Kreg track and clamps used with the MFT

[Cary Swoveland]

I recently purchased components to make a Kreg clamp table top:
http://www.amazon.com/Kreg-KKS1000-...86-7097211?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1193883255&sr=8-1

I had a short piece of track left and found it--together with the Kreg clamps--was a handy addition to my MFT:

[attachthumb=1] [attachthumb=2] [attachthumb=3]

The first picture shows the Kreg track and clamps in use.  The track is held down with two Festool clamps.
The second picture shows the track upside down and the positions of the Festool clamps when the first picture was taken.  By placing the Festool clamps as shown in the third picture, the clamping pressure presses the track against the table (good); had I put the clamp in the rear track, clamping pressure would lift the track (bad).  The clamps fit into the tracks like they were made for it.

This same approach might be used with other track and clamps, of course.

Cary
   

 

[Eli]

For some reason the first thing I thought of was this.

 

[Mirko]

Eli,
What do you guys smoke down under?

Mirko

 

[Eli]

I wish I could answer you.......  but I can barely see the screen 

 

[woodshopdemos]

Cary,
  I great idea and very nice pictures. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Dan Clark]

I recently purchased components to make a Kreg clamp table top:
http://www.amazon.com/Kreg-KKS1000-...86-7097211?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1193883255&sr=8-1
I had a short piece of track left and found it--tog her with the Kreg clamps--was a handy addition to my MFT:

Cary, 

First, nice idea and nice pics.  That looks very handy.  In addition...

It occurred to me that your idea could be extended and the Kreg components could be attached to an MFT to turn it into a temporary Kreg clamp table.  Is that a reasonable alternative to building a separate Kreg Clamp table?  Are there any problems with doing this?

Regards,

Dan.

 

[Cary Swoveland]

...It occurred to me that your idea could be extended and the Kreg components could be attached to an MFT to turn it into a temporary Kreg clamp table.  Is that a reasonable alternative to building a separate Kreg Clamp table?   Are there any problems with doing this?

The Kreg clamp table is designed so that the top of the track is sightly below the top of the (3/4" thick) table, and plastic dohickies that slide in the track are used to position material being clamped.  (The dohickies have four settings that correspond to different widths of the material being clamped.)  To mimic its use with the MFT, you'd clamp a 3/4" thick rectangular sheet to the MFT, and then clamp two Kreg rails to the MFT, snugged up to adjacent sides of the rectangular sheet (assuring squareness).

Cary

 

[Dan Clark]

...It occurred to me that your idea could be extended and the Kreg components could be attached to an MFT to turn it into a temporary Kreg clamp table.  Is that a reasonable alternative to building a separate Kreg Clamp table?   Are there any problems with doing this?

The Kreg clamp table is designed so that the top of the track is sightly below the top of the (3/4" thick) table, and plastic dohickies that slide in the track are used to position material being clamped.  (The dohickies have four settings that correspond to different widths of the material being clamped.)  To mimic its use with the MFT, you'd clamp a 3/4" thick rectangular sheet to the MFT, and then clamp two Kreg rails to the MFT, snugged up to adjacent sides of the rectangular sheet (assuring squareness).

Cary

Cary,

Ah, so it's more complex than merely adding the clamps and rails.

Thanks anyway,

Dan.

 

[tk21769]

Looks nifty, but why futz around with two clamps, a track and a hold down, when either of the two clamps gives you a hold-down to start with?

Still, it's nice to know the Festo clamps fit the Kreg track so well.

 

[Dan Clark]

I think the issue is that rails on the Kreg table are square.    That might be a nice advantage.

Regards,

Dan.

 

[Mirko]

Looks nifty, but why futz around with two clamps, a track and a hold down, when either of the two clamps gives you a hold-down to start with?

Still, it's nice to know the Festo clamps fit the Kreg track so well.

The difference is when you use the two Festool brand clamps by themselves they can be a pain to put on and off, Cary's jig is quick release and fixed, making production situations a breeze.

Mirko

 

[Cary Swoveland]

Looks nifty, but why futz around with two clamps, a track and a hold down, when either of the two clamps gives you a hold-down to start with?

Still, it's nice to know the Festo clamps fit the Kreg track so well.

A fair point, tk (or should I say "21769"?).

I find that when doing repetitive operations with pieces of the same thickness it generally is faster to use toggle clamps than Festool's screw- or quick-action clamps.  Also, it can be helpful to be able to butt workpieces against the track, as well as clamping them, or to place a workpiece against a stop this is attached to the track.  When driving pocket-hole screws, Kreg's clamps work better than Festool's in keeping front faces flush.

Cary

 

[Dave Rudy]

Cary,

Thanks for posting.  I had already purchased the kreg track and clamps but have not had time to put them to use yet.

I'm thinking about using one corner of my jumbo mft as a square clamping corner using the two kreg tracks and their clamps and guides. 

If I ever figure it out I'll post with pics

Dave

 

[Dave Ronyak]

...It occurred to me that your idea could be extended and the Kreg components could be attached to an MFT to turn it into a temporary Kreg clamp table.  Is that a reasonable alternative to building a separate Kreg Clamp table?   Are there any problems with doing this?

The Kreg clamp table is designed so that the top of the track is sightly below the top of the (3/4" thick) table, and plastic dohickies that slide in the track are used to position material being clamped.  (The dohickies have four settings that correspond to different widths of the material being clamped.)  To mimic its use with the MFT, you'd clamp a 3/4" thick rectangular sheet to the MFT, and then clamp two Kreg rails to the MFT, snugged up to adjacent sides of the rectangular sheet (assuring squareness).

Cary

Why make a Kreg Clamping Table mockup on your MFT when you can simply make and use a pair of "Squaring Arms" as described in Jerry Work's MFT Manual?  Jerry's "Squaring Arms" can be set square or at any included angle that is needed to fit your project, and when not in use, easily hung on a nail or peg on a wall.

I do see advantages (just as you described) for your toggle clamp jig made from a piece of Kreg's rail.

Dave R.

 

[John Stevens]

Why make a Kreg Clamping Table mockup on your MFT when you can simply make and use a pair of "Squaring Arms" as described in Jerry Work's MFT Manual?   Jerry's "Squaring Arms" can be set square or at any included angle that is needed to fit your project, and when not in use, easily hung on a nail or peg on a wall.

Another alternative to "squaring arms," and could be used to mount extrusions by Kreg or other mfrs:
http://festoolownersgroup.com/index.php?topic=238.msg6219#msg6219

Regards,

John

 

[Cary Swoveland]

...Why make a Kreg Clamping Table mockup on your MFT when you can simply make and use a pair of "Squaring Arms" as described in Jerry Work's MFT Manual?   Jerry's "Squaring Arms" can be set square or at any included angle that is needed to fit your project, and when not in use, easily hung on a nail or peg on a wall...

I tend to agree with you, Dave.  I made a Kreg table top with rails for clamps, but chose to make it stand-alone.  I sometimes use it on my MFT, but not always.

Cary