Saw track clamps

[GeorgeB]

I like to protect my Festool work bench surface by raising any sheets I want to cut on 2 sacrificial  timber beams (35mmx90mm) that are positioned on my bench using bench dogs which are a modification of those shown to us by sicd_steve in his post of March 8 "Simple idea for sacrificial boards..."

When I started doing this I often found it difficult to clamp my saw rail to the sheet I was about to cut. Initially I used  Festool clamps in the grooves on the underside of the rail but this was sometimes not possible  because there was insufficient space between the underside of the rail and the Festool work bench surface. I solved this problem by using an Australian version of the Rockler hold-down clamps shown in the picture below

In this picture you can see one of the clamps sitting next to the rail.  I ground the T-bars down so that they fitted into the groove on the underside of the rail:
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In this picture I show the clamp in position on the underside of the rail .  I use another clamp on the other end of the rail to ensure that the rail does not move.

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[Fury5]

Great idea. I'm gonna copy that one. Thanks for sharing.

Richard.

 

[Larso]

I have some of those clamps in a drawer which i purchased on impluse,(Carbatec i think) now i know what to use them for.

Great idea thanks.

 

[GarryMartin]

Not sure which Festool clamp you meant when you mentioned them, but Festool do produce a clamp meant to be used for fixing the rails to the workpiece - the FS RAPID.

Joiner1970 wrote a good review that shows it in action.

http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-tool-reviews/review-of-festool-fs-rapid1-%28489790%29/

 

[GeorgeB]

The Festool clamps I was referring to are the ones that thread through the holes in a Festool bench:
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The FS rapid is advertised here for about $US78 (=A$85) without postage. I have not seen them here but I would like to assess their capabilities so thank you for advising me of their existence.

The clamps I am referring to cost $US 9.25 each and you need two of them on either end of the rail. They only work if the rails is longer than the piece of wood being cut which is of course normally the case.

 

[fshanno]

Not sure which Festool clamp you meant when you mentioned them, but Festool do produce a clamp meant to be used for fixing the rails to the workpiece - the FS RAPID.

Joiner1970 wrote a good review that shows it in action.

http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-tool-reviews/review-of-festool-fs-rapid1-%28489790%29/

The Rapid clamp is very cool.  I'm going to get on as soon as I can find a need.

But it won't work for this app.  I needed the same thing but I had even less room than George.  So I made a very minimal version.

It only protrudes down 2 1/8" when engaged holding 3/4" ply.

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[GarryMartin]

Even on its side? The Rapid clamp if usable in a vertical and horizontal orientation. I'm not near one at the moment, but in the horizontal orientation I doubt it is anywhere near 2 1/8".

 

[jimmylittle]

great idea!  I have a couple of those I got in an Incra hold-down kit a couple years ago, and I have never used them.  Now I will!