Festool guide rail moan

[LyNx]

My first little moan about the festool guide rails. I join two 1400mm's to cut down 8 foot sheets. I use the connectors and make sure the joining ends are touching. If i rip down the length i'm about 1 - 1.5mm out as the two guide are not perfectly straight. I have to open up the rail slightly as the guide ends are a fraction off 90deg.

Does anyone else have this problem, i know it's easily sorted with using a straight end whilst connecting the guides. I'm thinking of selling one of the 1400mm and getting a 2700mm, saves the hassle then,

Andy

 

[Anonymous]

Andy

I have never been fully satisfied by joining two 1400 rails together either, even using a straight edge to join them but I'm not sure about transporting a 2.7m guide rail either!!!!


Saint

 

[LyNx]

at least it's not just me then.

Andy

 

[Colin C]

:shock: is this a problem with something from Festool I here 8-[
( grabing coat and running from hills )

 

[Neil]

Same here, Andy - but you can get quite fast at lining up with a straight edge (I use a 4' guide clamp).

Cheers,
Neil

 

[Steve Maskery]

Andy,
It is a weakness with any system of joining together two lengths and expecting perfection. AS you have found, the slightest deviation from square at the junction is magnified at the far end.

Have you checked the squareness of the ends? You could try dressing them with a file, see if that helps. Otherwise it's the 2.7m option, I'm afraid.

Cheers
Steve

 

[tim]

Andy

Do you use two connectors? I find that that sorts out the prob for me. I don't have the 2.7m rail because of transport and storage.

Cheers

Tim

 

[Mcluma]

I have the same problem with my Mafell guide rails, spoke to the quys in Germany and they acknowledge the problem, they sugest buy the 2.7m and cut it down.
He said a lot of people do that. they will not sell a smaller one, as they reckon it costs more to stock and sell a smaller one then it is to cut down the longer one. :-k

 

[LyNx]

I have started using a straight edge to make sure everything is straight to start with but it's always the time you didn't check that the cut is noticeable.

I may have to invest in the 2700mm rail but thats when i get a few more jobs under my belt to pay for it :wink:

Andy

 

[tim]

It seems to me that they haven't quite got the sizings right. The 1400 is just big enough for a full width of ply until you add in the effect of the angl guide or guide rail deflector. I think a 1500 or 1600 would be better. Given that they realise that an overhang of 260mm total is needed for a 2.44 m sheet ie a 2.7m rail, then why they only allow a 180mm overhang on the 1400mm is beyond me.

Cheers

Tim

 

[Waka]

Andy

I've not noticed any problem in the past when I've joined two 1400 together, after reading your post I went and checked to see if the ends of mine are square and am happy to say they are, I then joined them together using two connectors and placed them against a straight edge and there is no deviation.

Perhaps you got a bad batch.

Tim, you are right when you say they haven'y quite got it right with the length, I wonder if they'd bow to pressure from consumers?

 

[Scrit]

To add to the comment from the Mafell owner, I have the self same problem with the Bosch rail system. I, too, believe that the problem lies in the joint

Scrit

 

[Jake]

I too have the Bosch, and I don't have this problem at all.

 

[Scrit]

I too have the Bosch, and I don't have this problem at all.

Well I have 2 x 800mm and one x 1400mm and one end of the 1400mm is a bit suspect - only one end mind you, the other end is fine....... The 800s seem to be spot on, so maybe I got the "Friday" model (in Chermania, surely zum mistake! :shock: )

Scrit

 

[Jake]

Sounds like it just depends how carefully the Festool/Bosch (what I presume was) sawing was done

 

[SVB]

I don't have a guide rail system but speaking from an engineering perspective, is it possible to make up a Al shim and keep it to use each when the rails are joined? If it is done with care then it should be a once only job and will give perfect results.

Having said that, with Festool's price and reputation I think 90 deg +- naff all is not asking too much!

Simon.

 

[Bean]

Gosh Colin

is this a problem with something from Festool I here
( grabing coat and running from hills )

I think you may have, but I don't think you are supposed to notice, after all they are eye wateringley expensive and therefore faultless ..................aren't they ??

 

[ColG]

.......perhaps they use a precision FERM chopsaw to cut the rails to length

 

[Jake]

I think you may have, but I don't think you are supposed to notice, after all they are eye wateringley expensive and therefore faultless ..................aren't they ??

Not at all, just better than anyone else, generally, but I think they would sort out any problem like this, given a chance. Not, however, that I think Minden really do the brand proper justice.

 

[Mike B]

Tim - I totally agree re. the length of the rails

cheers
Mike