Another way to clamp wood when sanding with Rotex

[bbeaulant]

Hi Festool owners,

The Rotex is a good tool for sanding, but it is not possible to use it if you don't clamp the piece you want to sand.
In Festool accessories univers, there's a lot of way to do this, but sometimes it's good to build our own tools. Then I imagine this clamping system.

Maybe it can interest someone here. And in this case, you can download the plan on L'Air du Bois (a french woodworkers community).

This projet was inspired by a previous clamping system for Domino.

 

[AlexThePalex]

Nice clamp and interesting video about how you made it. Just wish it was a bit slower so I could see more clearly what you did with every step. Was that sandpaper you glued onto the rounded pieces? And what precisely are you doing with the dril press at 4:40?

 

[bbeaulant]

Hi Alex,

Yes I glued sandpaper (80) with neoprene on each cam (rounded pieces).
With drill press, I screw a steel screw-in socket in the wood. This technic permits to be in the right axis.

Sorry for the speed of the video.

 

[AlexThePalex]

Ah, je comprends. Merci beaucoup pour ton explication, Boris.

 

[Scott B.]

Se bon! And stuff.

 

[KasualObserver]

Really a great idea, merci pour toutes les bonnes idees Boris.

I also enjoyed the Chaplinesque humor of the video

 

[Sjur]

Cool video! I've watched a few other videos you posted, even though I can't understand a word french. I really like your videoes, you have many interesting projects. Today Youtube recommended me some other french woodworkers. You guys make awesome stuff!

I'm planning on making a shop in the garage in the weeks to come, and while I'm still uncertain of how I want things to be, your setup looks really nice. I was planning on having a workbench along the wall to be an outfeed table for my bandsaw, kind of how you have it.

The people that I've spoken with, that have enough room for several tables, usually have a main worktable in the middle of the room. They've said that most of the work they do is at the corners of the table. How does that work out for you with your setup on the long wall, being that there are no corners? Do you ever think: "Gee, I wish I could walk around this bench?". Also, do you ever have issues working with larger pieces? Is there anything different you would have done when you made the basics in your shop? Sorry for all the questions, it's just that I lack experience and I really value all the input I can get! [smile]

 

[bbeaulant]

@Sjur, I think the best option if you have enough room is to put your workbench in the middle. In this case you can walk around and then have all possibilities. Maybe and other good solution is to put wheels on this central workbench.
My workshop is not enough large for this. And in this case long workbench along the wall is, in my opinion, the best solution.

For larger piece (like large panels), I build this 2 carts that I can move in the empty space of my workshop. They can contains Systeners and are ideal platform to use my plunge cut track saw.