Silly Clamp Trick for MFT

[Per Swenson]

Hello All,

You know how when clamping through the holes of the MFT with both

the Quick clamps and Screw Clamps, often it takes two hands.

Well, by the simple addition of a rubber band, the clamp does not go back to full extension.

Saving tons of time in the long run. It also rolls upon and down the shaft with ease.

For instance you need to domino a large amount of the same thickness boards. Set it and keep working.

Here is what I am talkin about.
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Per

 

[Qwas]

That's a good idea that I'm going to implement right away. One of my clamps is always getting stuck at the very top. Never seems to happen until my hands are full and then I have to drop everything to use both hands to get it unstuck. I've been threatening to take a file to it and find the offending spot but never have.

Your idea will take care of that and making using the clamps easier.

Thanks.

 

[CharlesWilson]

Thank you, Per, for pointing this out. Now my clamping sessions will have many fewer four letter words associated with them.

 

[Dan Clermont]

Pretty cool Per!

I would think you could do the same thing with O-Ring's if you had a surplus of them

Dan Clermont

 

[greg mann]

I posted the O-ring trick back on the old Yahoo sight. Looks like Per has stolen all the tricks he can from Bob, so he's working on the rest of us now.  ;D ;D ;D :

 

[Michael Kellough]

I posted the O-ring trick back on the old Yahoo sight. Looks like Per has stolen all the tricks he can from Bob, so he's working on the rest of us now.  ;D ;D ;D :

I was about to post that Per stole it from John Stevens. I apologize for misremembering Greg.

In any case, it's just as much fun to re-invent the wheel the second time (or millionth time) as it was the first.

 

[greg mann]

I posted the O-ring trick back on the old Yahoo sight. Looks like Per has stolen all the tricks he can from Bob, so he's working on the rest of us now.  ;D ;D ;D :

I was about to post that Per stole it from John Stevens. I apologize for misremembering Greg.

In any case, it's just as much fun to re-invent the wheel the second time (or millionth time) as it was the first.

Geeez, now you got me wondering if I stole it from John...... :

 

[Per Swenson]

Don't be silly Greg, Bob has a plethora of tricks still up his sleeve.

And it just goes to show I know nothing, because I swear, I just thought that up

a minute ago. Just like anybody else who has been frustrated by the clamp drop.

I am humbled and you can remove point's for originality.

But, I did it on a MFT3, so there. ;D

Per

 

[nickao]

I think it is really tough to come up with an original idea. I find that every time I think of something someone else sooner or later comes up with the same thing or has already.

Guys we do not steal here, we share! ;D

Thanks for the tip to all who thought it up, I will try that tonight.

 

[Jesse Cloud]

I half way remember a similar trick with a router.  Put an o-ring on the bit as a depth stop when you place it in the collet, so that it will not bottom out.  Can't remember who I stole it from though....

 

[nickao]

I learned that from from Marc Sommerfeld, the brother of Craig Sommerfeld, the inventor of the Kreg jig.

I saw him at a show maybe 10 years ago and many years since. He sells the little O rings and I use them all the time. It's a good trick.

Rubber Grommet

Nickao

 

[Michael Kellough]

I half way remember a similar trick with a router.  Put an o-ring on the bit as a depth stop when you place it in the collet, so that it will not bottom out.  Can't remember who I stole it from though....

I've mostly seen suggestions to put the ring in the bottom of the collet, but I don't do either.

 

[nickao]

Jesse it is not just to stop the bit from bottoming out, though that's a great benefit..

If you are using two matched  bits the o-ring on the bottom is the most accurate and fastest way to match the heights of two cutters. Instead of messing around setting the second bit to match the first you just drop it in and go.

Of course the matched set has to be truly matched for this to work. Any CMT set or the like work great.

Nickao

 

[John Stevens]

I was about to post that Per stole it from John Stevens. I apologize for misremembering Greg.

Thanks for the compliment (at least that's the way I'll take it, even if not deserved).  BTW Michael, I didn't read this until after I suggested on the other thread that you review the Jointmaster Pro.

All kidding aside, thanks to Greg and thanks to Per for the reminder!  This is a simple but great tip.

Regards,

John

 

[Dan Clark]

Per,

There's nothing silly about that clamp trick!  I love it! 

Thanks,

Dan.

 

[Michael Kellough]

I was about to post that Per stole it from John Stevens. I apologize for misremembering Greg.

Thanks for the compliment (at least that's the way I'll take it, even if not deserved).  BTW Michael, I didn't read this until after I suggested on the other thread that you review the Jointmaster Pro.

All kidding aside, thanks to Greg and thanks to Per for the reminder!  This is a simple but great tip.

Regards,

John

My memory isn't too great but when I read a good idea it sinks in. I have a tiny box of O rings that fit perfectly on the bar of the Festool clamp in my guide rail accessory kit thanks to a post from one of you two guys back at the Yahoo site. In all fairness to Per it may even have been before he joined.

One of the benefits of having a poor memory (okay, the only one) is that you get to experience the joy of reinventing stuff over and over again.  ;D

 

[Per Swenson]

Ok,

One thing though, and no I am not splitting pears hairs,

A guy like me would need a box of a thousand o rings.

They would end up everywhere.  In the laundry, the cat and dogfood,

and of course, some Lady's carpet. This would become a never ending mystery to

her Husband, Harry.

If I didn't have a mega lifetime supply of O rings, I wouldn't have any.

A rubberband however is ubiquitous.

The defense rests.

Per

 

[Eli]

But, I did it on a MFT3, so there. ;D

Per

Heh, heh. GOOD one. ;D

I may buy some o-rings, but one of my massive minor joys since moving here is that every bundle of mail from Aus Post seems to come with a brand new red rubber band. Who the hell's paying for all of them? One for my box of toothpicks, one to do up a ratchet strap, one for a bag of chips, and now, a scant handful for the F-clamps!

 

[Anthony]

Neat idea Per.

Hey Eli, do you think we could get Australia Post to supply lime green rubber bands instead of those read ones? Either way, its the people who receive little email each day who subsidise us big mail receivers. The system is finally on our side for once. Shoot, I bet someone from the local, state, or federal government reads this and implements a rubber band wealth tax before the week's out. And if Australia Post does supply the green rubber bands and we use them for work, we will probably cop Fringe Benefit Tax as well.  : I think I'll go and buy some o-rings instead.