Clamping thin stock to the MFT/3

[stvrowe]

I like my Festool Clamping Elements but they do have some limitations and one of these is clamping thin stock for sanding.  I was working with some 5/16" thick stock yesterday to make a tray insert to a box and was having one of those slip-sliding experiences.  This is my epiphany showing how I use a shop made fixture, Parf dogs and the Veritas planing stop to clamp thin stock to the MFT/3.

Clamping thin stock to the MFT/3

 

[TomGadwa1]

That is a really great idea!

 

[overanalyze]

Excellent idea! Thanks for sharing!

 

[Sparktrician]

That kidney clamp ides is just ingenious.  Well done! 

 

[nclemmons]

Very cool and useful. 

So is that the knob from Lee Valley you are using?

neil

 

[stvrowe]

Neil, the Lee Valley stud length is also too short.  The knob I used was from J.W. Winco
Steve

 

[epicxt]

For people who want to use any spare Festool knobs they've got laying around they come apart easily and you can replace the bolt with any length you like.
Love the kidney bean cam clamp idea.

 

[barnowl]

Steve,

Great idea, and well thought out and executed.

8)

Curious though...had you thought of using the clamping elements with thin spacers against your thin stock?

 

[stvrowe]

Steve,

Great idea, and well thought out and executed.

8)

Curious though...had you thought of using the clamping elements with thin spacers against your thin stock?

Yes.  And I have also tried spacers under the thin pieces.  With thinner pieces, the MFT clamping elements have a tendency to bow the pieces up when they are ganged together.  I have not tried it using the clamping knobs so that may help.

 

[barnowl]

Thanks.

Yes, the clamping elements do in fact tend to bow the piece up, if using the flat on the mating stop pieces.

I opened a thread on just that.

Now I use the curved side on the mating stop, and the bowing is eliminated.

Strange, but true. 

 

[mouppe]

Thanks.

Yes, the clamping elements do in fact tend to bow the piece up, if using the flat on the mating stop pieces.

I opened a thread on just that.

Now I use the curved side on the mating stop, and the bowing is eliminated.

Strange, but true.  

If memory serves, the curved side of the clamping element is not perpendicular to the face which helps to prevent the workpiece being pushed up i.e. the clamping force is in and down.