Festool Clamp and strip problems

[Scott_W]

I sent this to the "service@festool" email on the 22nd, but have yet to get a response so I am posting here. Has anyone else had these problems? Please see the email below:

Thanks...scott

I purchased some tools probably around April of last year and am just getting around to using them. On my very first project with the LR32 kit, the clamps don't hold. They do tighten, but one I start boring they "fall" down.

Also, I am having trouble with my sacrificial strips on my rails falling off, both on my rail that came with the saw, and the one for my LR32. I haven't used my MFT yet, so I am not sure if it is a problem yet.

thanks...scott

 

[tiralie]

I sent this to the "service@festool" email on the 22nd, but have yet to get a response so I am posting here. Has anyone else had these problems? Please see the email below:

Thanks...scott

I purchased some tools probably around April of last year and am just getting around to using them. On my very first project with the LR32 kit, the clamps don't hold. They do tighten, but one I start boring they "fall" down.

Also, I am having trouble with my sacrificial strips on my rails falling off, both on my rail that came with the saw, and the one for my LR32. I haven't used my MFT yet, so I am not sure if it is a problem yet.

thanks...scott

Scott:
There are numerous posts on problems with sacrificial strips on rails falling off, although I am not sure I have seen any on brand new, or unused rails.
Search the forum and you will find a couple solutions. I have not had this problem.

As far as the clamps not holding, I am not sure which "clamps" from the LR32kit you are referring to?
Are these screw clamps the ones you are referring to?
Tim

 

[AlexThePalex]

The sacrifical strips not holding is common problem. As for the clamps, you should probably tighten them more.

 

[Scott_W]

Scott:
There are numerous posts on problems with sacrificial strips on rails falling off, although I am not sure I have seen any on brand new, or unused rails.
Search the forum and you will find a couple solutions. I have not had this problem.

As far as the clamps not holding, I am not sure which "clamps" from the LR32kit you are referring to?
Are these screw clamps the ones you are referring to?
Tim

I've seen a few posts on the strips. I bought my stuff as mentioned almost a year ago. They really haven't seen much use, as mentioned in another thread maybe 8 sheets of ply cut in half, and the recent melamine I cut (2 sheets). Almost every time the rails have sat (even before the very first use) for a while I come back to them, the strip is pulling away. I have to reattach it and now it isn't as "accurate" because it is never in the same spot. A little frustrating. I don't remember if they came on the rails (maybe you guys know?) or I put them on and did something wrong? It was a while ago. LOL

As for the clamps, the LR32 came with a set of F clamps, the screw kind just like in your link. I do have 2 sets of the ratchetting ones, but would still like the others to be usefull as I did pay for them.

thanks...scott

 

[Scott_W]

The sacrifical strips not holding is common problem. As for the clamps, you should probably tighten them more.

Alex, I thought the same thing about the clamps so I tightened them down VERY tight. Much more and I feared I would damage the rail. TRUST me they were tight, not just snug.

scott

 

[tiralie]

Alex, I thought the same thing about the clamps so I tightened them down VERY tight. Much more and I feared I would damage the rail. TRUST me they were tight, not just snug.

Hmmm, a picture of your setup would help diagnose your problem. I have never had any problem getting these clamps to stay tight...actually I would like it if they got loose faster.
As for your edge, if I had the same problem, I would attach it with some transfer tape.
You can buy it at Lee Valley. I use it for sticking patterns down to wood and it doesn't move but it's very thin.
Tim

 

[semenza]

I can't remember if it was the quick clamps, screw clamps or both but.... I have had them very toght  and had them work loose from vibration  or flexing of the work piece. I think it happened more frequently when the clamps were holding the rail to the work piece and to a work table at the same time.  Wish I could remember exactly  :

Seth

 

[ccarrolladams]

Assuming in April 2011 you bought then then new LR32 Hole Drilling set in a Systainer (cat 584 100) it included a pair of the shorter Festool screw clamps (cat 489 570)

Had you bought the LR32 Hole Drilling Set cat 583 290, which is packaged in a carton, no clamps are included.

I have been using an OF1010 with the full LR32 kit and various length LR32 "Holy" rails to drill a whole lot of shelf-pin and hinge hole since 2006. I always clamp my guide rails when used with a router, even for drilling. Only when drilling tall pantry cabinet sides do I sometimes clamp the rail just to the part. Normally I clamp the rail to both the part and a supporting sacrificial surface.

I own and use many kinds of Festool clamps, besides the screw type. I have never experienced any Festool clamp coming loose while sawing or routing.

Use of the screw clamps is straight forward. However, it is possible to think the cat 491 594 Quick Clamps are firmly set when they are not. For me that did not seem to be a problem the first several months I used Quick Clamps, because I tended to double check.

Then it is entirely possible I became complacent and fell into lax habits of sloth. About 9 months after buying my first batch of Festools I was setting up a coupled rail to make an 8' clean-up rip. I was working in shop space rented from a good pal who had been using Festools longer than me. He actually stopped me as I was placing my TS55 on the rail. From when he was standing he had heard and could see that the Quick Clamp I had placed on the finish end of the rail had not "caught" and thus the clamp under the surface had fallen free. Having someone I respect need to point this out to me was embarrassing and it taught me a great lesson.

There are tricks to using the Quick Clamps. In Festool End user Classes Trainers Steve Bace and Brian "The Sedge" Sedgeley will be glad to pass along these tricks without judgment.

 

[Scott_W]

I will check the actual part number of the kit tomorrow. It came in the newer T lock systainer. But they definitely were the screw type.

