MFT clamping

[jmac80]

Hello all
Just ordered a MFT top to build a new workbench around.
Having never used a MFT before i'm unfamiliar with what clamps are best.
I have ordered 4 x Festool FS-HZ 160 Lever Clamp as they look really good however i'm undecided on the other festool clamps both the Festool Fastening clamp FSZ 120 & the longer 300 one (screw style ones)
Are they worth it? Do you use them after getting  the one handle lever clamps?
I could maybe see a use for the longer 300 ones but are the 120 ones kind of redundant now the 160 lever clamps are out?
Basically just looking for a bit of advice on what clamps are essential for this table, Don't want to order a couple of pairs of the fastening clamps just to have them sit on the shelf (expensive paper weights)
I will also order a Festool Fixed clamps MFT-SP they do look amazing!

Thanks

edit - also ordered 4 x parf dogs and 4 x bench dogs.

 

[andy5405]

I have one of the clamps that you have ordered and don't really use it. I prefer the cheaper screw ones.

 

[jmac80]

Really, why do you prefer the screw ones Andy?

 

[JBird]

I recently received the Senaca clamp dogs and some Kreg clamps.

[attachimg=1]

Can't recommend them highly enough. Not a true replacement of the Festool Lever Clamps(or Quick Clamps as they are called in the USA) because they aren't used to hold down the rail. But as substitute for clamping through the dog holes they are much more convenient if you are going to be doing even mildly repetitive clamping. They are also compatible with the Bessy clamps but the clamping range of the Kreg make them a better choice.

 

[Iceclimber]

I also have been wanting to purchase those clamps for quite some time. I have put them in my shopping cart more than one only to say i have gotten by without thus far do i really need $110 worth of plastic

I wish i would just purchase them already.

I will say i was given a Veritas dog type bench screw clamp that is made of steel aa d brass. New it is like $75. It leaves you wondering why Festool cant make these clamps with a much nicer fit and finish for $110!

 

[jmac80]

Jbirdt
I have seen them and they do look good, What i like about the look of the festool ones is you do not need to screw the bottoms of them in.

 

[Bob Wolfe]

I am waiting for that style of clamp that fits directly into the 20 mm hole, can't seem to find one yet.  Why would I want a plate?

 

[Pixel]

You will, trust me, spend hundreds of pounds on various types on clamps for your MFT and you will still have issues for the majority of things you need to hold fast whilst you work on it.
Save yourself the hassle of trying to find a solution and buy a bench vacuum clamping system, about the same price as a tray full of clamps but 100% usability.

 

[JBird]

Jbirdt
I have seen them and they do look good, What i like about the look of the festool ones is you do not need to screw the bottoms of them in.

Cleary that is one of the drawbacks, in addition to price, of the Seneca/Kreg. But if you have to repetitively clamp more than 3-5 times in the same position then it is worth the effort to get them out and screw them on. They are also a lot easier to use one handed, and a joy to use overall, compared to the Festool. Clamping over and over can be the more tedious part of repetitive works and these make a big difference in my enjoyment.

I have two of the Festool Quick Clamps, two of the Festool screw clamps that came wit the LR32, and two of the MFT-SP(called clamping elements here). You definitely need some for the track and for clamping vertically on the side of an MFT. But I don't see myself ever buying any more Festool clamps now that i have experienced the Seneca/Kreg.

 

[Staniam]

I just noticed this thread and I started one with basically the same question. $110 for the Festool clamps just seems like too much for two clamps. Someone suggested the Veritas Wonder Dog and Pup as well as the Veritas Bench Blade. All three clamps look really nice and are much cheaper in price.

 

[Dunn wood]

Here's a nice set up

Veritas® MFT Clamping Kit
View our product video

This kit of work-holding accessories lets you harness the full capabilities of Festool's MFT/3 multifunction table. Complete with three hold-downs, two low-profile work stops and eight dogs in two sizes, it lets you position and hold work quickly and securely. All the items have 20mm diameter posts designed specifically for use with the MFT's 3/4" thick perforated table top.

Don't own an MFT/3? The kit also includes a 20mm forstner bit so you can create your own workstation using 3/4" material. (A through hole in 3/4" thick material is required to secure the toggle clamp plate and the surface dogs with clamping knobs; however, the dogs can also be used without knobs. The surface clamp and low-profile stop can be used in any through hole in material at least 5/8" thick – no clamping knob required.)

The kit comes in a custom black-and-yellow T-Loc Systainer 1 case with a French-fitted liner made of firm closed-cell EVA foam. A contrasting bottom layer lets you see at a glance if anything is missing. Four spots to store Festool accessory clamping knobs are provided; we've included four inexpensive star-shaped knobs, but you can just as easily replace them with your own Festool knobs.

The kit includes:

    4 small surface dogs

    4 large surface dogs

    2 low-profile work stops

    1 surface clamp

    2 Bessey low-profile horizontal auto-adjust toggle clamps (with mounting plates for use in 20mm dog holes)

    4 clamping knobs (for securing the dogs and toggle clamp plates)

    1 20mm forstner bit

http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=70681&cat=1,71990

 

[Staniam]

That's a super nice kit. Definitely looks worth every penny.

