MFT-3 rail clamps have play - ARGH!

[niedermee]

I'm trying trying to set up my MFT-3 fence using 2 rail clamps instead of 1 rail clamp and the protractor in hopes of gaining the extra few inches Festool's protractor wastes, but I can't get the clamps to securely grip the fence. Am I doing something wrong? I made a short video of the issue (link below).
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[tjbnwi]

Slide the 2 rail clamps in place, snug the thumb nut, then tighten the lever.

Tom

 

[rljatl]

Add a piece of slick tape or other thick tape to the face of the clamp to take up the play.  That's what I did.  It may take two layers.

 

[niedermee]

Slide the 2 rail clamps in place, snug the thumb nut, then tighten the lever.

Tom

Tom,

That doesn't work either. For now I've had to shim the gap with shims (solid color Wilsonart sampes fit the gap just right). But I'm thinking there must have been a bad batch of these made, as I've seen friendly118's post and he seems to have the same problem. That said, I can't for the life of me, figure out what the heck friendly118 did in the photos he posted of his solutuon.

Maybe my table was set too low compared to the rails when it was assembled at the factory? Can anyone out there measure their's and let me know how far down the rails are on their MFT below the table surface?

-P.

 

[Peter_C]

You could always sand the bottom of the part that fits into the fence. This will allow it to pull down harder.

Mine is tight to the fence.

 

[niedermee]

You could always sand the bottom of the part that fits into the fence. This will allow it to pull down harder.

Mine is tight to the fence.

I'm going to take the parts back to the dealer first and see if there's a solution that doesn't require me permanently altering factory parts.

 

[rljatl]

You could always sand the bottom of the part that fits into the fence. This will allow it to pull down harder.

Mine is tight to the fence.

I'm going to take the parts back to the dealer first and see if there's a solution that doesn't require me permanently altering factory parts.

It's a very simple fix if you add a couple layers of slick tape as I mentioned above.  Worked for me.  Mine had the same play in it as yours.  It is not a manufacturing defect. 

 

[DynaGlide]

Thanks for making the video now I see what the other guy was talking about. Mine doesn't do that at all. And I have 4 of those clamps from different sources (one came with a used table, one I ordered from EKAT, 2 more came with another used table). When I tighten the clamp down my fence doesn't move at all. Where are you located these things are easier figured out in person.