Rockler's New Extended Cookies For Project Support on MFT Table

RDMuller

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Joined
Dec 18, 2007
Messages
312
Do you constantly fear tearing up your table when scrollsawing, plunge routing and drilling.  Rockler has modified their cookie system introduced last year.  The new cookies have a screw insert in one side.  An extended riser screws into it and the other end (3/4") fits nicely in the 20mm MFT holes.  These were available in my local store yesterday and the online store says they will have them Sept 10.

The photo below shows the Cookie plus work grippers (4 in a pack, 38052, $13.99)
Cookie Risers XL (4 in a pack, 34671, $7.99)
Optional spin nuts for locking down (5/16", 18)
Optional home made spacesr, necessary to tighten securely

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The next photo shows the cookies attached to the table

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The last image shows getting ready to use the Trion scroll saw on a piece of MDF. 

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You can also see these at Rockler MFT Cookies

I don't know that these were designed with the MFT in mind.  We may have just gotten lucky!
 
My old Black and Decker workmate accessories are all 20mm, so I suspect they were trying to tap into that market moreso than the few and far between Festoolian's out there.

One of my favourite B&D accesories I often reach for for use with my MFT are these old reliable Gripmate Clamps, which unfortunately I haven't seen retailed anywhere in over 20 + years.

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I do als own a pair of Festool Quickclamps and Clamping Elements, but these are nice for certain applications.
 
RDMuller said:
I had forgotten about the Workmate market.  Good point

Don't blame you forgetting about B&D market.  We all look back in horror generally, and simply just want to forget!  [scared]
 
RDMuller said:
Do you constantly fear tearing up your table when scrollsawing, plunge routing and drilling.  Rockler has modified their cookie system introduced last year.  The new cookies have a screw insert in one side.  An extended riser screws into it and the other end (3/4") fits nicely in the 20mm MFT holes.  These were available in my local store yesterday and the online store says they will have them Sept 10.

The photo below shows the Cookie plus work grippers (4 in a pack, 38052, $13.99)
Cookie Risers XL (4 in a pack, 34671, $7.99)
Optional spin nuts for locking down (5/16", 18)
Optional home made spacesr, necessary to tighten securely

[attachthumb=#]

The next photo shows the cookies attached to the table

The last image shows getting ready to use the Trion scroll saw on a piece of MDF.  

You can also see these at Rockler MFT Cookies

I don't know that these were designed with the MFT in mind.  We may have just gotten lucky!

Pretty cool, but I have been using the original model like that since they came out and they never move a mm.Taking the time to screw them down seems like a waste of time, its not needed. I just use two stacked on top of each other.
 
Kevin D. said:
My old Black and Decker workmate accessories are all 20mm, so I suspect they were trying to tap into that market moreso than the few and far between Festoolian's out there.

One of my favourite B&D accesories I often reach for for use with my MFT are these old reliable Gripmate Clamps, which unfortunately I haven't seen retailed anywhere in over 20 + years.

I do also own a pair of Festool Quickclamps and Clamping Elements, but these are nice for certain applications.

okay I want those!
 
I sent a product suggestion to Rockler just yesterday related to these risers.  I suggested they offer the posts in 20mm diameter as well as 3/4".

I very much like the Cookies for not only preserving my MFT top, but raising the workpiece a bit higher.... Recently cut two of them (bad placement.. oops) with my TS.  They do not sell them individually.  :-( 
So now I'm thinking of getting some of the orange Bench Dog ones, or these black ones, to mix up the aesthetic.  Ha!

Those B&D clamps are pretty cool.  Look like some Gros-Stabil bench clamps that went off the market a couple years back.  Except these B&D models look like the post just sits in the hole?  How does it provide grip/clamping stability?
 
Kevin D. said:
RDMuller said:
I had forgotten about the Workmate market.  Good point

Don't blame you forgetting about B&D market.  We all look back in horror generally, and simply just want to forget!  [scared]

I have this fantastic book on workbenches. The history, different types, a couple of plans, etc. It's an excellent read- I recommend it. At the very end there is a chapter on the workmate in which the author basically says: it was an amazing invention at the time, portable, does a particular job and for $50 it's a great start for a lot of people. He quotes the number sold, I forget but it was millions and millions.

For years it was all I had. Now my chop saw sits on mine. No regrets. But yes, it is a load of old cobblers.

http://www.amazon.com/Workbench-Book-Craftsmans-Workbenches-Woodworking/dp/1561582700
 
I have that same book & remember reading that extended history of the workmate -- great reading and an interesting evolution of design & manufacture.

I have to say that I just haven't been as enthused with using the Rockler bench cookies for sanding as virtually everybody else -- when using my Rotex they always seem to "walk" out from under the workpiece.  I haven't tried changing my technique (I always basically just let the weight of the Rotex on the sanding disk & let the grit do the work.)
These new ones seem a good idea and I'll probably either order some or convert my standard cookies with dowels & screws to use on my MFT.  I don't often use my jig saw but the extended height version would be handy at times.
 
Something is amiss Ron, I use these every day and they don't walk and the work doesn't walk at all.

