dealer members may post about the product as normal. Please direct all dealer specific questions about this product to the individual dealers. 

Seth

 

[jeh]

I really wish there was an option for longer pieces of track, or to buy without the track.  I just really dont like the idea of connecting all these pieces together and still trying to use a scale. Seems like a lot of room for error.  ANyone else feel this way?  Would the incra track be compatible? 

Like many others in this thread i'm deciding between the precision system and this

I'm with you on this. A 24" (or possibly 18") piece would be better for me (with the option to joining additional pieces together). Extensions always seem like a kluge (like the Festool rails).

 

[jaredleeb]

And that helps me figure this out

So then the final tally (if you are unsure about connecting the pieces)  is the 299 system plus $50 worth of track (2 pieces at 25)  = 350

Precision System for 140 plus the same pieces of t-track plus @ $50  plus 4 flip stops to make the comparison fair ($40) = 230

Soooooo until may 25th to decide if the fancy red stuff is worth roughly 120 more .......idk.  Just thinking outloud through the keyboard, looking forward to hearing others thoughts

 

[weekendwarrior]

I need a parallel guide solution and have been debating the Festool/Seneca/Precision/RipDog solutions for a while.  If this wasn't a OTT then I think there would be more price competition.

A few of my thoughts on this product:

One of the things I don't like about the parallel guides is that plywood thicknesses less than 18mm don't work. Those flip stops look lIke they might hang down low enough to have the same issue.

I think these Woodpeckers flip stops look like an improvement over other models.  Since it's flip, you don't need to flip it all the way down- just enough to hit the end of the board you're cutting.  The stationary stops on other 3rd party solutions are not variable depth.

• The thin gauge stock adapter is unique.  Looks efficient to have the same part used for calibration and be able to swing it out of the way.
• Two sets of stops included is better than one set.
• No other solution fits in a systainer!  This is a great idea for me.
• This reaches out 13", 26", 39", 52".  You'd have to purchase several sets of Incra tracks to get the same versatility and it's still not as small as 13" or as far out as 52", and they'd never fit in a systainer.
• There's a 10% off sale at Incra right now- now's the time to get tracks!
• Only thing I wish this had was dual rules on the same track: inch on one side (right?) and metric on the other (left?).  That would have made me instantly buy.  No others have a great dual-rule solution for that, other than swapping out Incra inserts- and those have to be taped together AFAIA, and not good for variable lengths.  I wonder if production run #2 of this time will have the dual rules.  I think they overlooked that detail.  Other Woodpecker OTT have dual rules.

 

[weekendwarrior]

Do Festool clamps fit in the Woodpeckers tracks?  Another consideration...

 

[Paul G]

Over at tF there's some more info direct from woodpecker about stock thickness limits using the steel rod stops for narrower cuts http://www.talkfestool.com/vb/woodpeckers/6615-parallel-guide.html

 

[elfick]

How much clearance will the narrow stock rods need to slide underneath the track? I routinely need to rip thin strips of 1/8" HDPE and polycarbonate but this looks like that'd be too ambitious for that particular task.

It looks like 1/2" is the smallest stock size for which you could use the narrow stock rods.
http://www.talkfestool.com/vb/woodpeckers/6615-parallel-guide-2.html#post90993

You could use a scrap piece of stock for your kicker...
Set the stops to 11" and make a cut.
Then you just use the kicker to bump out the stock...
If you need 2" strips, set the stops to 13", slide in the kicker, then but your stock up to the kicker.

 

[weekendwarrior]

The Precision Parallel Guide gets down to 1/4" stock for narrow rips.

 

[rmwarren]

Do Festool clamps fit in the Woodpeckers tracks?  Another consideration...

Assuming this is the same as the Dual Purpose track, and I am certain it is, the answer is NO, not without some modification.

They will fit if you grind/file a smidgen off the sides of the clamp, the part that fits into the slot. I have done this and it does not impact the use of the clamp in any way.

RMW

 

[Slartibartfass]

Unfortunately there is not enough space for a dual metric/imperial scale. I asked Richard Hummel the question. Thats why he is offering (after I asked) just the track sections in metric and imperial to complement either set. Available on the phone either with or without the connectors. I decided to buy just the track as I won't use both simultaneously nor will I leave both of them assembled at the same time....

Will get another dark grey sys 1 and cut some foam to put this stuff in there and attach to the included sys 1 (or might switch out to a sys 2).

 

[dltflt]

Why couldn't they put imperial on one side of the track and metric on the other. Then it would be moving the guide to the other side to change to metric or imperial. It would require them to make a left and right track but imagine if imperial scale was on the outside of each track when mounted to rail and metric were on the inside.

