How to clamp 3 way miters?

ChetM

Member
Joined
May 17, 2010
Messages
5
I am a newbie and have used my own Festool products for almost two years. Is there an easy way to clamp 3 way miters? Can I use my Clam Clamps to assemble and clamp two opposite miters than assemble and, when dry, clamp the other two to them? As I noted above, I am new to FOG. Wood working has been my hobby for about 50 plus years. Thank you for any help and/or suggestions.     
 
Sorry Sir,

You have to have at least 75+ years of experience in woodworking to qualify as a newbie. 25 years more will grant you the status of "apprentice" and then you may ask for advice.
Since Festool  ( formerly Festo, formerly Fezer & Stoll ) has been around for more then 75 years, there's really no excuse for not having used them all of your woodworking life. Shame on you !
Besides, I don't really understand what you mean by "3 way miters".....

Sorry Chet, couldn't resist the urge... but:  Welcome to the forum!
If you can elaborate more on the "3-way miter"- thingie, I'm sure you'll find a couple of WWW's ( WoodWorking Wizzkids ) that can steer you on the right path.

Regards,

Job
 
3%20WAY%20DRY%20FIT.JPG
 
Thank you for the information, I chuckled when I read it. As far as my experience all I can say is Sic Friatur Crustulum.

3 Way Miter - Not too long ago, I finished making a Japanese tea table (chabudai) for my wife. The rails were attached to the legs with a 3 way miter in that two rails and one leg were mitered to form a point at the corner. Four legs, four corners, four points. I apologize for not knowing the correct terminology.

The problem I encountered was clamping the legs and rails. I used band clamps which worked ok but they did not really seem to be the right tool for the job.  

Thank you again, everyone, for any help, support and/or humor you extend to me.

Chet
 
jvsteenb said:
Besides, I don't really understand what you mean by "3 way miters".....

...If you can elaborate more on the "3-way miter"- thingie, I'm sure you'll find a couple of WWW's ( WoodWorking Wizzkids ) that can steer you on the right path.

See page 18 here for a great example of a three-way miter.
http://www.waterfront-woods.com/festool/Domino_DF_500.pdf

Chet, welcome to the forum! 
Not knowing what joinery method you're use
If you're using Dominos:  I'd suggest use band/strap clamps
If you're using a spline or biscuit, you might have to use a pin nailer and then some strategically placed bar clamps.. maybe a band clamp would work.
 
ChetM said:
... As far as my experience all I can say is Sic Friatur Crustulum ...

You shouldn't mind. Just use Domino's instead of biscuits.... [big grin]

Regards,

Job
 
ChetM said:
Is there an easy way to clamp 3 way miters?

Spring miter clamps.  But these will mar your work a tiny bit - if that is a problem?

Tape.  Pull that tape tight across the joint.
 
Wood_Junkie - thank you. That is precisely how I made them. I used my MFT/3, the Domino machine and dominos, the TS55 saw, etc. It was a little awkward for me putting the whole thing together. But, once I had the band clamps on, the hard part was done. Once the table was complete, I thought there must be a better way to clamp the miters. I have clam clamps and just thought they might make clamping a little easier.

Thank you all for your time, your patience and, most importantly, your observations. My question is answered. Or, as Cicero once said,  Causa Finita Est.  

Chet

 

 
The band clamp around the perimeter with bar clamps on the verticals is the simplest solution. However, for this type of joint you want to make sure to keep all clamping angles similar in force. This isn't quite as critical if you made the full locking parson's joint I show in the manual because the dominos will tend to distribute some of the load.

It would be far more hassle, but I would try to go with bar clamps on all three directions by selectively tilting the bars out of the way for the adjacent heads. The reason why I suggest this is unless your band clamp is very robust, they don't apply very much force to the joint, and I stand in the higher-clamping-force camp when it comes to joinery.
 
Rick Christopherson said:
... and I stand in the higher-clamping-force camp when it comes to joinery.

I'm in the same camp. And even if it would actually be possible to "starve" a joint when using yellow or white glue ( there's ample evidence that - if properly wetted - a "starved" PVA glue joint would be a good candidate for "Mythbusters") it would be quite an achievement to starve THIS joint of glue, using clamps.
OTOH: Nil volentibus arduum....

[crying] [crying] OK guys - I'll quit the Latin quotes - you can stop throwing eggs and tomatoes now....  [scared] I can't help being raised on a solid diet of Asterix & Obelix comic books, some irony and sarcasm and a hint of classical education, can I ?  [embarassed]

Regards,

Job
 
jvsteenb said:
Rick Christopherson said:
... and I stand in the higher-clamping-force camp when it comes to joinery.

I'm in the same camp. And even if it would actually be possible to "starve" a joint when using yellow or white glue ( there's ample evidence that - if properly wetted - a "starved" PVA glue joint would be a good candidate for "Mythbusters") it would be quite an achievement to starve THIS joint of glue, using clamps.
OTOH: Nil volentibus arduum....

[crying] [crying] OK guys - I'll quit the Latin quotes - you can stop throwing eggs and tomatoes now....  [scared] I can't help being raised on a solid diet of Asterix & Obelix comic books, some irony and sarcasm and a hint of classical education, can I ?   [embarassed]

Regards,

Job

There is 'nil sine labore'! Perhaps?
 
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