Bessey K-Body Maxis Vario Pivots?

[Ned]

There's been recent discussion here about the Jet competitors to the Bessey K-Body clamps.

In addition to their other advantages, the Jets could easily be attached to an MFT.

I've been trying to list the advantages of the Besseys.  One is that the Besseys work with their Maxis Vario Pivot.  These:
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One of the pair has hooks that engage the head of the K-Body, the other has a socket for the end of the K-Body bar.  The Vario Pivots are clamped to a bench edge.  The Vario Pivots work with any length K-Body, but since they engage the ends of the clamp, you must have a bench long enough for the K-Body you're using.  The Vario Pivots can also be used with pipe clamps, they say.

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In use, the clamp can lay on the bench top or be turned to any angle within 270 degrees, so work can be held on or off the bench.

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Now the bad news--no way is the Vario Pivot compatible with the edge of the MFT.  I suppose you could clamp an overhanging board on the MFT to provide an edge the Vario Pivot could clamp to.

Anyone have the Vario Pivots?  Anyone use them?  Anyone love them?

Ned

 

[TahoeTwoBears]

Ned,

It's kind of hard to see how these function from the picture. I went to their site, and couldn't figure out much more. Is it possible these will work with the Jet clamps as well?

Mike

 

[Ned]

Mike--

Good to see you're online, and that the snow hasn't got you.  We were told 10 (inches, not feet) down here, but so far it's more like 3.

I didn't understand them until I bought them.  Will try to snap some pics this afternoon.

Ned

 

[Eli]

[vaguely related] BTW, the Festool FS-Rapid cannot be used on the MFT extrusion.[attachthumb=3]

Ned

No, but I have used it with the MFS. More of a positioning device than a clamp really.

 

[Ned]

Mike--

New pics at the head of the post show better how the Vario Pivots work with the K-Body clamps.

I think it's unlikely the Vario Pivots work with the Jet clamps, but if I get a chance I'll check.

Eli--

Sorry I put out the OT bait.  Yanked it from the modified post.  Since you quoted what you were responding to, readers can still see what you were responding to.

Ned

 

[Michael Kellough]

Mike--

New pics at the head of the post show better how the Vario Pivots work with the K-Body clamps.

Thanks Ned, I've been curious about those things but couldn't tell how they worked either.

 

[TahoeTwoBears]

Mike--

Good to see you're online, and that the snow hasn't got you.  We were told 10 (inches, not feet) down here, but so far it's more like 3.

I didn't understand them until I bought them.  Will try to snap some pics this afternoon.

Ned

Yeah, we got snow. I'm guessing a realistic 3 to 4 feet. I've been moving the stuff all day. My back decks, the drive, and 5 neighbor's drives. Didn't quite finish the last one, but called it a day. They're calling for rain/snow showers on Thursday, so we need to be really cleaned up before that mess hits.

I took a good look at the pics (thanks for that) and then ran out to look at my Jets. I don't believe they'll work. Since they say they'll work with pipe clamps, I wonder how they interface. I'm assuming just Bessey's pipe clamps and they must have a similar configuration on the head?

Looks neat, let us know how they work out. BTW, where'd you find them?

Mike

 

[Ned]

I'm assuming just Bessey's pipe clamps and they must have a similar configuration on the head?

Look at the middle picture (the one showing the attachment hooks).  Behind the hook there is black plastic with a screw.  There's another screw on the backside.  These retain a black plastic strap that could be used to attach ordinary pipe.  I've never used it.

They hold position pretty well, but I've never used them.

The Vario Pivots are available from Amazon, or from me on eBay in the near future.

Ned

 

[semenza]

Hi,

    I have these.  They can be useful on occasion, and there usefulness will depend on what else you have in your clamping and holding arsenal.  I had two pairs. After I set up my bench with a hold down system I almost never used them. I sold one pair and kept the other just in case. You never know when some odd situation will come up.  It is not that they are a bad product, on the contrary they do what they are supposed to do very well. I just don't seem to have the need for them very often.

Seth