I am not sure what I could take a picture of, as the project is done and installed, but I was using the kit to put shelving holes in 3/4" melamine. The clamps were only clamped to the part being drilled. I was using the 1010 router.

It may have been just the one clamp, but I didn't think about that until the project was done, so I'm not sure.

I also have the 1400 and 2200 routers. Should I have used the 1400? I don't think that would affect the clamps though.

scott

edit: here is someone else that sound like had the same clamp problem : http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-tool-problems/f-clamp-not-holding/

 

[tiralie]

I will check the actual part number of the kit tomorrow. It came in the newer T lock systainer. But they definitely were the screw type.

I am not sure what I could take a picture of, as the project is done and installed, but I was using the kit to put shelving holes in 3/4" melamine. The clamps were only clamped to the part being drilled. I was using the 1010 router.

It may have been just the one clamp, but I didn't think about that until the project was done, so I'm not sure.

I also have the 1400 and 2200 routers. Should I have used the 1400? I don't think that would affect the clamps though.

scott

Next time you're setup take a picture.
No using the 1400 won't change anything.
Tim

 

[tjbnwi]

Scott,

I just relocated the strips on my rails. I used the tape that comes in the window insulator kits. It is the same tape I use for the SYS labels when they come loose. It holds extermly well.

I have a couple of the screw clamps, I have never had one come loose.

Tom

 

[Scott_W]

Next time you're setup take a picture.
No using the 1400 won't change anything.
Tim

It may be a long time before I use anything again. I will see if I can find some scrap to play around with tomorrow.

scott

 

[TomGadwa1]

First of all make certain that the screw is backed off almost to the point where there are only a few threads showing above the arm of the clamp. Next insert the clamp into the rail slot after it hopefully has been passed through an MFT3 table. Now this is important hold the part of the clamp that passes through the table to the rail with one hand and snug up the arm as tight as you can toward the rail with the other hand. Now while still holding the arm snug tighten the clamp firmly. This sounds much harder to do than it is with some practice. If you do it as I have described above the Festool clamps of both quick and screw types will NOT LOOSEN UP.

 

[Sparktrician]

Almost every time the rails have sat (even before the very first use) for a while I come back to them, the strip is pulling away. I have to reattach it and now it isn't as "accurate" because it is never in the same spot.

One thing I learned from Sedge regarding reattaching the splinter guard strips is to replace the adhesive with another material like double-faced tape or the tape that Tom suggested, and when you reattach the strip to the rail, move it out 2-3mm so that the next pass with your TS55 re-cuts the edge of the splinter guard strip.  Once you do that, it will be accurate again as an alignment gauge. 

[smile]

 

[farmer]

As far as the clamps loosening up, try everyone's suggestions on tightening them properly.... but if it still will not stay put you may need to ask festool service for a replacement.  You may have gotten duds.  Out of 4 F clamps that I originally purchased, I had one that would just never stay tight.  I thought it was operator error for a while, but it always happened to the same clamp.  In fact, if I tried to over tighten it I would watch it start to slip as I cranked down on the knob.... it just would not bite!  So, I posted a question on here about trying to make it work properly, thought maybe others may have had the same issue and there was some simple fix... but in the end I ended up having a replacement sent to me - and it works just fine.

 

[Scott_W]

First of all make certain that the screw is backed off almost to the point where there are only a few threads showing above the arm of the clamp. Next insert the clamp into the rail slot after it hopefully has been passed through an MFT3 table. Now this is important hold the part of the clamp that passes through the table to the rail with one hand and snug up the arm as tight as you can toward the rail with the other hand. Now while still holding the arm snug tighten the clamp firmly. This sounds much harder to do than it is with some practice. If you do it as I have described above the Festool clamps of both quick and screw types will NOT LOOSEN UP.

I always have started them backed off all the way. Its just habit from using other F clamps in woodworking for years.

In this case I wasn't using the MFT table. I have used others without the MFT with no problems.

I am pretty sure it isn't a problem with how I am tightening them.

I will have to go back and play with them some more. The more I think about it, I think it was just the one clamp.

[quote author=Sparktrician ]

One thing I learned from Sedge regarding reattaching the splinter guard strips is to replace the adhesive with another material like double-faced tape or the tape that Tom suggested, and when you reattach the strip to the rail, move it out 2-3mm so that the next pass with your TS55 re-cuts the edge of the splinter guard strip.  Once you do that, it will be accurate again as an alignment gauge. [/quote]

I started moving it over, but I need a new strip now, no more room to move on the ends LOL I will have to try the tape and order some new strips.

[quote author=farmer]
As far as the clamps loosening up, try everyone's suggestions on tightening them properly.... but if it still will not stay put you may need to ask festool service for a replacement.  You may have gotten duds.  Out of 4 F clamps that I originally purchased, I had one that would just never stay tight.  I thought it was operator error for a while, but it always happened to the same clamp.  In fact, if I tried to over tighten it I would watch it start to slip as I cranked down on the knob.... it just would not bite!  So, I posted a question on here about trying to make it work properly, thought maybe others may have had the same issue and there was some simple fix... but in the end I ended up having a replacement sent to me - and it works just fine. [/quote]

Thanks, I will play with them more and see if I can notice them slipping like you said. I sent Festool service an email earlier in the week and have not heard back at all.

thanks everyone for the responses....scott

 

[Jesse Cloud]

... I sent Festool service an email earlier in the week and have not heard back at all.

thanks everyone for the responses....scott

If you don't get a response from Festool service promptly, try again - email or phone.  The folks there try hard, but it seems there are problems with the phone and email systems.