Lamello Zeta / Project

[luvmytoolz]

I've been working on a pretty large oak mantel and I'm on the home stretch now. Having the Zeta to install the Tenso connectors really makes a difficult fixing job easy!

Apart from using the Domino or biscuit joiner to actually glue the top would have been the only realistic way to affix the top, other than a horribly complex sliding dovetail arrangement I guess. I don't really know if it matters at all, but it seemed to make sense to alternate the connectors.

This way I can do test fits, and pull it apart easily, as I need to build up a layer of mortar on the cement sheet to move the gas log fire an inch forward, to deflect the rising heat further from the timber. Once it's all done and I'm happy, I can then glue all the Tenso slots and fit the top, weighing it down to be safe while the glue dries. Then it's all solid as a rock! I freakin love this Zeta, such a brilliant tool![attachimg=1][attachimg=2]

 

[Crazyraceguy]

[member=75933]luvmytoolz[/member] that looks great and it's a perfect application of the Zeta. I'm surprised that you don't have any of the wedgie things in them though, especially with that many of them?  They make it way easier to get them all aligned at the same time.

 

[luvmytoolz]

[member=75933]luvmytoolz[/member] that looks great and it's a perfect application of the Zeta. I'm surprised that you don't have any of the wedgie things in them though, especially with that many of them?  They make it way easier to get them all aligned at the same time.

[member=58857]Crazyraceguy[/member] I have them but didn't use any of the pre-load clips as everywhere I've seen they recommend them for the final assembly where you apply glue, or use them for not long before the final assembly, as it seems to affect the long term "memory" of the pins for lack of a better term, causing them to lose some of the springiness if the un-assembled connectors have the pre-load clips in for a long period. But once you get used to it it's pretty easy to get all the slots machined absolutely bang on so they align perfectly, as they did in this case. Having the blade dead centre makes all the measurements so easy.

It's absolutely worth it's weight in gold the Zeta! Love it.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

Oh, I wasn't criticizing, just curious. We all use things differently and in different situations. I don't necessarily glue things when I use Tenso connectors. Sometimes they are in places where the part might need to be removed, yet not appear that it can be.
I have never heard the "reduces tension" thing, not sure I buy it? Once the pieces are snapped together, those preload clips are doing nothing, they are loose in there, and the male side of the connector stretches the fins far more than the clips. That and I have never seen an issue with parts that I have removed, after being assembled for long periods of time.
I don't use them all the time either, but in some cases, they are quite handy. If you ever broke one of the fins, during an assembly, and had to take the whole thing back apart to replace it, you would see the advantage. Also, since I am building things for others, I have to take that into account. Even if the final user never needs to deal with them, the installers do.
I actually prefer the Clamex, in cases where things may need to be removed, but it's not always possible.

 

[Packard]

I've been working on a pretty large oak mantel and I'm on the home stretch now. Having the Zeta to install the Tenso connectors really makes a difficult fixing job easy!

Apart from using the Domino or biscuit joiner to actually glue the top would have been the only realistic way to affix the top, other than a horribly complex sliding dovetail arrangement I guess. I don't really know if it matters at all, but it seemed to make sense to alternate the connectors.

This way I can do test fits, and pull it apart easily, as I need to build up a layer of mortar on the cement sheet to move the gas log fire an inch forward, to deflect the rising heat further from the timber. Once it's all done and I'm happy, I can then glue all the Tenso slots and fit the top, weighing it down to be safe while the glue dries. Then it's all solid as a rock! I freakin love this Zeta, such a brilliant tool![attachimg=1][attachimg=2]

I cannot tell from the photos, but if there was access from underneath, I would have drilled oversized holes and used fender washers and wood screws, that would be my approach.  The oversized holes would allow for wood movement.

 

[mcfal12]

Oh, I wasn't criticizing, just curious. We all use things differently and in different situations. I don't necessarily glue things when I use Tenso connectors. Sometimes they are in places where the part might need to be removed, yet not appear that it can be.
I have never heard the "reduces tension" thing, not sure I buy it? Once the pieces are snapped together, those preload clips are doing nothing, they are loose in there, and the male side of the connector stretches the fins far more than the clips. That and I have never seen an issue with parts that I have removed, after being assembled for long periods of time.
I don't use them all the time either, but in some cases, they are quite handy. If you ever broke one of the fins, during an assembly, and had to take the whole thing back apart to replace it, you would see the advantage. Also, since I am building things for others, I have to take that into account. Even if the final user never needs to deal with them, the installers do.
I actually prefer the Clamex, in cases where things may need to be removed, but it's not always possible.

