Are these bench clamps going to be released in NA?
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Crazyraceguy
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I sure hope so
woodferret
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I might just have to import them. But one question... will the 20mm post fit in my NA 20mm holes? /s
Cheese
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Neat clamps…however, I do wonder how many times you can use them before they “obround” the MFT holes. They secure themselves to the MFT by being wedged at an angle in the hole.
With all the threads on the FOG about precision dogs, these clamps may mandate both a clamping MFT and a precision dog MFT.
With all the threads on the FOG about precision dogs, these clamps may mandate both a clamping MFT and a precision dog MFT.
MikeGE
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Cheese said:
The manner of securing is why I would never use these on my MFT-style workbench. Here is a video from Dennis (Hooked on Wood) where he is testing similar clamps from Banggood. The shafts of these clamps are knurled and he tested them in a double-layer plywood top for wear after repeated insertions, but did not test them for damage to single-layer MDF tops.
Question, do a lot of you use your tables w/dogs as your primary way to cut? I ask because with the advent of rail squares and pgs to get square cuts are cnc quailty mft holes really necessary anymore. I use mine mainly for clamping and cross cutting and yes I know the ease in which the mft goes out of square,and dashboard has improve that. just curious.guy
Cheese
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Bob D. said:
Ya Bob, they will deform a small sector of the upper lip hole on the top side and they will also deform a small sector of the lower lip hole on the bottom side. For me that's "das macht nichts" as I use my MFT's as clamping platforms only.
I never really got into using holes & dogs as precision indexing systems because if you do the math...it will not be pretty, it's really catch as catch can. Sometimes it's accurate and sometimes it's not...that certainly doesn't work for me. You're asking the impossible...there are way too many variables to get your arms around and control.
It also should be noted that Festool never intended that the MFT was to be used as an "absolute position" table to be used for precision cuts, but rather they offered it as a general assembly table that was convenient to use for on-site glue-ups and assembly. Thus the reason for the wildly different measurement variability when measured on state-of-the-art Woodpecker vision systems.
I have these Harbor Freight clamps. By grinding off the cross-pin I can remove the clamping mechanism and slide the shaft through a MFG hole and then reattach the clamping mechanism. These are light-duty clamps but have sufficient holding power to keep pieces from sliding around. I bought them because they were too cheap to pass up at $2.00 each. The H-F store is just 4 miles from my house and directly across from Starbucks and I wander through the store on occasion.
Note: Mine are an older version and the small gripping end is not removable on mine. It might be easier to drift the pin from that end rather than from the clamping end.
https://www.harborfreight.com/hand-tools/clamps-vises/4-in-ratcheting-bar-clampspreader-68974.html
Note: Mine are an older version and the small gripping end is not removable on mine. It might be easier to drift the pin from that end rather than from the clamping end.
https://www.harborfreight.com/hand-tools/clamps-vises/4-in-ratcheting-bar-clampspreader-68974.html
FestitaMakool
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Cheese has a good point here. Those who have set up (and may have used the Parf guide system or have a CNC drilled top) their MFT for critical cross cutting should consider these lever clamps carefully. I see that even a fresh top don’t necessarily hold dogs dead straight anyhow, not to mention what the well used holes might do.
I’m using it as an assembly, jig and clamping table. So I’ll probably buy a couple of these clamps.
Festool have released a limited set with these here, including some dogs, flat bars and those click clamps I don’t want.. in a systainer. Expensive though, most due to those click clamps. Bugger!
I’d like to add them new clamps to my old MFT Fix-set-in-a-systainer instead, keep it in one box, not two, otherwise I’ll be looking for what’s in the other box, which probably be out of reach.. [embarassed]
I’m using it as an assembly, jig and clamping table. So I’ll probably buy a couple of these clamps.
Festool have released a limited set with these here, including some dogs, flat bars and those click clamps I don’t want.. in a systainer. Expensive though, most due to those click clamps. Bugger!
I’d like to add them new clamps to my old MFT Fix-set-in-a-systainer instead, keep it in one box, not two, otherwise I’ll be looking for what’s in the other box, which probably be out of reach.. [embarassed]
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Packard said:I have these Harbor Freight clamps. By grinding off the cross-pin I can remove the clamping mechanism and slide the shaft through a MFG hole and then reattach the clamping mechanism. These are light-duty clamps but have sufficient holding power to keep pieces from sliding around. I bought them because they were too cheap to pass up at $2.00 each. The H-F store is just 4 miles from my house and directly across from Starbucks and I wander through the store on occasion.
Note: Mine are an older version and the small gripping end is not removable on mine. It might be easier to drift the pin from that end rather than from the clamping end.
https://www.harborfreight.com/hand-tools/clamps-vises/4-in-ratcheting-bar-clampspreader-68974.html
You don't have to grind those pins off. It's just a roll pin that can be pressed out easily.
As I recall the older version had a dimple to prevent the piece from sliding off. It was a few years back. I might be mistaken. But note that if you get these, they are for simple hold-down purposes. If you try to use these to pull a joint together the mechanism will strip. It is probably just plastic gear teeth. I ruined one, but I do use the others to hold down face frames while assembling using pocket screws.
Once set up, I can switch out the to-be-assembled pieces quickly. It does require threading through the MFT holes and some may be a longish reach. But for $2.00 each, they are worth having around. I also have Festool clamps, but I prefer the trigger clamping method for face frames.
Once set up, I can switch out the to-be-assembled pieces quickly. It does require threading through the MFT holes and some may be a longish reach. But for $2.00 each, they are worth having around. I also have Festool clamps, but I prefer the trigger clamping method for face frames.
Rockler makes a version. Most of their stuff works fairly well. I just don't know if there is any way to adapt it to work with the MFT holes instead of the track.
https://www.amazon.com/AUTO-LOCK-T-...e29c2&pd_rd_wg=gcKon&pd_rd_i=B01JGERNT6&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/AUTO-LOCK-T-...e29c2&pd_rd_wg=gcKon&pd_rd_i=B01JGERNT6&psc=1
Mjolner174
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These clamps will be part of a MFT Set that will be available in the US next month. I got mine from Amazon.de with about a $15 shipping charge.
For a while, this was the deluxe hold-down clamp (about $100 US) available to avid handtool woodworkers:
https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/sho...30-veritas-fast-action-hold-down?item=05G4701
I use holdfasts a lot; the Gramercy's are the most affordable -- about $100 US for a set of 4.
https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/sho...30-veritas-fast-action-hold-down?item=05G4701
I use holdfasts a lot; the Gramercy's are the most affordable -- about $100 US for a set of 4.
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