 

[JBird]

I just noticed this thread and I started one with basically the same question. $110 for the Festool clamps just seems like too much for two clamps. Someone suggested the Veritas Wonder Dog and Pup as well as the Veritas Bench Blade. All three clamps look really nice and are much cheaper in price.

Just don't make the mistake of buying any clamps designed for 3/4 holes. Looks like the bench blade has a 20mm version. But the wonder dog and pup only show 3/4.

I had not heard of those bench blades before. My chief complaint about the Festool Clamping Elements is that they are not low profile enough for sanding on thin stock. Just have to accept that the sander is going to get to them.

 

[JBird]

That's a super nice kit. Definitely looks worth every penny.

Fit and finish look second to none but the dogs are not as well fitting as Qwas or others, and the Bessey toggle clamps are not as good as Kreg. So it is a compromise on functionality, even at that price.

 

[JBird]

I had not heard of those bench blades before.

Looks like the jaw travel is only 1/4" which explains why I haven't heard of them. Not much utility in that for MFT use.

 

[Staniam]

I just noticed this thread and I started one with basically the same question. $110 for the Festool clamps just seems like too much for two clamps. Someone suggested the Veritas Wonder Dog and Pup as well as the Veritas Bench Blade. All three clamps look really nice and are much cheaper in price.

Just don't make the mistake of buying any clamps designed for 3/4 holes. Looks like the bench blade has a 20mm version. But the wonder dog and pup only show 3/4.

I had not heard of those bench blades before. My chief complaint about the Festool Clamping Elements is that they are not low profile enough for sanding on thin stock. Just have to accept that the sander is going to get to them.

The size isn't a problem as I'll be making my own MFT table, so I can make the holes 3/4". In my thread I asked about alternatives to Festools high dollar clams that are decent to good in quality. That being said, you bring up a great point on the size, I hadn't thought about that potential problem.

And the low profile of the Bench Blades are what I like most about them.

 

[Wuffles]

Speaking as someone your side of the pond old chap, I can recommend the following - use them all, all the time.

Axminster Quick Lever Clamps - can't seem to find them any more, but they're like the Festool ones (only cheaper) - they go through the holes in the mft and are cool for clamping stuff down.

Quick release ones are moderately better than the screw ones, but not for the money, IMHO.

Next up I use the Kreg ones someone posted above, but without the sexy looking Seneca bits on them. I used instead a bolt and some spacers, but those additions look pretty cool - no doubt not available over here? I'd love to be proved wrong. They are awesome for holding whilst using a domino or anything of that ilk. Super quick and auto adjust to the depth they are given, which makes them super fast to use on repeated clamping items (like domino(ing) together a million cabinets for your Wife).

I frequently forget I have the clamping elements, I should use them more as they cost so much money.

Hope that helps fella.

edit: Fire, Water, Air, Earth and clamps. It's not essentials, it's elements, plum.

 

[ear3]

I thought the same thing before I got them, but the clamping elements are really incredible when you need to sand, or especially when you need to hold something that is oddly shaped, because the dog portion has both a straight edge and a curved edge on the other side.  There are a couple of projects I wouldn't have been able to do without them.  My only gripe is that the lever is slightly proud of 3/4, so you can't use them under the MFT rail when cutting 3/4 stock, which would sometimes be useful when for various reasons you can't use the back fence to support the workpiece.

I did not know about the Bench Blades though, and think I might order some because of their low profile (and price!).

I just noticed this thread and I started one with basically the same question. $110 for the Festool clamps just seems like too much for two clamps. Someone suggested the Veritas Wonder Dog and Pup as well as the Veritas Bench Blade. All three clamps look really nice and are much cheaper in price.

 

[Wuffles]

Jbirdt
I have seen them and they do look good, What i like about the look of the festool ones is you do not need to screw the bottoms of them in.

If you're talking about the clamping elements you do if you don't want the whole thing to pop up off the table by at the very least a few mm when you clamp "hard". Not sure if that's important to you, but bear it in mind.

 

[ear3]

I much prefer the lever clamp over the screw one, as it can quickly generate the force necessary to hold the piece.  I just had an incident today where I thought I had turned the handle enough with the screw clamp, but when I went to apply pressure with the Domino (had clamped a strip of wood as a straight edge) the wood moved -- fortunately before I had started to sink the mortise though.

The only time I reach for the screw clamps first is when I have something tall, or when I want to minimize the possibility of moving the workpiece when clamping -- the clamping action of the levers can sometimes shift the board ever so slightly.

Hello all
Just ordered a MFT top to build a new workbench around.
Having never used a MFT before i'm unfamiliar with what clamps are best.
I have ordered 4 x Festool FS-HZ 160 Lever Clamp as they look really good however i'm undecided on the other festool clamps both the Festool Fastening clamp FSZ 120 & the longer 300 one (screw style ones)
Are they worth it? Do you use them after getting  the one handle lever clamps?
I could maybe see a use for the longer 300 ones but are the 120 ones kind of redundant now the 160 lever clamps are out?
Basically just looking for a bit of advice on what clamps are essential for this table, Don't want to order a couple of pairs of the fastening clamps just to have them sit on the shelf (expensive paper weights)
I will also order a Festool Fixed clamps MFT-SP they do look amazing!

Thanks

edit - also ordered 4 x parf dogs and 4 x bench dogs.