I have also heard that the extended use of the tense connectors introduces "memory", however I don't have that personal experience. I do agree that the preload clips make assembly easier, particularly on small/narrow pieces. Where there is a large surface area, in the case of a top like this applications, the connectors are more forgiving.

[member=75933]luvmytoolz[/member] assuming this is a 'permanent' installation when completed, but if not have you considered that when people move things they like to grab them by the top and lift, in which case the top will come off the mantel base.

 

[luvmytoolz]

[member=58857]Crazyraceguy[/member] No fear, I didn't take anything as criticising, I have seen the pre-loads used in many videos, but after using the Zeta a lot myself I don't really see the frequent use case for them myself, unless assembling smaller and lighter things, or there's a high degree of fiddlyness. Something this size and weight though where you can just thump them home makes them unnecessary. The memory issue was directly from a Lamello video if I recall, and it was specifically relating to leaving the pre-load clips in for extended times forcing the pins open while not clamped, I'll have a look and post it if I can find it again. If I could have used Clamex to affix the top I would have preferred that over the Tenso's as the holding power is unreal with Clamex's, but even if I plugged the holes I think the access holes would stand out along the front.

[member=74278]Packard[/member] There's no access from underneath unfortunately which would have been nice if so, but the other beauty of the Tenso (and the Clamex) connectors is that they allow for some movement in all directions while still clamping like there's no tomorrow!

[member=76944]mcfal12[/member] I actually tested it with my son, and despite the sizable weight, we were able to lift the entire thing by the top and the Tenso's didn't come apart at all, they're amazingly strong and the grip is incredible. I actually need to take it off in the next couple days to work on the wall but the size gives pretty good leverage so it'll come apart nicely.

I should add that these are the el cheapo Tenso's I bought, not Lamello ones, and they've performed beautifully! And of course when it's ready to be glued together, there's no way it'll be coming apart then! ;-)

As a joinery method, it's pretty hard to beat the functionality and versatility of the Zeta. This would have been extremely difficult and/or impractical using any other method.

 

[Peter Kelly]

Just realised that Lamello came out with a version of the Clamex that works with a conventional biscuit joiner slot. Looks pretty great.

 

[luvmytoolz]

Those S-20 connectors look good, Peter Millard also did a good video on them. The pulling power of the Clamex is quite amazing, so screwed in these should be pretty awesome!

 

[luvmytoolz]

I haven't found the video where they specifically mention it, but the starting animation in this video illustrates why you would insert the pre-load clips as close as possible to assembly time to avoid the pins losing some strength due to being held apart for a long period. Lamello's videos for them also mention them as the step before the final assembly and glueup. Of course if like me you need to pull the assembly apart several times it makes it a moot point.

 

[luvmytoolz]

I thought I'd share some earlier assembly pics of the 4 plinths and how I used Clamex and Tenso style connectors to assemble them.

As the 10mm Tenso's were the full width of the moulding to fit around the carved block, I simply offset it a few mm's on the mitres so it blew out the back slightly, but cleared the front by around 1.5mm. Although there was a 1.5mm high lip on one side of the back of the moulding, it was a simple matter of using a thin strip a little higher than the lip, to then position the Zeta frame at 45 degrees in just the right spot.

As seen by the holes on the back of the block, I used 2 Clamex connectors to then fix the moulding to the block.

It all sounds more complicated than it was, and to be honest, it was easier than I expected, I really anticipated major trouble joining the mitres, but these were pretty non eventful in the end.

And the beauty of these connectors is that they allow a bit of movement in all directions to make any adjustments necessary before gluing them all in place.
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[GarryMartin]

I should add that these are the el cheapo Tenso's I bought, not Lamello ones, and they've performed beautifully!

Can you provide some further details on these?

