Benchdogs MKII Rail Square Review

[@DKWalser]

I just received mine. Shipping from the UK to the USA went surprisingly smoothly, not much longer than I would have expected a domestic shipment to take. Allow me to make a few comments: First, the quality is excellent. I cannot complain. Second, mine is the version for the Kreg track saw. I bought it not so much because I needed it, but because I wanted to reward Benchdogs for supporting the Kreg track saw platform. I'll definitely be using this square. It will make a lot of things easier, but it won't make anything possible that would have been impossible without it. (That's okay! Quicker and easier are two very good things to have from a tool.) Third, thank you for the informative video! While I cannot complain about the quality of the tool, I can complain about the dearth of instructional materials that came with it. I appreciate that one of the hardest things to do is to write decent instruction manuals -- the writer, too often, knows too much about the tool to comprehend what a true novice would need to be told. So, while it's hard to write decent instructions, that doesn't excuse there being no instructions included with the tool! Lastly, I think I may have the very first Kreg rail square from Benchdogs -- serial number K10001! Does that make this a collectors item? Maybe, I shouldn't use it after all...

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Great news on all fronts, and thank you for getting in touch. Part of the agreement with Benchdogs is he sends me over a new product, with no instructions and I work it out. I then give them a bell to ensure I haven’t missed anything and make the video. So the videos are made from a point of view of knowing nothing about the product. You should have got Ralph (owner of Benchdogs) to engrave his signature on it - then it would be a collectors item indeed. I do actually use mine more than I expected so well worth having in the shop. Cheers Andy.

[@Benchdogtools]

Thanks Andy for the review. Clear, precise and to the point as per usual. Keep up the good work. 👍🏻

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Thank you Ralph, It is a really nice product. Cheers Andy

[@davidhull1610]

I went straight in at the beginning and bought the TSO square. I was a little disappointed with the accuracy at first and found some of my cuts were not square....but it's in the technique. You have to jiggle the square up to the edge to get it spot on, and I think that could explain why some people have had problems. I really cannot fault the Benchdogs products for accuracy, finish, price or customer service, and I am seriously thinking of getting one of these mk2 squares for my portable cutting station.

[@TheWoodgrafter]

I can't talk to the TSO guide, but I have never had a problem with the Benchdogs Mk1 and I don't think I will have a problem with the MK2 Decisions decisions :-) Cheers Andy

[@DuncanEdwards.]

I do wish your over head camera was closer to the table top. I have the MKII rail square, your right it is very nice

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Hi Chewy, Long time hope all is OK. Good feedback on the overhead camera, I am thinking about how I can upgrade the overhead system. It’s a bit static at the moment and want more flexibility from that angle. Yes, the MK2 is a nice upgrade. Regards Andy

[@ecuadorianme]

@@TheWoodgrafter kzbin.info/www/bejne/jGrIao2Nm9F2h7c this may be an option

[@TheWoodgrafter]

@@ecuadorianme Now that is a good idea - hell of a design though. I am thinking of something based on V-Groove extrusions (similar to an open build CNC type design), the bit of the design I haven't cracked yet is the Z movement (the up and down bit). But will get there. Cheers Andy

[@philyfanta6888]

Waiting for mine, I ordered it last month. Greetings from Germany Great video!

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Hallo, danke für den Kommentar. Andy

[@hgohlke]

@@TheWoodgrafter Now with a Bavarian accent :)

[@TheWoodgrafter]

LoL, Andy

[@mainie6719]

Great review Andy, will be placing an order for the Mk II.

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Hi Paul, Good news, it is a nice device. Thank you for the feedback. Andy

[@mainie6719]

Looking forward to getting to grips with it on the woodgrafter workbench build.

[@TheWoodgrafter]

@@mainie6719 Nice, I love my workbench - will be doing a review of it in the next few weeks now I have lived with it for a while. Cheers Andy

[@josiahutah3712]

Some cool feature. Thanks Andy. I need to go find a video of your workbench build. I’d like to know your thoughts behind it. I’m sure you made one I just need to go find it

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Hi, Thank you for the feedback, the workbench build is a paid course over at the Woodworking school www.thewoodgrafter.com I am due to make a KZbin overview video that will be out in a few weeks. Andy

[@gavintyrell8470]

Yep buying this now I know what those additions do!!! Looking forward to that basic benchdog start up kit video when you get round to it as well! Excellent review mate.👍

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Thanks Gavin, I’ll give the video some thought and let you know. Cheers Andy

[@ToffeenoseToffee]

Awesome as usual Andy 👍

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Thank you for the feedback. Andy

[@philipb867]

I went for the festool version as I could not be bothered to keep tightening etc with an alan key when i wanted to use the benchdogs one much easier with a clamp this version is better but i do find the festool one very easy to use and accurate.

