Festool clamps

[VW mick]

Just thought I'd share this

Bought these the other week hadn't used them

Was cutting up some birch ply for my MFWB .they are really nice to use .to be honest thought they was just another expensive gadget (didn't stop me ordering them lol)

Defiantly will be getting some more

Seem to remember  Peter parfit has championed these in the past

 

[jonny round boy]

I actually prefer the screw ones. The quick-grip ones are good when using them to clamp the rail down (as in your pic) but for anything where they're being used the other way up I find I need to use two hands to operate them (one to hold the 'L' up to the underside of the work, and one to squeeze the handle).

Also I've found that, due to the cam action, the quick-clamps can move the piece you're trying to clamp in position. Maybe it's user error... [embarassed]

 

[rrmccabe]

They are nice clamps. I like them enough I use them for small clamping jobs. I could use about six more!

 

[Michael Kellough]

I actually prefer the screw ones. The quick-grip ones are good when using them to clamp the rail down (as in your pic) but for anything where they're being used the other way up I find I need to use two hands to operate them (one to hold the 'L' up to the underside of the work, and one to squeeze the handle).

Also I've found that, due to the cam action, the quick-clamps can move the piece you're trying to clamp in position. Maybe it's user error... [embarassed]

I like the round ones best too. They are so compact and the simple screw doesn't require a bunch of extra clearance to operate.

For quick operation over a narrow range, like securing a guide rail on the same thickness stock over and over again, I actually prefer the cheap Dewalt guide rail clamps but they too take up a lot more space.

 

[VW mick]

To be honest have always really liked the screw ones

Just thought these was nice to use and .had a really good clamping pressure

 

[rrmccabe]

It took me a while to get used to the new clamp style and for several months I preferred the screw style. But after you get used to them they work better for me.

 

[jamanjeval]

Those clamps are great! I'd like to add a bit of love for the clamping elements (488030) With those two styles of clamps, you can hold just about anything on an MFT. A pair of wood hand screw clamps comes in handy as an "adapter" for odd ball pieces.

 

[John H]

For use with my TrackSaw - I actually like the Dewalt ones
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001J31PJM/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[wow]

For use with my TrackSaw - I actually like the Dewalt ones
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001J31PJM/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I'd have to paint the body black (or green) or put a Festool sticker on them in order for them to be allowed in my shop. All Dewalt tools have been banned and are now listed on CL if they haven't already sold.

 

[John H]

For use with my TrackSaw - I actually like the Dewalt ones
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001J31PJM/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I'd have to paint the body black (or green) or put a Festool sticker on them in order for them to be allowed in my shop. All Dewalt tools have been banned and are now listed on CL if they haven't already sold.

sorry - I actually use my tools, I am not a 'collector'...

 

[jamanjeval]

Many contractors do use a unique paint color, tape or stickers of some kind to mark their tools.

Re branding the clamps as Festool is about as good way as any other to mark them as yours.

If you are going to do it anyway, do it in a way that makes you happy!  [thumbs up]

 

[VW mick]

I agree with wow

I've only the dewalt chop saw .angle drill and drywall gun left and they are all going

Then I'll have no yellow left

 

[VW mick]

dam .forgot about the dewalt table saw .not got any plans to get rid of that at the moment

might just paint it  [laughing]

 

[Stephen B]

[size=10pt]

There is too much Festool elitism on this site!  
[size=14pt]
One of the reasons I love it!  [big grin]

[size=10pt]
As for the clamps, I find the quick clamp needs to be checked. You cannot rely on it staying tight. Mine, which is fairly new has released twice recently whilst using tracksaw and rail. Now I double check it. The screw type you know are tight just through winding the thread.

 

[VW mick]

i must admit on further use they can tend to slide when using them to glue two items together

although they are probably not designed for that

but you know what its like any clamp thats to hand tends to get used

i think i will get better use from them when my workbench is finished

so havnt bought anymore yet .but have bought some more screw type

strange i started this thread saying i really liked them and have ended up buying more of the others

screw type are quite a bit cheaper too

 

[Michael Kellough]

The bar ends of both clamp heads are very similar. Sometimes there is a subtle defect that can allow the head to creep under pressure.
Haven't heard many complaints about this with the ratcheting clamps but there are a lot more of the screw clamps in the world.

 

[Stone Message]

Just thought I'd share this

Bought these the other week hadn't used them

Was cutting up some birch ply for my MFWB .they are really nice to use .to be honest thought they was just another expensive gadget (didn't stop me ordering them lol)

Defiantly will be getting some more

Seem to remember  Peter parfit has championed these in the past

I use these clamps more than any other - they are very quick, always secure and do the job.

I am not a fan of the twist thread ones as they take so much longer to adjust from one size to another, are more fiddly when clamping through the MFT3 holes and they make my wrists ache.

Peter

 

[charley1968]

I haven't really used the quick-clamp but fiddled a wee bit with it at a retailers. For me not worth the money..

 

[rst]

I agree with Peter, us old guys with arthritic wrists and thumbs prefer the the quickies (although everybody likes a quickie now and then)

 

[grbmds]

Like many Festool tools, I have found that the quick clamps have their uses as I assume the screw type do also (which I don't have). The other day, when using the Domino to cut a mortise for a drawer box, I found that the quick clamps were great to use in the track on the MFT side for holding the wood in place vertically. I did use 2 of them but it was quick to get them in place and quick to get them tight. When using them on the table top in the holes I've found that sometimes it's kind of cumbersome to get them in place to tighten them, but on the side tracks they worked great.