How to choose a Festool guide rail
Whether you call it a guide rail or a track, three decisions cover almost every job: how long the rail needs to be, how many you need, and which rail type suits the cut.
Which length do I need?
A guide rail needs to be longer than the cut, because the saw starts on the rail before the blade enters the work and finishes past the far edge. As a rule, allow roughly 200mm of rail beyond each end of the cut.
| Cut | Rail |
|---|---|
| Crosscutting a 1200mm wide sheet | FS 1400 |
| Cutting a standard door to width or height | FS 1400 |
| Ripping a 2400mm sheet full length | Two FS 1400 joined, or one FS 3000 |
| Benchtops, stair strings and long runs | Two rails joined, or an FS 2700 |
| Repeat square and angled crosscuts on beams and boards | FSK 250, FSK 420 or FSK 670 |
How many rails do I need?
One rail handles crosscuts. Two joined rails handle full-length rips on sheet goods, and for most people that is the better buy than a single long rail: two FS 1400 rails fit in a van, cover both cut types, and can be split between two hands on site. A third rail is what stops you unclamping and rejoining between cut types, which is where most of the time goes on a fit-out. The FS 1400/2 Guide Rail Start Set bundles the rail, joiners and clamps as a starting point.
Single long rails suit a fixed workshop where the rail stays on the bench. If you are working out of a vehicle, joined rails are almost always the more useful setup.
FS or FSK?
- FS rails are straight-edge rails. You lay the rail on the cut line and clamp or stick it down. They join end to end for unlimited length, and they suit plunge saws, routers and jigsaws as well as circular saws.
- FSK cross-cut rails register against the edge of the workpiece with a fixed stop, so the cut is square without measuring. They are made for repeat crosscuts with the HK and HKC circular saws. FSK rails do not join to each other, and they do not join to FS rails.
Holding the rail down
Non-slip strips on the underside of the rail hold it in place for most cuts on flat, dry material. Add clamping when the material is narrow, awkward, vertical or slippery, or when you want the rail fixed for a run of identical cuts. FS rapid clamps slide into the channel underneath the rail. Adhesive pad rails hold on walls, doors in place and delicate surfaces where a clamp cannot reach, and lift off without residue.
Squares, stops and parallel guides
The rail gives you a straight cut. The add-ons give you a repeatable one. The FS 90 Degree Guide Rail Square sets square in one movement, the FS Guide Rail Adjustable Angle Stop sets angles from -60 to +60 degrees, and the FS Guide Rail Parallel Side Fence sets a repeat rip width so you are not measuring every piece.
Working out whether the system pays for itself?
The Festool Value Calculator lets you work the time saved on your own job and your own labour rate.
Guide rail questions
Which guide rail length do I need?
Choose a rail longer than your cut, allowing roughly 200mm of rail beyond each end so the saw can start and finish off the workpiece. An FS 1400 crosscuts a 1200mm wide sheet and cuts a standard door. For a full-length rip on a 2400mm sheet, join two FS 1400 rails or use a single FS 3000. For most carpentry and cabinet work, a 1400 plus a second rail and a joiner set covers the range and is easier to carry than one long rail.
Can Festool guide rails be joined together?
Yes. FS guide rails join end to end using the FS Guide Rail Joiner Set. The joiner uses a self-aligning connector secured with grub screws, so the two rails line up straight rather than needing to be sighted in by eye. Two joined FS 1400 rails give you enough length to rip a full 2400mm sheet. FSK cross-cut rails are a different design and cannot be joined to each other or to FS rails.
What is the difference between FS and FSK guide rails?
FS rails are straight-edge rails that you position on the marked cut line and clamp or stick down. They join end to end, come in eight lengths, and work with track saws, circular saws, routers and jigsaws. FSK cross-cut rails have a fixed stop that registers against the edge of the workpiece, so the cut comes out square without marking out. They suit the HK 55, HKC 55 and HK 85 circular saws and the TS 60 K and TSV 60 K plunge saws, and come in cutting lengths of 250mm, 420mm and 670mm. Those five tools take either rail type, so the choice is about the cut rather than the tool: FSK for repeat crosscuts registered off an edge, FS for cuts on a marked line or long cuts.
Which Festool tools work with guide rails?
FS rails work across most of the range. Track saws, also called plunge saws, including the TS 55, TS 60, TSC 55 and TSV 60, run on them directly, as do the HK 55, HK 85 and HKC 55 circular saws. Routers use the matching guide rail adapter, available for the OF 1010, OF 1400 and OF 2200. Jigsaws use the guide rail attachment for the TRION or the adapter base plate for the CARVEX. The CONTURO PF 1200 edge bander and the DSC-AG 125 and DSC-AG 230 diamond cutting systems also run on FS rails. FSK cross-cut rails suit the HK 55, HKC 55 and HK 85 circular saws and the TS 60 K and TSV 60 K plunge saws, so those five tools can take either rail type depending on the cut. The ISC 240 insulation saw also runs on FS rails. The MB-40 hole drilling guide and the LR 32 system use their own dedicated rails.
Do I need clamps, or will the rail hold on its own?
The non-slip strips on the underside of the rail hold it for most cuts on flat, dry material. Clamp the rail when the material is narrow, thin, slippery or awkward to hold, when you are cutting vertically, and whenever you are making a run of identical cuts and want the rail fixed. FS rapid clamps slide into the channel underneath the rail so they sit clear of the saw. The GECKO suction clamp works on any clean, non-porous flat surface up to 50kg, including melamine, laminate, aluminium and acrylic, which covers the materials a conventional clamp has nothing to grip.
Do guide rails need a splinter guard, and can it be replaced?
Every FS rail has a splinter guard along the cutting edge. The first cut you make trims it to the exact blade line, which is why the edge of the guard becomes your cut line and you no longer need to mark an offset. The guard wears with use and can be replaced with FS Guide Rail Adhesive Splinterguard, available in 1.4m and 5.0m lengths.