I'll vouch for the DeWalt clamps. I use them solely for the Festool guide rail, I have plenty of other clamps for other applications, and I have not yet made the leap to an MFT-style hole system workbench. But I have used the quick clamps to hold the guide rail vertically to the face of installed cabinetry to make oven cut-outs in place. I have no reservations about the holding power of the half-price clamps.
Quick clamps vs threaded clamps for Festy rail system
- Thread starter jnug
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Like i said, the Dewalts will hold a rail in place. quick clamps or threaded have more applications and therefor would be a better investment IMO.
Though, I am wondering, if the pair I had were defective. 2 clamps, could hardly hold a board vertical to the MFT. Sounds like some of you don't have this issue.
Though, I am wondering, if the pair I had were defective. 2 clamps, could hardly hold a board vertical to the MFT. Sounds like some of you don't have this issue.
I don't have the Dewalts and I will be receiving my first Festy's next week or end of this week. But I have many quick grip type clamps and what you are describing does not sound right. If you bought all the problematic ones at the same time, I would not be surprised if they all have a problem of some sort. Dewalt is a quality tool brand. You would not expect a clamp with their name on it to perform like that.
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There are, I believe, 4 clamps made by Festool (ignoring the one that comes with the Kapex).
The Quick Clamp (489790) is dedicated to the rail system and, as far as I can see, has no other utility.
The Fastening Clamp (489570 or 489571) is a screw clamp in two sizes (120 and 300 mm) and can be used with guide rails, through the MFT3 holes, in the side rails of the MFT3 and as a stand-alone clamp.
The Lever Clamp (491594) uses a lever action for tightening as opposed to a screw action and can be used in the same way as the Fastening Clamp above).
For completeness, but not the subject here, there is the brilliant Fixed Clamp (488030) which uses the 20 mm holes on the MFT3 top to fix each half of the clamp and one half can provide a clamping action against an item on the MFT3 top.
I only have the lever clamps and the fixed clamps but do want to try a quick clamp to see how useful it might be. I frequently use my lever clamps when doing awkward or really accurate cuts using a guide rail. They are very easy to use and the thickness of the wood being cut does not matter.
I suspect that when cutting thin sheets and holding the rail with the quick clamp the support has to be within the space between the quick clamp fixing otherwise it would not rest flat during the cut. I have a saw station set up for all TS and rail cutting and it has a sheet of MDF as its surface. As far as I can tell, the quick clamp would prevent a thin piece of ply (or whatever) from resting on my cutting surface - but I have yet to try them and so I may be wrong.
The lever clamps are absolutely brilliant and I use them a huge amount - on the Kapex, with the MFT3 (they are brilliant for impromptu jigs) and with the guide rails. I suspect they are made for Festool by Bessey as they have that same feel of quality about them. I would not want to use the fastening clamps with the screw thread as they are not so easy to use if you are arthritic.
I also use the fixed clamps a lot especially when sanding or routing on the MFT3.
Peter
The Quick Clamp (489790) is dedicated to the rail system and, as far as I can see, has no other utility.
The Fastening Clamp (489570 or 489571) is a screw clamp in two sizes (120 and 300 mm) and can be used with guide rails, through the MFT3 holes, in the side rails of the MFT3 and as a stand-alone clamp.
The Lever Clamp (491594) uses a lever action for tightening as opposed to a screw action and can be used in the same way as the Fastening Clamp above).
For completeness, but not the subject here, there is the brilliant Fixed Clamp (488030) which uses the 20 mm holes on the MFT3 top to fix each half of the clamp and one half can provide a clamping action against an item on the MFT3 top.
I only have the lever clamps and the fixed clamps but do want to try a quick clamp to see how useful it might be. I frequently use my lever clamps when doing awkward or really accurate cuts using a guide rail. They are very easy to use and the thickness of the wood being cut does not matter.
I suspect that when cutting thin sheets and holding the rail with the quick clamp the support has to be within the space between the quick clamp fixing otherwise it would not rest flat during the cut. I have a saw station set up for all TS and rail cutting and it has a sheet of MDF as its surface. As far as I can tell, the quick clamp would prevent a thin piece of ply (or whatever) from resting on my cutting surface - but I have yet to try them and so I may be wrong.
The lever clamps are absolutely brilliant and I use them a huge amount - on the Kapex, with the MFT3 (they are brilliant for impromptu jigs) and with the guide rails. I suspect they are made for Festool by Bessey as they have that same feel of quality about them. I would not want to use the fastening clamps with the screw thread as they are not so easy to use if you are arthritic.
I also use the fixed clamps a lot especially when sanding or routing on the MFT3.
Peter
Bohdan
Member
Peter Parfitt said:
Alternatively they are excellent on thick pieces, such as a box, when you may want to cut the top off and no edges are available for clamping.
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Bohdan said:
I had not thought of that - I make a lot of boxes and that is a good idea. I will raise the quick clamps a little higher up the wish list.
Many thanks.
Peter
I have not taken time to read all of above (time to play in the snow once again, or still). I don't know if this point has been mentioned. If so, sorry about that.
I like the quick clamps for many applications. They are quick as the name infers. There are times when the flipping handles get in the way of each other and the screw type needs to be a part of the total application.
Sometimes, the clamping pressure needs to be applied more slowly or in series of gradually increasing pressure and it seems to be the screw type works better.
Sometimes, when i apply pressure with the quick clamps, the pieces of project seem to move as the pad of the quick clamp increases pressure to the project. In those instances, I set a screw type as temporary hold down until I can apply more permanent hold down with the quick clamps.
When clamping from underneath the table, i slowly drive myself mad as i try to apply pressure with those XXXX screw clamps. I know how to do it but just never get the hang of it. If I need to work fast, i line up my quick clamps for under the table applications.