[@TheWoodgrafter]

I haven't actually used the Festool version - but those new clamps are a lovely addition on the Benchdogs version. Cheers Andy

[@philipb867]

@@TheWoodgrafter the bench dog version does look a better proposition now as long as the lock mechanism is strong the festool one is built like a tank and I paid £91 for it.

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Hi Philip, Time will tell, but they seem pretty robust. Andy

[@hgohlke]

Mine is an MK2 for the Mafell track:) Hope it is here by tomorow

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Hope it arrives It would be good to get your views when you have tried it. Regards Andy

[@hgohlke]

@@TheWoodgrafter I know it is gone be good, because you and Peter Millard recommended it. For some reason I got addicted buying stuff from the UK:) Also from fctools:)

[@TheWoodgrafter]

@@hgohlke LoL I watched one of Peters video recently where he made one - I thought that was a good idea. But yes, it is addictive. I wonder how many of us have kit in the shop that looks great but never gets used. I least I know the rail square will be used.... a lot! Cheers Andy

[@FuzzyScaredyCat]

I have a sneaking suspicion that the Incra LS positioner could be mounted to that in the 'accessory holes'

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Hi Andy, I am not sure it will, and if it did you wouldn't be able to attach it four points on the bench, as the dogs holes don't lime up :-(

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Hi Andy, I checked this last night, and no the accessory holds don’t line up. Good thought though. Andy

[@FuzzyScaredyCat]

@@TheWoodgrafter That's a bit of a shame :(

[@andyb8843]

Good review, but would the MFT dpters not also work as bevel adapters? In which case, why 3 sets of adapters to do the same function?

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Hi Andy, That is a really good point, the MFt ones do taper at the end so wouldn’t risk for the cut. But for the narrow bevel then yes they would probably work. The other thing is that you tend to use the same thickness stock so many folks leave the B collars pre-set to a depth. Cheers Andy

[@jayveezed]

Fantastic video and review, thank you 👍🏻

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Thank you for the feedback. Andy

[@scottjohnson3226]

Thanks for the informative video!

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Thank you for the comment. Andy

[@Nigel-Parry]

Great video Andy. One question I have is would you use the rail square or the Mk 2 fence system ? Struggling to see which I should get for an MFT bench or is there a use case for both ?

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Hi, I use both, My workflow tends to be. Use the square to bring the stock down to rough size. Then use the fence system to fine tune for the project. The fence gives me repeatability with the flag stops. I can also re-position the fence in relation to the track to give me some angles. Not all stock will fit under the track so the rail square is great for long rip cuts etc. Cheers Andy

[@shamu7014]

Excellent review!

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Thank you

[@hgohlke]

Waiting for mine:)

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Hi, Exciting ! Andy

[@b2911]

Same :)

[@TheWoodgrafter]

@@b2911 sorry to hear about the delay, I am sure Ralph will sort it out soon and get the orders out. Cheers Andy

[@hgohlke]

@@b2911 Mine is shipped to Germany, kind of extra difficult

[@b2911]

@@hgohlke Hopefully it will get through the boarder quickly for you :)

[@mrh2602]

Did you buy these squares or where they gifted?

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Hi, They are part of a wider business relationship I have with Benchdogs.co.uk Cheers Andy

[@mrh2602]

@@TheWoodgrafter Hi Thanks for that, I believe that things like this should be made clear on your videos for transparency. From a Benchdogs fan.

