The Essential Guide to Guiderail Connectors [video 577]

In this one I’ll eventually be taking a quick look at the #Festool FSV/2 #guiderail connectors and wether or not they can really be worth the £43 asking price, and we’ll also have a quick history tour of rails and connector Enjoy!

*Edit* In the video I misspoke: the long Festool #LR32 rail is actually 2424mm - still less than the full 2440 - and the Festool 2.4m is 2400.

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Other videos and playlists of interest:-

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Useful links:

Festool FSV/2 - widely available if you google the name. 👍

[woodworkingnook]

Great video! With a small shop, I love my TSO guide rail connectors. They are super straight everytime I use them.

[dougwardle]

My Makita 3M rail gets used rarely but every time I get it out I’m really glad I’ve got it

[left-hand-restorer]

I bought a bunch nylon inbus screws and swapped it with the original metal inbus screws. The nylon screws make no damage or scratches at all. Thank you for sharing Peter! Kind regards Richie.

[KyleVeatch]

I have the Makita rails and learned something in this video! I had no idea the second rail connector goes on the top slot. For years I have only used 1 bar underneath and had no idea, I just always thought the second one was an extra bar and I kept it underneath just as a spare 😅

[SuperMman]

The bosch adjustable track square is amazing....i try to leave the chop saw and table saw in the truck as much as possible

[gav]

No brainer. I have always regarded my Makita 3m rail as my best value purchase ever.

[Thesidingsworkshop]

Great video I do like the Bosch Maffke solution, it works well and aligns well

[MCsCreations]

Really interesting indeed, Peter! Thanks for the review and all the info! 😃
Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[ondskabenselv]

Great video, Peter. Got a special clamp for clamping the guide rails straight to each other while you’re tightening the connectors (Betterly Straight Line Connector).

By the way, looking very much forward to your review of the Metabo work table 😉

[shaun--mgzs]

Hi Peter, I like the look of FSV/2 connectors, less damage to the track when installing.
as always a great video, Take care

[ahorton]

Informative and entertaining as ever, very much enjoyed watching this ❤

[studioecotopia]

As ever, thanks for the great info Peter

[Hand-i-Craft]

I have to confess Peter, when the Festool connector I ordered arrived as a single unit, I just presumed you only needed one and that's all I've ever used!

[normanboyes]

Thank you as always Peter.👍 For the record I use 2*1400 Festool tracks with V1 joiners but only infrequently and have had no issues. I always set them against a 1.5 level as I tighten up - but really as a precautionary step.😀👍

[andyc]

Thanks Peter, this is perfect timing for me as I've just bought a second rail, but yet to purchase the connectors !

I'm tempted to have a go at making some from flat bar, as I have plenty of grub-screws and a tap & die set, then I could make them longer and therefore hopefully stiffer !

[Robe]

As always Peter very informative, Back in 2007 when i first joined your channel I had this Kreg circular saw guide, just could not make decent cuts due to User inexperience, after seeing your Bench setup i was hooked with the track saw, I bought the cheapest option here in Perth, The brand Ozito, it came with 2 X 700mm tracks and i bought the 1400mm track so i could rip 2400mm length no problems, thanks to you sharing your Knowledge i only use the track saw and found it be probably the most important cutting tool for nearly 90% of the work i am trying to do, and like you said it completely mobile as long as you have access to power . again thankyou for taking the time to share all this great info

[MrSammyse]

So glad you explained ‘coins’, you almost lost me there. I have a dewalt track (amongst others!) and their joining bar is tapered at the bottom (imagine a house shape) so that as you tighten, it aligns in the centre of the groove. Not perfect but better than festool pattern join bars

I just bought a 3m makita track. I underestimated how big and awkward it is!!

[DepakoteMeister]

Because I'm a DIYer and time is not money, I always tighten the Makita joining bars whilst holding the two rails against my longest spirit level, double checking for perfect alignment after the rails are joined.

[Micha_Ba]

The Evolution one, very similar, are also available now.

[andrewschultz]

I have to wonder if festool and others have finally upgraded the connections because of videos like yours showing the benefits of Mafell and Bosch tracks and also the new metabo rails.
Seeing someone like you showed the benefits of a better connector has more influence than you think Have a awesome day I know there are some disadvantages to the Bosch tracks, but for what I do as an installer of Box cabinets, the Bosch tracks work superior. The ability to clamp closer to the edge of the guide rail is very beneficial, especially when cutting in oven cabinets and farm sinks.