 

[luvmytoolz]

[member=11629]GarryMartin[/member] A cabinetmaker mate buys them in bulk from overseas, he ordered in 500 pairs of the 10mm Clamex style connectors for $100 landed, and a local seller on Ebay sells the 14mm Tenso and Clamex styles for around $225 per 600 pairs. The 10mm Tenso style connectors seem hard to find though.

Ali also has ones the same as the Divario connectors, around $50 per 100 shipped:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/100...o.order_list.order_list_main.5.abb31802NqIYOj

Visually they don't look as polished, but functionally in operation, they're identical. The clones mix and match with each other fine too, as well as with the 10mm ones.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

Just realised that Lamello came out with a version of the Clamex that works with a conventional biscuit joiner slot. Looks pretty great.

The authentic Lamello ones have always had the screw holes in the ends, which makes them functional with a regular biscuit joiner too. It just takes two plunges at 2 different heights, to get the groove wide enough.

 

[woodferret]

[member=11629]GarryMartin[/member]
Ali also has ones the same as the Divario connectors, around $50 per 100 shipped:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/100...o.order_list.order_list_main.5.abb31802NqIYOj

Visually they don't look as polished, but functionally in operation, they're identical. The clones mix and match with each other fine too, as well as with the 10mm ones.

I snagged some P-14 tensos from AliExpress.  I noticed the prong section seems to be more of a P-15 as it sits proud.  I know I can microadjust the depth, but the receiver end sits like a standard OEM... so it'd get weird.

Did you have to adjust for yours?

I'm patiently waiting for the P-15 clamex to arrive by slow boat.  At least that one I'm hoping to just use the dial.  But I am worried about the hole jig.

 

[luvmytoolz]

[member=72072]woodferret[/member] The P14 Tenso's I got from the local supplier, I would expect to be from the same manufacturer as what you got, and I'm pretty sure I cut as standard on the P14 setting, which in practice make zero difference I've found between testing either brand. I'll check that though.

The Clamex style though are a P15 cut however as they're 2mm wider, so the P15 setting matches perfectly, just as the P14 setting matches the Lamello Clamex's perfectly.

Ok so I just cut a few slots and took pics and measurements of the Lamello and clone Clamex and Tenso's, I didn't do the P10's or Divario's as yet but will another time.

As seen by the setting and the amount of setback, the Tenso's are an identical fit with the same setback on the default P14 setting, the Clamex as mentioned prior due to being 2mm wider overall, suit the P15 setting which gives the exact same fit and setback as the Lamello's on the P14 setting.

In all my use and testing, I haven't found any functional fitting or holding/strength difference between either type whatsoever, apart from the very first time a Lamello Clamex is tightened it actually cuts into the mating shell the minutest amount. which of course is a moot point if you don't tighten and assemble just once. The last pic also shows the Lamello on the left and clone connectors on the right. Visually there's not really any significant difference, and if the Lamello wasn't labelled, you'd probably be hard pressed to tell which is which. [attachimg=1][attachimg=2][attachimg=3][attachimg=4][attachimg=5]

 

[smorgasbord]

Anyone ever use the Lamello Invis Mx2?

Completely hidden, yet removable. Uses magnets in a hidden screw that is turned by magnets attached to your drill:

 

[luvmytoolz]

The Invis are a brilliant connector, there's some great videos around of them being used for timber handrails.

Like everything Lamello though they're pretty expensive here, I haven't as yet found a use case that would justify me buying them. They'd be super handy though on install jobs.

 

[woodferret]

Thanks [member=75933]luvmytoolz[/member] for that exhaustive testing.

I've gone back and looked the AliExpress P14 tensos.  The receivers measure 12.6mm depth from back to front flat... as does the lamello prong one.  While measuring the prong for the AliExpress version, I finally noticed why it never set in the same place as the OEM.... they're bent.  The two sides are protruding out of the slot... somehow this must have been interfering with the receiver hence why it seemed to only work when I seated it in a P15 slot.

Other tip to tip measurements seem similar to the OEM.  Ugh.

 

[luvmytoolz]

[member=72072]woodferret[/member] When you say the clone prong side is bent (in what way?), do you mean it's damaged or there was an issue with the injection moulding process on yours?

Are all yours the same?

Mine measure exactly the same and are interchangeable with each other just fine. Given the way mass manufacturing is done in China I would have thought your's would have come off pretty must the same assembly line?