Home-made container for my Festool guide rails and accessories.

[Frank Pellow]

Although I love my Festool circular saw and guide rail system, I do not like carrying the guide rails around loosely. The guide rails are too big for any of the systainers that Festool provides. They do sell a tote bag (for $79 US) but I like something with more protection than that provided by a bag.

I figured that I could make a box to do the job and, by using mostly scrap material, I could do it for a lot less than $79.

Pictures of my little project are attached. It is not fine woodworking (the most sophisticated joints in the box are dados and rabbets) but the box is strong and functional. There are compartments for up to three 1400 mm rails, the angle unit, clamps, connectors, and other items associated with the guide rails.

The outside dimensions are 25 cm high, 160 cm long, and 15 cm wide. It weighs 9.8 kilos. (For those of you who prefer imperial, this works out to about 10" x 63" x 6" with a weight of just under 20 pounds.)

Most of the box is made from scrap 11 mm fir G1S fir plywood. My only out of pocket expenses were the locking latches, the handle, and the paint to match the Festool green and light grey. That totaled about $25 US (and I do have a lot of paint in the Festool colours should I think of some other Festool-related item to build).

[Bob Marino]

Hey Frank,

Wonder job. I was contemplating doing something similar (still may do it one of these days), but would never have thought to color it the same as the systainers!

Bob

[Ed Falis]

Very nice, Frank. You got me thinking now.

- Ed

[Christian Aufreiter]

Hi Frank,

that's a handy box. I hope you don't mind if I make something similar one day. Recently, I finished an insert for a Systainer which holds the accessories for my guide rails.

That's me routing:



The opened Systainer:



The insert for the accessories:




The insert for the suction hose:




The accessories:





Thanks for looking!

Regards,

Christian

[Tyler Howell]

Go Frank! Got the colors and everything.
No Pix here Christian???

[Christian Aufreiter]

Originally Posted by Tyler Howell

Go Frank! Got the colors and everything.
No Pix here Christian???

The server of my website seems to have an error at the moment. Please check back later.

Regards,

Christian

[Chad Pater]

Very nice Frank, Christian too. Next time I would recomend some eye protection when routing though...

[Christian Aufreiter]

Originally Posted by Chad Pater

Very nice Frank, Christian too. Next time I would recomend some eye protection when routing though...

Thanks, you are not the first one who mentions eye protection.

Regards,

Christian

[Frank Pellow]

Bob, Ed, Chad, Christian, and Tyler, thanks for your compliments. The most fun part of the project was painting the box in the Festool colours.

Christian, I would be very happy if your were to build something similar. If you want more details re my construction, please ask.

Also Christian, I like your systainer insert to hold the hose and I think that I may make one like it. Perhaps I migfht do so as earlyu as early as next week. Waht size systainer does it fit into?

[Christian Aufreiter]

Originally Posted by Frank Pellow

Bob, Ed, Chad, Christian, and Tyler, thanks for your compliments. The most fun part of the project was painting the box in the Festool colours.

Christian, I would be very happy if your were to build something similar. If you want more details re my construction, please ask.

Also Christian, I like your systainer insert to hold the hose and I think that I may make one like it. Perhaps I migfht do so as earlyu as early as next week. Waht size systainer does it fit into?

Frank, thanks for your offer. I might get back to you if I really build such a container one day.
I used a Systainer #4 for the accessories. Unfortunately, I can't offer any drawings because I worked without any plans. A smaller Systainer might be sufficient if you want to store the standard (27 mm dia) hose only. I'd suggest that you remove the standard inserts from your Systainers and try to store the hose in them in order to make sure which size is best.

Hope this helps,

Christian

[Frank Pellow]

I am cramming my hose and vacuum accessories into a #2 size systainer. I think that, in order to have room for an insert such as yours, I need at least a #3. So, my little project will have to wait awhile.