Bessey and Festool clamp options

[IADE]

Hello all,

Is the Festool FSZ 120 screw clamp actually a Bessey GTR12 but in Festool colours?

And is the same true of the Festool FS-HZ 120 lever clamp and the Bessey GTR16S6H lever clamp?

I recently bought into Festool and now need some clamps. Currently just have the 2 Festool screw clamps that came with the rail kit. The Festool and Bessey ones do look very similar. Is there any reason to get one design over the other?

Thanks,
Ian

 

[Rob Z]

Hello Ian

They appear to be the same.  Over here, the Bessey model isn't much less than the Festool private-label version (at least from what I have seen online).

http://www.besseytools.com/pdfs/sales_sheets/en/BESSEY%20GTR_Table%20Track%20Clamp.pdf

 

[Cheese]

[member=6193]Rob Z[/member]
The best part, is your attachment shows the clamps being used with a Festool track and saw... [eek]

 

[Roachmill]

Axminster do a clone of their own which I didn't have the guts to try out and plumped for the Festool ones instead. There's now a review on their site saying they're even better than the Festool ones... but I'd wonder about that given the price difference. Still: £24 vs £42!? http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-trade-clamps-forged-quick-lever-guide-rail-clamp

 

[yetihunter]

They should be the same.

 

[DiscoStu]

I've got a couple of the Axminster ones and as far as I can tell they are identical. They work perfectly with the Festool rails / track.

 

[Roachmill]

Thanks DiscoStu. Sounds like a no-brainer to get the Axi ones then. Wish I'd known that a few months ago!

 

[dutchie]

I've got a couple of the Axminster ones and as far as I can tell they are identical. They work perfectly with the Festool rails / track.

I also have a (purple/blue) pair of the Axminster ones and these fit fine in my rails etc. but only work on the outer holes of my MFT table...perhaps something to consider!

 

[Jak147]

+1 to what Dutchie said. I'm sure a tickle with a file will solve it but as I also have some festool clamps I haven't got round to it yet. Tbh there really isn't anything obvious to file off. They look identical. Did manage to get one in a center hole once, it stayed there for two days before I got angry enough to force it out!!

 

[dutchie]

+1 to what Dutchie said. I'm sure a tickle with a file will solve it but as I also have some festool clamps I haven't got round to it yet. Tbh there really isn't anything obvious to file off. They look identical. Did manage to get one in a center hole once, it stayed there for two days before I got angry enough to force it out!!

Yes I was also baffled, but for some reason it won't make 'the turn.'

Also I just ordered two Bessey GTR16S6H clamps, found a good deal at € 28,- each. Will report back here when I've got them wether they work in all holes of the MFT or not.

 

[IADE]

Please do Dutchie, I'd be interested to know whether the Bessey GTR16S6H's fit the MFT holes as they do seem identical to the Festool FS-HZ. In terms of price here in the UK they sit somewhere in the middle between the Axminster and Festool clamps. In fact one promotion I saw has them at £55 for a pair which makes them only £5 more expensive than a pair of the Axminster versions.

 

[Peterm]

+1 to what Dutchie said. I'm sure a tickle with a file will solve it but as I also have some festool clamps I haven't got round to it yet. Tbh there really isn't anything obvious to file off. They look identical. Did manage to get one in a center hole once, it stayed there for two days before I got angry enough to force it out!!

I have the older (purple/blue) Axminster clamps and they're significantly smaller than the Festool Quick Clamps:-
[attachimg=1]

This means the lever can jam when it's against a flat surface e.g. in the middle of an MFT - the lever just needs releasing for it to come out, no anger required



HTH Pete

 

[PreferrablyWood]

I'm buying clamps now and am thinking to get 4 screw type festool clamps in both 120 and 300 sizes, the table MFT SP clamping elements first and combining that with the Kreg 3" bench clamps..

I'll see if I miss the Festool clamps after some use and will likely just go with the Festool model..It just works with out modifications and fits the look of the kit..

 

[Bohdan]

The Walco website states their FSZ-120 clamps are made by Bessey and are identical to the Festool and Mafell clamps, and they are only 14.49 Euro.
http://www.walko.nl/en-uk/index.html

 

[bertv]

Walko does suggest to slightly chamfer the (MFT-)holes’ undersides when you use similar clamps that are not Festool- or Mafellbranded. That may also work for the Axminsters.

 

[PreferrablyWood]

I am also getting a few FSZ 120 clamps, I would not modify my MFT3 to use 3rd party clamps though, I've also found prices that match the Bessy version in the OEM from around €27 to €30 euro for a pair, through idealo.de

 

[blaszcsj]

Also I just ordered two Bessey GTR16S6H clamps, found a good deal at € 28,- each. Will report back here when I've got them wether they work in all holes of the MFT or not.

Where are you finding that deal, the best I could find is like $49 in the USA.

 

[rvieceli]

[member=45856]blaszcsj[/member]  Amazon has them for $39 which is the same price as the Festool ones that they make.
https://www.amazon.com/Bessey-GTR16S6H-Ratcheting-Capacity-Clamping/dp/B013UNUOEU

I haven't been able to find them any cheaper than that.

Ron

 

[ear3]

Woh.  I feel like I searched for those a few months ago and couldn't find them in the states.  Did they just start offering them here?

[member=45856]blaszcsj[/member]  Amazon has them for $39 which is the same price as the Festool ones that they make.
https://www.amazon.com/Bessey-GTR16S6H-Ratcheting-Capacity-Clamping/dp/B013UNUOEU

I haven't been able to find them any cheaper than that.

Ron

 

[Michael Kellough]

I don't find ratchet clamps handy enough to justify the extra cost and bulk.

I prefer the simple screw clamps.
Just bought some Axminster copies of the Festool screw clamp
and they're at least as good and half the price.