Clamping Elements hanging? Soft steel?

[BRowland]

Just bought a new set of clamping elements and there seems to be a problem. They hang when you try to release them or pull the slide away from
the work piece. After careful inspection, it seems that the metal slide that rides through the clamping cam mechanism is made of steel that is too
soft for the metal cam plate that clamps down on it during clamping. The metal plate is cutting into the side of the metal slider every time it is clamped.

This produces a notch in the metal slider. This notch pushes the metal around it out, so that the edges of the notch are higher than the rest of the
metal surface. This in turn hangs on the metal cam plates opening when the slider is extracted from the work piece position. This cause the slider to
hang and you have to jiggle the clamping lever, and in turn the metal cam plate, to allow the notches in the metal slider to pass.

This is getting annoying very quickly, as you might imagine. I just wanted to get others opinions who have been using the clamping elements if they have ever seen or heard of this problem. Could I have gotten part of a manufacturing run the was supplied with inferior steel hardness?

 

[alanz]

I have exactly the same thing happening to my set of clamping elements.

I bought one set from Bob Marino, and exchanged it for another set when the symptoms appeared.
Unfortunately the replacement set has the same problem (but I keep forgetting to mention it to Bob M).

I wonder if Festool had a bad batch.  It make the clamps very cumbersome to use... I feel like I'm fighting them.

 

[BarryL]

Yep...mine do the same thing...I am betting they all do that as well...They are great clamps for what they do and for the price I would have hoped that they did not do this.  They would be perfect other than this issue.

 

[BRowland]

I wonder if there is a mod we could do to the metal cam plate. Like file the clamping edge of the plate to round it slightly so it still engages the
metal slider and holds the clamp to the work piece, but doesn't cut into it so much? I'll be looking at the assembly to see if you can disassemble
and then re-assemble without destroying it.

You would think that for almost 100.00 now for 2 clamps that we would get more quality. I have a lot of festool tools and the DC systems, and love to use them, but for the prices they bring....I just don't know if they are worth it anymore.

 

[nickao]

I never noticed that problem, but I have not been using mine very much of late. I will work with them tonight and see if mine do the same.

 

[nclemmons]

I've been using mine a lot even in the last few weeks and have not noticed this at all.  They are perhaps 4 years old.

Sounds like a bad manufacturing run.

neil

 

[Dave Ronyak]

My pair of clamping elements are about 3 years old and have been frequently used, even for glue-ups.  I have never experienced the problem described. 

Dave R.

 

[BarryL]

Hmmm...could be right about a bad run....for the guys that have not noticed this as a problem...check the sides of the clamp to see if it has ever made notches in the side...I noticed this when I very first started using them and dismissed this ..until this thread.  I figured they were all like that.  I do recall wondering how long before they wear and don't work as well though.  I am curious if the folks reporting they do not have a problem actually do have "grooves or nicks" in the side.  I then wonder (Since I have not tried to disassemble) if there might be a problem in the way some were put together vs. others?  Or I wonder if it is different steel?

 

[Dave Ronyak]

Mine have some very small indents -- you have to look for them, but those don't interfere with operation of the clamps.

Dave R.

 

[Frank Pellow]

I've used mine A LOT for about four years and never noticed any problem.  I checked them just now and, like Dave, I found some very small indents  that don't interfere with operation of the clamps.

 

[BarryL]

Yeah....that's primarily why I dismissed it...it does seem to "catch" now and them on the indents but doesn't stop me from using them.

 

[tbellemare]

"Mine have some very small indents -- you have to look for them, but those don't interfere with operation of the clamps"

I second, and third those observations.... When I first saw this thread, I was confused. I looked at the Clamping Elements that I use all the time to see if they are marked as the thread suggests they should be.

Mine have evidence that they have been used with too much cranking because I didn't think they would hold...

You can over crank a Festool Clamping Element, it happens all of the time...

Otherwise, mine seem perfectly fine.

Without much clamping pressure, these little things hold a LOT.

Tom

 

[BRowland]

You can over crank a Festool Clamping Element, it happens all of the time...

There is a small adjuster screw to adjust the clamping pressure. It makes it easier to close the clamp if you loosen this screw.
However, even with this adjusted to a "loose" setting the metal cam plate is still cutting into the steel on the slider enough
to cause the same notches. Keep in mind that when I first took these out of the box and slid the slider in and out, it seemed
a bit stiff. This is before I ever used the clamping handle. I figured it would loosen up with use. Not so.

I also noticed, after a little more examination, that the notch is on both sides, just much deeper on the side where the torque is applied
by the metal cam plate.

I still think that the metal used to manufacture these metal sliders is too soft for what seems to be the hardened steel metal cam plate.
Especially after hearing that people with older models do not have the same issue.

I am returning these for another set and see how they hold up.

 

[Tinker]

I just went down and checked mine.  I have four of them, ordered a two different times about two years apart.  i think the oldest is 5 or 6 years old.  I see no marks and do not seem to have the problem mentioned.  What i did notice as i was playing around with them is that when I release the cams, on two of them, if I release the cam all the way, they seem to almost relock until i move handle back to center.  The other two do not hang up this way.  i cannot tell which are which as far as older and newer.  I am guessing it started with the first pair as I have always worked with them by putting the cam lock half way whenever setting up.  The second pair that does not lock (backwards) is free moving until i pull handle back into position for locking.  It has not bothered me as i don't even think about it any more.

Is it possible you are pushing the cam handle all the way back when trying to release?  If so, try going half way so the handle is 90? to the shaft.
Tinker

 

[BRowland]

Yeah, I noticed that too when I was troubleshooting my issue. But this issue happens when the handle is 90 deg to the
metal slider. I actually have to jiggle the handle at the 90 deg position to get it to slide all the way back.

 

[Eli]

This was something that happened when mine were new and little used, and they have 'broken in' and doesn't happen anymore. The set screw you'll notice has the red paint on it, which means the setting is factory adjusted and marked for optimal performance. I'd be willing to bet that those having 'problems' just need to use them some more. I wouldn't fiddle with the screw or the cam plate, if you don't like them send them back for service or exchange.

 

[Rohan531]

Yeah, I noticed that too when I was troubleshooting my issue. But this issue happens when the handle is 90 deg to the
metal slider. I actually have to jiggle the handle at the 90 deg position to get it to slide all the way back.

i experience the same like you.,.so can you give us a some tips?

_________________
blanchard grinding

 

[Tinker]

Send them all to me and I will break them in for a few years for you. 8)
Tinker

 

[GPowers]

what happed with the clamps?

Have the clamp started working better over time?

 

[Wim]

I bought the clamps a few months ago in the USA and I had the same problem. After I noticed the dents, I started to use less force on the handle. It seemed to help, but a slightly harder stem would be better.