Using a Dewalt Track Saw Clamp with the MFT3

[Ivan T]

I got a couple of Dewalt Track Saw Clamps after someone posted that they worked on the Festool Rails.
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I found the Dewalt Track Saw Clamp will work with the railes on the MFT to secure items on the side.
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The clamp will not fit into the 20 mm holes in the MFT Top.
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I routed a 1/2 inch slot into the side of a MFT hole which allowed the Dewalt Track Saw Clamp to fit into the hole and then be used as a 1 handed clamp on the MFT Top.
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I created a JIG to route the 1/2 inch slots into the holes.
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I was going to use a Parf Dog to register the Jig on the MFT Top for the Router cuts. I found that the Parf Dogs measure 1 inch at the top so I used a 1 inch forestner bit to drill a hole into the 3/4 inch plywood jig.
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I had to use 3/4 plywood as my guide bushing extended 1/2 inch out from the base of the router.
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I then placed a Parf Dog into a MFT Hole and placed the Jig onto the Parf Dog and clamped the Jig onto the MFT Top. I then used an adjacent MFT Hole to mark where I needed to drill a 3/4 inch hole up through the Jig that would match up with the MFT Holes. I marked 2 holes in case I wanted to route multiple hole slots.
I then placed the Jig on top of the table and after drilling the first 3/4 inch hole I drilled another 3/4 inch hole slightly overlapping the first hole. I cleaned out between the 2 holes so the Router Guide Bushing would slide between the 3/4 inch holes.
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To use the Jig. Place a Parf Dog in a MFT Hole next to the MFT Hole where you want to cut the slot. Align the 3/4 inch hole in the Jig with the MFT Hole where you want the slot and clamp the Jig to the MFT Top. Use your Router with a 1/2 inch bit to cut the slot.

As far as placement of the slotted holes I am just putting a few holes into my old MFT Top which I take when I do work out of the shop. I did place dogs into 4 holes on my old top including 1 slotted hole and they seemed to all line up.

 

[Peter_C]

*shrugs* I can use the Festool Quick Clamps one handed. I do like the Dewalts function and price though, and have a set of them. They have worked flawlessly.

Edit: For content...

 

[JimD]

I have a DeWalt track saw and like their clamps but I don't put them into the holes of my Paulk style workbench.  I bought the starter kit for a Grizzly track saw and use those clamps.  2 for less than $30.  Can't use them one handed but otherwise they are nice.  For quick acting clamps, I pulled the fixed end off some harbor freight clamps, heated the bar until it was red with a mapp gas torch and twisted and bent it.  Not as nice as the DeWalt clamps but they go into the unmodified holes just fine.  And the price is right.

I could also probably modify the DeWalt clamps by dressing the metal end with a grinder but it would weaken them at the weld so it seems better just to use the HF ones. 

 

[TheSergeant]

You can get the Irwin quick clamps for cheap.  Then remove the fixed plastic end and heat up the metal and twist and bend it 90 degrees.  No cutting of the MFT required and half the price of even the dewalt clamps.  Great mod though!  Work with what you have!

 

[Peter_C]

Most clamps you can knock the pin off the back, slip them thru the holes, reattach the clamping mechanism, then use them as normal. Others come apart easily to reverse the jaws, and that allows them to slip thru the holes. They could be flipped over so the large clamp is on the bottom.

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[Jimdude]

Could you do me a small favour? Can you measure the size of the T-bar of these Dewalt clamps? I'd like to find out if they fit on Makita rails. I've only found one answer online so far, and that is a bit of 'clearly not enough' to assure me ...

(The size I found: 11.75x5.62mm - which as you can tell doesn't even include the tickness of the bottom part)

 

[Peter_C]

Answered by the first question.http://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DWS502...ie=UTF8&qid=1455574425&sr=1-1&keywords=dewalt+track+clamp#Ask

Truly answered here.http://www.amazon.com/forum/-/Tx15M9E9NHM96J1/ref=ask_dp_dpmw_al_hza?asin=B001J31PJM

 

[Ivan T]

Jim, I have a Makita rail. I just tried the Dewalt Clamp and it fits into both slots easily.

 

[Jimdude]

Thanks guys. Just what I wanted to hear.

 

[Bob D.]

I have a DeWalt track saw and the DeWalt track clamps, but I also made my own smaller quick clamps using a DeWalt 6" medium quick clamp which I modified to mimic the DeWalt track clamps. You'll need a MIG welder (or a friend with one) to make these clamps. Other than that nothing but the clamps which run about $11 each at the big box stores. The medium size clamps are also available in a 12 inch length if you need more capacity, but I was going for a slightly smaller and easier to pack clamps when working outside the shop. The DeWalt track clamps do not fit in the track saw storage box, but I believe a pair of my clamps will though I have not tried it yet.

1. Comparison of DeWalt track clamp (black) and my modified clamp (yellow). The foot is squared up
    with the end of the bar. What was the outer roll pin hole is positioned over the end of the bar and
    the pieces are tack welded through this hole, then welding to the bar is completed and then fit tested
    in the track. If any weld interferes then just file as required for a smooth fit with slight clearance.
2. Clamp being used on my drill press table.
3. Fixed end of clamp removed and 2 inch piece cut from end to make the foot. The roll pins
    need to be removed from each end of the clamp. One roll pin gets inserted in the outer
    hole to extend clamping capacity an additional 1/2 inch. The fixed end of the clamp and the
    second roll pin are no longer needed and can be discarded.
4. Foot edges softened and width slightly reduced to fit in track on DeWalt rail.
    This was done on the belt sander which was much easier than using a grinder or file.
5.Another photo showing the foot before attachment to the clamp bar.
6. Test fitting the foot in the DeWalt rail.
7. Showing orientation of pieces when welded, foot will be flush with back edge of bar when welded.
8. My DeWalt holey rail that the clamps will be used with.
9. Shows my modified clamp (bottom) after welding next to a DeWalt Track Clamp.

My clamp is smaller and fits nicely in the DeWalt Track Saw storage box. At 5.5 inches the capacity is less than the DeWalt TS clamps which are about 9 inches IIRC, but still adequate for most jobs even when clamping 3/4 plywood to a piece of 2 inch rigid foam backer.

 

[Eden1415]

Yep,  the DeWalt works on the side rails and the tacks perfectly.  Love them for that.  Personally,  I think I would not like to try and modify the top any.  Its made out of MDF (soft), and since it's precision cut, for the dog holes to be at 45/90 degrees from each other, I would not want to do anything that could break that setup.  Just taking an end off a clamp and put it through works,  but what I found is that the clamp racks in the hole which over time may cause the hole loose its precision. 

Here's a picture of some of my non DeWalt clamps that I use on my MFT/3, that give other options.  Notice the HF clamp in the lower Right of the photo.  I Hot melted a bit of wood to the jaws that fits on the post.  This keeps the clamp from racking in the hole every time I use it.  Also look at the Festool clamp,  they are a few degrees off from being a 90 degrees which keeps them from racking in the hole as well.