Have you tried the square on another rail?

 

No I don’t have any other tracks. The issue seems to be in tightening mechanism. When you tighten it, it twists so that it doesn’t sit square. Otherwise it feels solid but if it’s not square, it’s not helpful. The shim helped make it square but it takes time to do it, check it, etc.

 

Doing a quick search, Fonson has couple model of squares. One that clips on like the TSO from top and one that uses thumbscrews from bottom. If screw from bottom, see if the screw hole are even and you can fully tighten.
If you can find someone with Makita or Festool rails, I would see to test. I agree, shimming each time would be a major hassle.

TSO runs sales often for 10-15% off so something to consider

Have you tried contacting Fonson?

 

not really. I think I bought it from Banggood and getting service from them is non-existent from what it looks like. I knew it was a gamble when I bought it and it’s the only thing I’ve bought from a place like that.

I have fiddled with this thing in different spots of my tracks, moving it half off the track, and so on. On the top side there is a ledge that I slid the shim into and it seemed to work. It’s just not easy to get a square on there and see any gaps so it sounds like a small thing but the whole point of a rail square is to throw it on and cut.

I do have a 10% off code for tso but wow they’re just so pricey for a simple, one use tool. Woodworking is a hobby for me so paying the premium is not like I’ll do a mass volume or to easily offset the cost. I’m not a cheapskate but I figured it was worthwhile to check to see if there is an option I am unaware of before taking the plunge on something like Tso.

 

I just use a square to verify my track is where I want it. I usually have a square close at hand so it isn't as though I have to go fetch another clamp/tool. If I felt I needed a device to keep the track square, I'd probably use a toggle clamp and some scrap wood to build a quick jig for checking/setting squareness of my track. If you build your own, you can make it for whatever parameters are most important to you.

If the square you purchased wasn't square without shimming and adjusting, what is the point? I'd return it and put the money into something else.

 

I have a Festool miter square but don’t like it that much.

I generally use a square, but if I were buying another on I’d go with TSO.

 

I ordered the TSO. Not sure its worth the $$ but I ordered anyway lol. I just want to be able to install the thing and know its always going to be a square.

 

I would like to know if the revolution R185CCSX will fit other guide rails, such as the Makita mentioned here.
Is there a compatibility chart for saws-guiderails somewhere?

 

Ok so I got my TSO and I did put it on my track and hold a square against it to see if it was square. It definitely looks square but I did not cut with it. First impression is that its definitely nice quality. The part that goes into the groove on the bottom of the track is a little underwhelming. I expected it to have a more of a "locked-in" kind of feel and it seems like its much smaller than the slot on the underside of the track. The latch on the top seems to do all of the work. When I latched it, it felt secure and everything. The result will tell the tale when I use it to cut but I am expecting it to be square.

I did not use it because I needed to make some cross-cuts on a full sheet of MDF but with the TSO square on one end and using 1 track, there was no way my saw was going to go thru either side of the MDF. Now I know MDF is about 49", so a little wider than 4', but it still wouldn't be close. I tried moving the TSO so that it was sticking out from the track by a couple inches but still able to latch, but it still wasn't close. Based on this, it seems like cross cuts with 1 track will really be limited to maybe 40" or less. Or am I missing something?

I ended up using my cheapo parallel guides that I put together from an online idea using the Incra double T-Track and the 3D printed parts to mount to my track. It works but its not perfect because I had to put in and cut the measuring tape so both aren't exactly the same. I think 1 side is maybe 1/32 or 1/16 off, but its what I have to use. In this situation, those worked ok but I would have rather used the rail square if it would have worked for this.

 

TSO has a short 13" rail extension for doing 48" crosscut. If you have part of rail square hanging past end of rail, it might not be referencing properly and not be square.

GRE-13 Guide Rail Extension

Extend your guide rails using the GRE-13 from TSO Products. This guide rail extension will extend your rails for increased safety and cut quality!

tsoproducts.com

 

I have the TSO and it's dead nuts. I've had it for years so at the time I got it there wasn't much else on the market. The system gets pricey if you add the parrallel guides. The BenchDogs UK square has some interesting features and seems to be high quality with accessories available, but overseas shipping can make getting into their system pricey.

 

Thanks, I didn’t know about that one. Wow, it’s $100 for 13” extension. TSO loves that premium price, don’t they? I mean I could get new rails for about the same cost.

 

Yes they do! I find 55" rail too long for my shop made MFT cabinet with the Benchdogs UK hinge. I've thought about cutting a little of a 55" rail for the hinge and using short piece as extension when cross cutting 48" with the rail square.

 

It would be nice to have a solution for a 48" crosscut with the TSO mounted and something for shorter crosscuts. The 55" track will work with bracing under it of course but its not ideal.

Seems like there would be some kind of solution from all the people having the same issue.

 

I had a similar gripe with the Kreg AccuCut track. Granted, it's not a purpose built track saw. And the starting/squaring block on it was a massive failure. You could seat it 10 times against the edge of your sheet and get 10 different angles. Utterly terrible.

Was ready to just sell it on marketplace, but instead decided to see if I could salvage it by adding an effective rail square. Fortunately, I have a 3d printer and am halfway decent with CAD. Went through a couple iterations, and landed on one that I'm very happy with. Much more repeatable and accurate. Would imagine something similar could be done for other tracks/rails.

Here are a couple pics of the different iterations and results. Top left pic is the OEM starting block. Not sure how Kreg thought that 3" of surface area would effectively square the track.

The Gen 1 and 2 worked, ok. But since I was going with a more minimalist design, they had some flex. For the Gen 3, I resolved this issue by simply printing it with a solid base. Yet still had the waffle pattern slots. One, it saves on print time and filament. But I also integrated an indexing tab that rests on the face of the material. Which will then mitigate the risk of the track tipping.

Here are some pics of the different iterations when set up on the material. The nice thing is, I designed it so that I could adjust the angle of the squaring component. Yet once I had it where it was perfectly 90 degrees, it locks down super tight and won't budge out of square.