 

[VW mick]

Unfortunately there is not enough space for a dual metric/imperial scale. I asked Richard Hummel the question. Thats why he is offering (after I asked) just the track sections in metric and imperial to complement either set. Available on the phone either with or without the connectors. I decided to buy just the track as I won't use both simultaneously nor will I leave both of them assembled at the same time....

Will get another dark grey sys 1 and cut some foam to put this stuff in there and attach to the included sys 1 (or might switch out to a sys 2).

Cool. You don't need much of an excuse for another sys build lol .

 

[weekendwarrior]

I haven't seen one of these in person, but it looks like there's enough room to mark it differently on the other side.  You can only use one side at a time anyway due to the width of the flip stops.  My guess it will be for run #2... then you can buy a 3rd set!

 

[bkharman]

Why couldn't they put imperial on one side of the track and metric on the other. Then it would be moving the guide to the other side to change to metric or imperial. It would require them to make a left and right track but imagine if imperial scale was on the outside of each track when mounted to rail and metric were on the inside.

I also had a few conversations with Richard and Wayne. Basically I pointed out the same thing about the dual scales and essentially it won't happen this round. There are too many other things that get impacted (pictures, marketing, producing copies, etc.) and would hinder changes at this stage. I tried like hell to impose my (and other FOG members') will on this as I think it is a 90% product at this point. 10% more and it could be a stellar product for a lot of people.

I might sit this one out for now and stick with my Precision Dogs guides... They haven't let me down yet!

Cheers. Bryan.

 

[JimD]

I don't know about the round bar of the Woodpecker but the basic parallel guides will work on thin material but may require you put something under the plywood to lift it up.  The Festool may be the worst since it is about 3/4 thick so anything less needs to be lifted.  It doesn't sit on top of the piece to be cut so if the wood is thinner the guide rail won't sit on it.

The Festool has a very different way of doing narrow rips.  An advantage is that you can easily cut a narrow piece off a wider board.  The other guides don't look very good at this.  The disadvantage is it hangs down pretty far - so the blade won't hit it. 

A big disadvantage of the Festool is it won't do much more than a 24 inch rip.  I like using the parallel guide as much as possible and enjoy the 36 inch reach of mine. 

So they all have their plus and minus.  I tend to buy on price unless there is a clear difference.  So I would probably get the Precision guide.

 

[Nat X]

I don't know about the round bar of the Woodpecker but the basic parallel guides will work on thin material but may require you put something under the plywood to lift it up.  The Festool may be the worst since it is about 3/4 thick so anything less needs to be lifted.  It doesn't sit on top of the piece to be cut so if the wood is thinner the guide rail won't sit on it.

Yup; done it many times. Extremely hazardous practice with HDPE. It is the only time I've ever had my TS kickback on me.

 

[tjbnwi]

I don't know about the round bar of the Woodpecker but the basic parallel guides will work on thin material but may require you put something under the plywood to lift it up.  The Festool may be the worst since it is about 3/4 thick so anything less needs to be lifted.  It doesn't sit on top of the piece to be cut so if the wood is thinner the guide rail won't sit on it.

Yup; done it many times. Extremely hazardous practice with HDPE. It is the only time I've ever had my TS kickback on me.

HDPE (thickness of the material you're working with) spacer the width of the rail, index the stops off the spacer. If the spacer is inset from the anti-splinter strip 1/8" you get a 1/8" wide strip off the piece that was pushed against the spacer.

Tom

 

[HaKLc]

I was more impressed how they got those cuts made with no hose connected and no dust! Magic guides....

No cut was made, only saw running on guide rail. Just check the position of handle and motor.
It would be awesome cutting without CT and no dust.  [eek]

 

[fritter63]

Ha! Woodpeckers implemented my idea of multiple joined tracks so it would fit in a systainer.

Pretty sure I posted that idea here.

Well, seemed pretty obvious anyway.

 

[weekendwarrior]

Do Festool clamps fit in the Woodpeckers tracks?  Another consideration...

Assuming this is the same as the Dual Purpose track, and I am certain it is, the answer is NO, not without some modification.

They will fit if you grind/file a smidgen off the sides of the clamp, the part that fits into the slot. I have done this and it does not impact the use of the clamp in any way.

RMW

Thanks!  It's not so much of a "Festool accessory" if clamps don't even the t-tracks.  Another mod for run #2.

... I tried like heck to impose my (and other FOG members') will on this as I think it is a 90% product at this point. 10% more and it could be a stellar product for a lot of people.

I'd drop it another 5-10% until they get Festool clamps to fit as well!  I'm sure the ruled tracks will find other uses outside of the parallel guide function.