Kapex Hold-down Clamp - Fool-proof Grip

[ChuckM]

Gary Katz's (of ThisisCarpentry) two-step way of locking down the hold-down clamp never fails:

1) Push down the plunger hard on the workpiece while lifting up the clamp body at the same time with one hand (left)
2) Keeping the plunger and body in tension, lock the lever with the other hand.

I also used his four-cut calibration method to tune up my Kapex when it first came to my shop.

 

[Rick Herrick]

Hey Chuck, thanks for the tip.  I never used hold downs until I got my Kapex and now I use one on both sides in a lot of situations. 

 

[ChuckM]

All credit goes to Gary.

Indeed the Kapex's hold-down clamp is so user-friendly. I'm surprised that nobody else has yet come up with a competing product.

 

[squall_line]

That looks similar to the way Sedge recommends locking the quick release ratchet clamps from the Live he did back in 2020 on work holding.

As a bonus, using the hold down when cutting means that you're even more likely to continue to have use of both hands to clamp it down in the future!

 

[ChuckM]

That looks similar to the way Sedge recommends locking the quick release ratchet clamps from the Live he did back in 2020 on work holding.
Snip.

His way is different from Gary's, requiring a strong/large thumb to execute (13:55):http://www.youtube.com/watch?t=830&v=xIJ45uTjl9E&feature=youtu.be

 

[squall_line]

By "quick release ratchet clamps", I meant the two-handed method for the MFT / Rail ratchet clamps, not the Kapex clamp.