Kapex Clamp in a Dewalt DWS780?

[Roachmill]

I have a Dewalt DWS780 which is a great saw in general but the hold-down clamp is a real PITA. It's a simple threaded rod that you have to crank up and down which takes way longer than I'd like. The Kapex clamp looks to have a near identical fitting (based on images on the internet anyway!) so I'm wondering if anyone can verify whether it would be a viable alternative for the 780?

This Amazon listing has a review (1st one) that says it fits the DW717 but that's about all I've been able to find.

 

[RKA]

Nudge me late today in case I forget.  I can check for you after work tonight.  I'm pretty sure it won't work, but I can't recall what specifically causes an issue.

 

[Roachmill]

Thanks! Will try and nudge you but likely in my bed by then (I'm in the UK so ~6 hours ahead).

 

[chrisrosenb]

The Festool clamp works fine on a my Dewalt DWS780.

Another option is the older Dewalt clamp. It has a quick release button for the threads.

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[Roachmill]

Brilliant. Thanks for the photos too by the way! The Kapex clamp looks like there's less space between it and the fence compared to the Dewalt one. Would you say that's the case? I quite often attach a 18mm / ¾" MDF fence to mine which may foul the Kapex clamp if there's less of a gap. I could likely work round that though.

Don't tell the boss, but I was just trawling around and came across the older clamp. It wasn't listed as compatible with the 780 though but can be picked up in the UK for around the same price. Which of the two would you pick on a capacity versus ease of use basis?

 

[chrisrosenb]

For the Festool, there is a 5/16" gap between the fence & the clamping pad. The clamp pad on the Festool clamp pad could be trimmed to make the gap larger.  The Dewalt has 1 3/8" gap between the fence & pad.
The reach of the Dewalt clamp to the blade is 1 1/2" more than the Festool clamp

 

[Roachmill]

I may just go for the older Dewalt then. You're a star JD2720. Thanks for the help (you too RKA)!

 

[ben_r_]

Ive been using the DeWalt quick release clamp for years now and love it. It is tricky to find though. They are still making them but they make it difficult to find the model number for some reason. You can get it under the Black & Decker brand as model 153650-00 or under the DeWalt brand as model DW7082. They are usually $50+.

 

[Roachmill]

Or try £50+ (I've seen ones for £80!) in the UK. I found somewhere over here doing them for £35 and didn't think twice about ordering one

 

[Roachmill]

Dewalt clamp arrived and works like a champ. Had a lot of quick angled cuts to do today and got through them in record time. Thanks for putting me on to it, it's made it a joy to use!

 

[ben_r_]

Just picked up a Bosch Glide GCM12SD and the material clamp it comes with is the old "take forever to use" screw kind. Im not trying to figure out a way to get the DeWalt DW7082 to work in the Bosch mount. The shaft on the DeWalt is only .084 inches larger in circumference than the Bosch but cant be removed from the vertical arm as its pressed in. So a lathe milling it down a bit is out. There has to be another way.