[@TheWoodgrafter]

@@mrh2602 Thats fair, I have added this to the video notes. Cheers Andy

[@kalleanka4379]

Here is a trick to achieve parallel sides with only a rail square. Say you have a sheet of plywood out of which you want to cut a rectangle of a certain length and width and you want the corners to be square and the sides to be parallel. You have an accurate rail square with an angle error of only 0.01 degrees. Let us focus on the squareness and parallelness and ignore the dimensions. You begin by cutting the lower edge, edge 1. You put the rail square against edge 1 and cut the right edge, edge 2. The angle is only 89.99 degrees due to the rail square error. If you continue in the same way and cut edge 3 it will not be parallel to edge 1 due to the angle error. However, if you flip over the sheet so that edge 1 is still at the bottom but edge 2 is to the left and edge 4 is to the right, place the rail square against edge 2 and cut edge 3 you will be cutting on the opposite side of the rail square and the angle errors will cancel. As a result, edge 3 and edge 1 will be parallel. In order to cut edge 4 so it is parallel to edge 2, flip the sheet over to its original position, place the rail square against edge 3 and cut edge 4. Now edge 4 will be parallel to edge 2 since the angle errors are the same.

[@Phenrica]

Thorough review of an interesting piece of kit 👍🏻 I guess the weak point will be the accuracy of the extruded rail. As a matter of interest when using the dogs attached to the square as there’s very little slack inserting and removing from the mft is a bit of a bind? Draw back on accuracy. Cheers Steve

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Hi, I assume you mean the track itself, yes that would be the week point on accuracy. Although the way they are designed should give a parallel cutting edge. Yes the dogs can be tight in the MFT. However I didn’t find it to hard to insert and remove. The dogs in the MFT wouldn’t impact the accuracy. Kind regards Andy

[@Phenrica]

Ps, yes I have purchased the rail square and agree totally with your review findings 👍🏻 Thanks for the review and discount code. Cheers Steve

[@ChristopherClaudioSkierka]

may get one of these for the mafell track /plunge saw I am soon to buy...hey thought you did not remember anything about your angle finder when i asked a while back? but you remembered the price, me did not believe you anyway :) , Overall good review Mr W. Grafter and yes that machine looks interesting must be German made. Actually it is amazing the lack of square rail guides there are for Mafell. They should look at an angled version for it and other things, the bench dog owners will make a killing, get very rich and have a supermodel wife soon afterwards :).

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Thank you for the comments. The angle finder prices was a joke as I compared it to the investment Benchdogs have made. Cheers Andy

[@mikehunt4375]

It's not calibration, it's a measurement report from a CMM. The CMM will be periodically calibrated.

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Thank you for the input. Andy

[@thomasedgar3553]

As normal a great review buddy take care and keep up the good work

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Hi Thomas, Thank you for the comment, will keep plugging away. Cheers Andy

[@philyfanta6888]

I got mine and I’m not really happy 😒 At first, it looks like the aluminium starts at one surface the oxidation. And second, the bevels, I can screw it to the square. The threads are to short. Is this “made in UK” 😅 And for all Germans customers, it cost around 60€ tax on top.

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Hi, That’s sad, but I am not sure I follow the concern. If you are not happy, please contact Benchdogs.co.uk I am sure Ralph will be interested. Cheers Andy

[@philyfanta6888]

@@TheWoodgrafter Thank you for the information! Had a nice conversation with Hannah, I will get new bevels 👍🏻 Can’t wait to start my next project with this beautiful and helpful tool. Greetings

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Great news, I am glad it worked out for you. I have a few sheets of MDF arriving soon and they will need breaking down for various projects. The square will the go to weapon of choice. Good luck, let me know when they arrive. Andy

[@philyfanta6888]

@@TheWoodgrafter Hmmm... Hannah send me an email, they have a lot of incorrect bevels, looks like something went wrong in the production 😅 But there is some good news for me. I saw the rail dogs in your new video, so I purchased it and got free shipping, it will came with the bevels 👍🏻 Thanks for your great content 🤘🏻

[@TheWoodgrafter]

So a good result at the end of the day. Unusual for Benchdogs to have a production issue. Cheers Andy

[@kanedNunable]

why is a bit of aluminium so bloody expensive?

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Hi, High quality Aluminium is expensive, and the tooling for the accuracy it brings doesn’t come cheap. Then there is the design time, manufacture time and business overheads. Of course the tax man will take his cut. It all adds up. The cost of this is actually lower than the competition. Cheers Andy

[@mingmac]

I think your top view a bit too wide so i cannot see the detail well when you mentioned about little stuff. Good job though.

[@TheWoodgrafter]

Hi, I have updated that view on more recent video - but thank you for the feedback. Andy