I generally use them when routing so I don't damage my table, but have used them with my Rotex. I use 8 single for a 36" disc when sanding and 8 doubles when routing.

Possibly you are not using enough of them?

I  hate reaching under the table especially when stuff is on the other end or in the middle, I never use the bottom piece for the clamping profiles either.

Sorry you have had bad luck with them, it the first I ever heard that.

I ordered some new ones for a different application.
 
Richard Leon said:
Kevin D. said:
RDMuller said:
I had forgotten about the Workmate market.  Good point

Don't blame you forgetting about B&D market.  We all look back in horror generally, and simply just want to forget!  [scared]

I have this fantastic book on workbenches. The history, different types, a couple of plans, etc. It's an excellent read- I recommend it. At the very end there is a chapter on the workmate in which the author basically says: it was an amazing invention at the time, portable, does a particular job and for $50 it's a great start for a lot of people. He quotes the number sold, I forget but it was millions and millions.

For years it was all I had. Now my chop saw sits on mine. No regrets. But yes, it is a load of old cobblers.

http://www.amazon.com/Workbench-Book-Craftsmans-Workbenches-Woodworking/dp/1561582700

Hey, I've got that book, but never read the Workmate section in the back.  I bought so many books last year when FWW had a 50% off sale, many have been sitting there, only glanced over.  

I just pulled it from the library and placed a bookmark in it for certain reading some time soon.  Thanks!  Ought to be interesting.
 
Don't blame you forgetting about B&D market.  We all look back in horror generally, and simply just want to forget! 

Well, to be honest I think the WM2000 was a very useable piece of kit. I still use mine now and then, although I've had to rebuild the tops quite a few times.
Somewhere along the lines I stopped rebuilding the inlay blade, though that was quite handy as well. Still got a few pieces of ply cut to size, so maybe one of these days....
Mine is about 20yrs old, and at least 4 of years (totalled) it has been out in the rain. Basically still works...

Regards,

Job
 
nickao said:
Something is amiss Ron, I use these every day and they don't walk and the work doesn't walk at all.

I generally use them when routing so I don't damage my table, but have used them with my Rotex. I use 8 single for a 36" disc when sanding and 8 doubles when routing.

Possibly you are not using enough of them?

I  hate reaching under the table especially when stuff is on the other end or in the middle, I never use the bottom piece for the clamping profiles either.

Sorry you have had bad luck with them, it the first I ever heard that.

I ordered some new ones for a different application.

I agree because as I say I'm in the minority of not being successful using the cookies for sanding.  Also, I have only tried them with one cookie under each corner of the workpiece, four (4) total.  On my next project I'll try using several.  I actually think it may have more to do with the pressure (or lack of it) that I apply when sanding -- I take Festool's instructions to heart & let the paper do the work with virtually no pressure applied beyond the weight of the sander.
 
jvsteenb said:
Don't blame you forgetting about B&D market.  We all look back in horror generally, and simply just want to forget! 

Well, to be honest I think the WM2000 was a very useable piece of kit. I still use mine now and then, although I've had to rebuild the tops quite a few times.
Somewhere along the lines I stopped rebuilding the inlay blade, though that was quite handy as well. Still got a few pieces of ply cut to size, so maybe one of these days....
Mine is about 20yrs old, and at least 4 of years (totalled) it has been out in the rain. Basically still works...

Regards,

Job

I do agree in regards to where the Workmates are concerned.  I have a 35 year old one I bought as one of my first devices for doing-it-myself from when I lived in an apartment.  Really was a clever and useful item.  It's the rest of their stuff that just steadily became the mark of cheapo/disposible tools.  I've got a 50 year old B&D drill that although I rarely use, you just can't kill those old metal bodied ones.  (Well you probably could, but I don't want to as it was the only power hand tool left from my dad.)

You couldn't give me any of their new tools, although I do have a hedge trimmer, hedge hog, leaf mulcher of theirs.  Got them cheap when I first bought my house, and rarely ever used, and if they were to crap out, I wouldn't really care.
 
I have one of the very early WorkMates and one from a few years later.  B&D did not subscribe to Festool designing to work as a continuous system.  The old one is considerably taller than the new one.  Even so, until I met up with Festool, those WM's were my Go To's for almost every project.  I would have them both set up in different locations.  Maybe one in the shop and one upstairs in house part where the project was being constructed.  They don't get used as much any more, but they are always awaiting the next project. 
I have remade the top on one of them (the oldest) as the plywood started to delaminate.  I made the holes 20mm so it would work with my festool clamps.  Problem is, I made it a tad too thick and the clamps FT clamps won't work.

I have a couple of those hold down type B&D clamps.  I wish I had more of them.  They are much quicker to set up than the Festool clamps for many operations. 
Tinker
 
Tinker said:
...
I have remade the top on one of them (the oldest) as the plywood started to delaminate.  I made the holes 20mm so it would work with my festool clamps.  Problem is, I made it a tad too thick and the clamps FT clamps won't work.
...
Tinker

Tinker,  You should be able to put a counterbore on the bottom side to enable you to use the Festool clamps.
 
Yep I saw those at the IWF show and they are a nice addition in fact I picked up a set. Planning on trying them out next week
 
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