I have a good supply of the LARGER screw type clamps. Those are very handy and i would not be without them. Actually, I have several of all three Festoy clamps and would not be without any of them. My opinion to your original question is that you should get whichever you are inclined from your assessment of all the replies. Just don't be surprised if one day, you will suddenly find you wish you had some of the others. I have at least 8 of each type and sometimes, I could make use of several more of any of the models. It IS a very slippery slope. [wink]
Tinker
Gotta go warm up my sno plow. My plow is mounted on a little 1/2T pickup. This winter, i have wished it were mounted on a Unimog, or bigger.
I like the quick clamps for many applications. They are quick as the name infers. There are times when the flipping handles get in the way of each other and the screw type needs to be a part of the total application.
Sometimes, the clamping pressure needs to be applied more slowly or in series of gradually increasing pressure and it seems to be the screw type works better.
Sometimes, when i apply pressure with the quick clamps, the pieces of project seem to move as the pad of the quick clamp increases pressure to the project. In those instances, I set a screw type as temporary hold down until I can apply more permanent hold down with the quick clamps.
When clamping from underneath the table, i slowly drive myself mad as i try to apply pressure with those XXXX screw clamps. I know how to do it but just never get the hang of it. If I need to work fast, i line up my quick clamps for under the table applications.
I have a good supply of the LARGER screw type clamps. Those are very handy and i would not be without them. Actually, I have several of all three Festoy clamps and would not be without any of them. My opinion to your original question is that you should get whichever you are inclined from your assessment of all the replies. Just don't be surprised if one day, you will suddenly find you wish you had some of the others. I have at least 8 of each type and sometimes, I could make use of several more of any of the models. It IS a very slippery slope. [wink]
Tinker
Gotta go warm up my sno plow. My plow is mounted on a little 1/2T pickup. This winter, i have wished it were mounted on a Unimog, or bigger.
Off topic but I don't know where there are spots left for you plow guys to put snow. Here in NH, it is still piled over ten feet tall on street corners. Some reduction finally the last couple of days. I have a snowthrower. Have no idea where a plow would have put the snow off my driveway.
Jaybolishes
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Peter I think the quick clamp is 491594 and the rapid clamp is 489790 just to eliminate any confusion. I have the rapid clamp and it really is handy to have in certain situations. I needed to cut the bottom of a cabinet the other day and the rapid clamp was just the clamp to do it.
Mismarked
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quote author=Jaybolishes link=topic=38603.msg378368#msg378368 date=1425565774]
Peter I think the quick clamp is 491594 and the rapid clamp is 489790 just to eliminate any confusion. I have the rapid clamp and it really is handy to have in certain situations. I needed to cut the bottom of a cabinet the other day and the rapid clamp was just the clamp to do it.
[/quote]
Jerry Work provided a good discussion of the clamps in his supplemental manual on the MFT,
http://www.festoolusa.com/Web_files/Getting_the_most_from_the_MFT_multifunction_table.pdf, and he specifically discussed the rapid clamp starting on page 10. After reading his manual, I bought the rapid clamp. I had intended to use it for just cutting plywood but found it unnecessary in most cases since the track stays put on its own. It does help with some types of cuts, like when I was cutting a few inches off the bottom of a cabinet and needed to hold the track in place vertically against the piece.
Peter I think the quick clamp is 491594 and the rapid clamp is 489790 just to eliminate any confusion. I have the rapid clamp and it really is handy to have in certain situations. I needed to cut the bottom of a cabinet the other day and the rapid clamp was just the clamp to do it.
[/quote]
Jerry Work provided a good discussion of the clamps in his supplemental manual on the MFT,
http://www.festoolusa.com/Web_files/Getting_the_most_from_the_MFT_multifunction_table.pdf, and he specifically discussed the rapid clamp starting on page 10. After reading his manual, I bought the rapid clamp. I had intended to use it for just cutting plywood but found it unnecessary in most cases since the track stays put on its own. It does help with some types of cuts, like when I was cutting a few inches off the bottom of a cabinet and needed to hold the track in place vertically against the piece.
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Jaybolishes said:
I think that "Quick" and "Rapid" mean the same thing but maybe the lever clamp (491594) could be described as "Quick". The confusion for me is that on the Festool (UK) web site the 489790 is referred to as a "Quick Action Clamp" but called "Rapid Action Clamp" hence me saying that I take quick and rapid to be the same.
This is something that just needs pictures !
[attachimg=1]
Peter
Attachments
Cheese
Member
Peter Parfitt said:
I was going to mention this earlier but it's really shame on Festool for their naming architecture.
The "Quick-action clamp" is 489790
The "Quick clamp" is 491594
I believe that all the previous discussions about using a "quick clamp", people (including myself) were referring to the 491594 clamp.
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I will try and remember this and always post a picture and the part number of the clamps that I use. If you check the part numbers that I quoted about 2 or 3 posts ago they are the ones that I refer to in my discussion.
Top of the pops is the Lever Clamp (491594) - the shiny one with the little green button to release the clamp.
Peter
Top of the pops is the Lever Clamp (491594) - the shiny one with the little green button to release the clamp.
Peter
An example of where the DeWalts clamps is best, [laughing]
[attachthumb=1]
the screw clamp works OK,
[attachthumb=2]
but the quick clamp (lever) is useless as it can't be tightened on the board. [eek]
[attachthumb=3]
And the rapid clamp won't even fit on the rail.
[attachthumb=1]
the screw clamp works OK,
[attachthumb=2]
but the quick clamp (lever) is useless as it can't be tightened on the board. [eek]
[attachthumb=3]
And the rapid clamp won't even fit on the rail.
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