Festool quick clamps marring work

[hdv]

Ply does not give. That's why it's better to use cork. It is also a better non-slip material than ply.

 

[Sparktrician]

Ply does not give. That's why it's better to use cork. It is also a better non-slip material than ply.

Actually, the benefit to using ply is that it spreads the clamping force while giving very slightly (depends on thickness).  It's the spreading of the clamping force that prevents damage. 

 

[hdv]

I didn't think of that.  [embarassed] True, when you use a piece of wood that is significantly larger than the clamping pad you will spread out the clamping force. As a matter of fact I regularly do this myself. But I still have the cork pads on the clamps for those cases where it is more convenient to just use the clamp directly instead of having to stick a piece of wood between the workpiece and the pad.

 

[hoe]

I wonder if a piece of surgical tubing which is soft and pliable would work. If the tubing worked then you wouldn't need little pieces of wood and it would stay on the clamp for the next clamp up.

 

[AstroKeith]

If you just use cork, rubber, or similar the same size as the clamp, then you will probably still be marring the workpiece. However it will have a soft edge to the damage and so not so noticeable. The exception would be where the cork etc provided better grip and the clamps are not tightened so much.

If you are pulling pieces to together, then a piece of ply, say x3 the clamp size will reduce the pressure (not the force) by up to 1/9th.