Turn a Festool MFT table screw clamp or quick clamp into a one-handed clamp.

[martingale]

If like me you are frustrated by the fact that the Festool MTF table clamps require two hands to operate, check out the Clamp Caddie at www.ClampCaddie.com.

[Peter Durand]

If like me you are frustrated by the fact that the Festool MTF table clamps require two hands to operate, check out the Clamp Caddie at www.ClampCaddie.com.

Thanks for the info. Just ordered one.

Peter

[neilc]

Can you help me understand the pricing and quantities?

From your website:

 Clamp Caddie in Assorted Hardwoods (Stock # W1000) - Price $25.00 - Shipping $5.00. (Quantity:5).
Note: To purchase more than one of this item, change the quantity in your shopping cart.

 Clamp Caddie Package of Four (Stock # W1003) - Price $80.00 - Shipping $10.00. (Quantity:2)

So for the first option - I assume you get 5 of the clamp caddies for $30, or $6 each shipped.  Yet the photo shows 1 on your website.

For the second option - it appears I pay $90 for two of the clamp paddies, or $45 each shipped.  Yet the photo shows 4 on your website.

What am I missing?

Thanks -

neil

[RL]

Neil,

I also found it a little confusing, but I am assuming the quantity in brackets refers to the maximum number that can be shipped for the quoted shipping price.

[martingale]

Sorry for the price/quantity confusion. Each ClampCaddie is $25.00, but you can buy a package of 4 for $80.00. The Quantity does refer to the quantity available at this time (it is how many I currently have). I will clarify this on my website later tonight.

[Slappy]

so these cost $5 more that the $20.oo clamp it works on ? 

[neilc]

After the pricing clarification, I'll pass.

I'm thinking a 1/2 slice of a rubber hose slipped over the clamp may offer an alternative holding mechanismfor a few pennies versus $25.   All you really want to do is keep the clamp from dropping through when you loosen it.  Even a rubber band might be an option.

Like the design, but the cost is a bit too much for me.

neil

[martingale]

I understand how you feel about the price of the Clamp Caddie relative to the price of the clamp. My pricing is simply based on material costs and labor time and effort. If I had the economies of scale of Festool, I would be glad to lower the price.

[Eli]

An O-ring works pretty well.
A nice fat one.

[cliffp]

I just tried a plastic bag clip and it worked well.

[bkharman]

If I am in a pinch, I use the black Binder clips sometimes.

I appreciate the ingenuity you put into this martingale... good thoughts and nice looking execution.

[Slappy]

martingale ,
 I like your idea , maybe for some your workmanship would be desirable but the costs are just too great for the benefits for me .
They are quite beautiful tools . 

[martingale]

After considering your comments, I have made a slight adjustment to my pricing.

[briankb]

Hey,

I'm new to using Festool clamps and the clamp falling through was the first thing I noticed! This is a very clever idea. Like others have said I think the price is just too much. Are you making these by hand? If so you you should consider using a CNC machine or mill, whatever is available. You could also make these from plastic either through CNC/Milling or a mold. This would remove a lot of the time required and I think if you can get these down to $5 each the price roadblock would be removed. Another suggestion is to use a gasket fitted inside instead of the magnet, which I'm sure isn't that cheap. Removing the magnet would also reduce the complexity of the design needed for CNC or Mold making.

If you are interested, I can mock it up in CAD and make a few on my CNC machine to try.

[nanook]

these works real well for holding Festool clamps up and are $2-3 each, plus they have a million and one other uses

[martingale]

I'd sure like to see a picture of your clamp holding a Festool clamp STRAIGHT UP.

[nanook]

I just put something a little heavy on them to stop then sometimes flipping forward.    
With the Festool clamps I find the biggest PITA is when the bars fall down when doing repetitive work.   A-clamps fix that problem and for the occasional time I want to keep them 90degrees its easy enough to weigh them down with a drill or hammer.  

Its a neat idea IMO you have there, would be great to see them injection molded and under $5 a unit.    I find when I want a traditional holdfast as your thingy turns the festool clamps into - I go for a Kreg hold-down clamp.   A Kreg and a benchdog or 0.75''knob to hold it down from the bottom make for a really slick $30 auto adjusting holdfast.    I really prefer it over the Festools.    

Your units are nice in that its easy to move clamps around the table with little fuss - but I personally find its rare in to do many different setups for repetitive work at my MFT.  When I'm doing repetitive work, I usualy have enough work to set up a Kreg/   If you can get the cost down to a reasonable level ($3-5 a clamp holder) I might buy a few.    As it stands, its a neat idea, I'm sure I'll toss one or two together to see how they are.  

The A-clamps work really well to keep the 'top' of the clamp above the table - if you want 90degrees, as I said above, just put your drill there when clamping up.
I may be missing something though?

[briankb]

Anyone have a photo of the clamp cadie? Although his website is still listed on this page http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-jigs-tool-enhancements/aftermarket-festool-compatible-accessories/

Both the page listed and the domain clampcaddie.com are now empty. He also only had 5 posts, all seem to be within this thread. Too bad...

Since the product seems to now be abandoned. I would like to mock up the idea in cad and make the modification I suggested make a few that can be more reasonably produced in small quantities and not retail for $25ea.