None of my clamps working!

[marimba]

Something strange just happened - one by one, my festool clamps (F and Quick styles) stopped working.  They have all worked flawlessly for last three years. Puzzling...

I was using the clamps in a set up for cross country ski waxing (on the MFT, where only a festool clamp would work). The waxing was going fine, the clamp was working, and then, as I switched out one set of skis for another, unclamping and re-clamping etc., the clamps started failing.  Can't now use the clamps for anything - they just slip.

So clearly the ski wax is messing up the clamp. This is surprising, because no big wax mess or wax drips onto the clamp. However, when waxing the skis, you scrape and then brush the skis, which makes some wax dust, and so this is probably what landed on the clamps. Not sure wax would be a problem.

Any ideas about how to rectify this situation? I tried a little WD-40, but it didn't seem to work.

 

[TomGadwa1]

Try some Acetone or Mineral Spirits. You need a solvent to remove the wax. WD40 leaves a residue which may be causing the clamps to slip. The above mentioned solvents will evaporate rapidly and will leave little if any residue that could promote slippage of the clamps.

 

[jacko9]

Make sure you have plenty of ventilation using acetone.

Jack

 

[Kev]

Heat ... lots of heat best way to get rid of wax [wink]

I use surf board cleaner - but I've no idea what's in it.

 

[Jeff Zanin]

Brake cleaner.

 

[marimba]

Thanks Tom, Jack, Kev, Jeff. Great to have your ideas.

The first and easiest suggestion (Tom), mineral spirits, worked well enough, though not right away - needed to air dry thoroughly before there was adequate catch.

If I needed to accelerate, added heat (Kev) would be good.   Maybe acetone would evaporate more quickly, but I didn't have any on hand to try.

 

[Sparktrician]

The best way I've found is to use a #0000 pad of steel wool soaked with acetone or lacquer thinner.  Cleans thoroughly and dries right now. 

 

[iamnothim]

I searched for this thread and I'm grateful I found it.....
I have the exact same problem "Marimba" reported...except my clamps have nothing on them.  No wax, no lubricant, nothing.   I have 2 ten year old 5" screw clamps for my TS 55.  They are in perfect condition and never slipped.  (Until now)  Within the last month I purchased two MFT/3's and four 12" clamps.  I've been using them daily.

Now I can't tighten them.  AND I can't tighten the old ones.  Slowly they've all failed.  They might get tight for a minute or two, then they slip.  Both from under the table and over the table.  It's very frustrating.  Could I have broken them?

 

[jacko9]

One of the most effective solvents that I found for removing wax is Methyl Chloride.  I'm not sure if you can still buy it but, if you can wear a respirator while using it and you will have clean clamps.

Jack

 

[iamnothim]

One of the most effective solvents that I found for removing wax is Methyl Chloride.  I'm not sure if you can still buy it but, if you can wear a respirator while using it and you will have clean clamps.

Jack

Hi,
The clamps are clean.  I purchased four on February 4th of this year.
Just to make sure I cleaned one with Acetone.  It did not make a difference.

 

[jacko9]

One of the most effective solvents that I found for removing wax is Methyl Chloride.  I'm not sure if you can still buy it but, if you can wear a respirator while using it and you will have clean clamps.

Jack

Hi,
The clamps are clean.  I purchased four on February 4th of this year.
Just to make sure I cleaned one with Acetone.  It did not make a difference.

Just wondering, even though you cleaned the clamps has the wax been transferred to the MFT holes and perhaps your recontaminating them as you try to use them?

Good luck,

Jack

 

[iamnothim]

One of the most effective solvents that I found for removing wax is Methyl Chloride.  I'm not sure if you can still buy it but, if you can wear a respirator while using it and you will have clean clamps.

Jack

Hi,
The clamps are clean.  I purchased four on February 4th of this year.
Just to make sure I cleaned one with Acetone.  It did not make a difference.

Just wondering, even though you cleaned the clamps has the wax been transferred to the MFT holes and perhaps your recontaminating them as you try to use them?

Good luck,

Jack

The original poster (Marimba) used his clamps to wax skis. 
I don't wax anything.  I use them for ordinary woodworking.

 

[TelcoRandy]

On an unrelated note to iamnothim's latest problem, I would never try to use brake cleaner. It might melt whatever plastics/rubbers it comes in contact with.

 

[Hurricane Whisperer]

My Festool screw clamps also stopped working.

I discovered this while edge trimming some laminate.  It was the very first time I have ever edge trimmed laminate and it was going perfectly.  Until the clamp let go and busted the one edge on the project that you can actually see.

I have never used them around wax and there does not appear to be anything on them.

I had never thought much of the clamp design as it didn't seem to have much in the way to prevent slippage.  But they worked well and quite easily, so I didn't worry about it.  After thinking they needed some sort ridges like a Bessey, I found they didn't need them so I chalked it up to some impressive use of geometry and that I must have been wrong.

Now they seem to get tight and shortly come loose.

I keep thinking I must be doing something wrong but they have come loose several times.

 

[iamnothim]

Guess what?
I'm not nuts.  I indeed had four defective clamps.  They were only a month old.

Good news.
Festool replaced them. 

Here is what Steve wrote after I requested an update on testing the clamps I sent him...

I did receive them and you are not CRAZY sir. They are definitely bad. To be honest another tech and myself tightened them down, stood back and literally watched them fall off the surface! First I have seen of this issue.

I ran it up the Ladder and our folks here are aware of the issue and taking the appropriate actions. I want to apologize again for the issue you had with them and if there is anything you need in the future, don't hesitate to call.

Best regards,
Steven Greenly

 

[W1ngnu7]

I just started having this problem with my quick clamps.  No wax or anything on them, they just don't hold any more.  Besides cleaning them, did anyone try any thing else that worked?

 

[upscale]

I just started having this problem with my quick clamps.  No wax or anything on them, they just don't hold any more.  Besides cleaning them, did anyone try any thing else that worked?

I had a similar problem with some clamps I bought from Lee Valley Tools. Talked to a knowledgable friend of mine. The solution? Go over the threads with a wire brush. Worked great! No solvent, harsh cleaners or anything else.