Lamello Zeta / Project

[woodferret]

[member=75933]luvmytoolz[/member]

Ruler across both side tips.... notice the gap nearer the center

[attachimg=1]

P15 setting on left.  P14 on right.  Same AliExpress tensos.  Notice it juts out.

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Probably is the same factory, but I guess mine might be the reject run.

 

[luvmytoolz]

[member=72072]woodferret[/member] Ok now I get it, but when it's slid into the slot it should pull it straighter I would have thought? Either way, I don't see how it would be an issue as the clamping force when they're joined I would think should be more than adequate to pull the centre with the pins up and tight?

In fact I would see this as additional clamping force when assembled if it closes okay in a P14 slot, have you tested some on a board to see if it get's pulled in tight in a P14 slot so there's no gap between the timber?

Looking at the pics again as this is weird, I noticed the little nub in the middle of yours is a lot smaller than the one in my pic. So it looks like yours are from a different manufacturer then!

That's something to take note of when buying them then, although I don't think I'll be buying any more in my lifetime as I'm up to my ears  in P14 Tenso's now, I ordered 600 P15 Clamex's and the seller sent 600 Tenso's by mistake!

He did manage to source P10 Tenso's somehow so I'm keen to get them, they'll be super handy for thinner panels!

 

[woodferret]

[member=72072]woodferret[/member]

In fact I would see this as additional clamping force when assembled if it closes okay in a P14 slot, have you tested some on a board to see if it get's pulled in tight in a P14 slot so there's no gap between the timber?

P14-14 there's a gap and it doesn't pull close.. loosey goosey, wiggly jiggly.  P14-15 it closes tight as expected for a tenso.

If I clip them together in the air, it'll bend it and close the gap.  But I think in real life in a slot, the friction of the slot keeps it from bending flat.

 

[luvmytoolz]

That's a bugger! Although as you've found the simple fix is to use both settings to achieve the desired result, although what a pain.

I'll try and do some tests with the P10 Clamex's and post pics so the info is there for posterity.

I do know my mate said he's bought the white nylon Tenso's but didn't like them and found them not as good as these black ones, I actually have one he gave me, and it's a bit agricultural looking, so I'd probably steer clear of them unless they're really super cheap.

 

[luvmytoolz]

While perusing some connectors on Aliexpress, I came across this seller offering replacement "diamond lamino" blades for the Zeta (there's heaps of other sellers too, just search for "pcd lamino cutter"):
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/100....order_list.order_list_main.58.21ef1802Vlc2Fm

Although it's advertised as "PCD diamond" it looks like regular carbide to me, but at around $55AUD shipped it was worth a try to keep as an emergency spare given the Lamello branded TCT blades are around $400-$500, and the PCD blade's are around $900AUD!

It came today and colour me impressed! It's not the garbage cutter I was slightly afraid was quite possible, but works a treat and is a perfect replacement for the genuine blade, and provides the perfect profile dimensions and fit for the Lamello and clone Clamax and Tenso connectors.

It was tricky getting a good front view of the carbide tips one handed but they're identical, with the exception that the Zeta tips are slightly more rounded on the very tip, which as all the connectors have a flat face in that section doesn't make sense to me. Suffice to say all the connectors slid in with no discernible difference or resistance to me.

The Ali blade is thicker overall than the Zeta's, but the Zeta has a thicker centre section, so I guess that sorta cancels out, I'm dubious as to whether one is better than the other for all intents and purposes.

The last pic with the vertical slots shows the Ali cutter on the left, and the Zeta's on the right in the thick MDF.

Overall I'm extremely pleased with it and have left it in for regular use to see how it goes long term. But it's exceptional value!

[attachimg=1][attachimg=2][attachimg=3][attachimg=4][attachimg=5]

 

[squall_line]

the Lamello branded TCT blades are around $400-$500, and the PCD blade's are around $900AUD!

I thought you guys had it bad on Festool products, but this almost makes me want to start an international incident on your behalf.  [eek]  At current exchange rates (602 USD), I paid less than twice that to buy a used Zeta P2.

 

[luvmytoolz]

the Lamello branded TCT blades are around $400-$500, and the PCD blade's are around $900AUD!

I thought you guys had it bad on Festool products, but this almost makes me want to start an international incident on your behalf.  [eek]  At current exchange rates (602 USD), I paid less than twice that to buy a used Zeta P2.

My Zeta with the accessory kit was a tad under $3200 from memory, and even so we still get screwed by Lamello as Australia's not eligible for the extended warranty the entire rest of the world gets, which is just rubbing salt into the wound! But you should see how much the connectors are here, kidney selling type prices. Thank god we've got vastly cheaper Asian suppliers for that!