VAC-SYS (vacuum clamping system) question
- Thread starter Nanod
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That's a great idea. And the finish on that material is amazing! Heck, it's a mirror and a VacSys holder!
I cover my MFT with a 1/4" piece of hard masonite when I'm using it for things other than sawing or clamping. The masonite has a couple of coats of poly on it. I sand it down from time to time and recoat and it's worked really well for me. I have two holes drilled in the back corners for the battery lights from Lee Valley that fit a 20mm dog hole. I can also use two dogs.
That lets me place the VacSys anywhere on the table with great holding power.
But your idea is also a fast and simple idea when dealing with a table where you want the full 20mm holes exposed.
Thanks for sharing -
neil
I cover my MFT with a 1/4" piece of hard masonite when I'm using it for things other than sawing or clamping. The masonite has a couple of coats of poly on it. I sand it down from time to time and recoat and it's worked really well for me. I have two holes drilled in the back corners for the battery lights from Lee Valley that fit a 20mm dog hole. I can also use two dogs.
That lets me place the VacSys anywhere on the table with great holding power.
But your idea is also a fast and simple idea when dealing with a table where you want the full 20mm holes exposed.
Thanks for sharing -
neil
When I'm using the Vac on my table, I have a piece of acrylic that has holes for threaded dogs that come up under the table, then I use the vacs vac base to clamp on the acrylic. I really wanted to have the head at table height so I made uprights using 8020 15 series extrusions that attach to the MFT rails and out-riggers to place the vac height even with the table. I also bought push/pull air fittings so that I can detach my hoses from the unit. This makes tear down and storage so much simpler. I don't understand why Festool did not do this. Actually the hose that actually goes to the head is push/pull, so they did go half way. [blink]
GarryMartin
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There's an adaptation for working with the MFT/3 in the Conturo on page 72 of "The perfect edge; user manual for the CONTURO system" linked below;
[attachimg=1]
http://www.festool.com.au/WebRoot/S...res/edge-bander/manual/FESTOOL_EN_CONTURO.pdf
[attachimg=1]
http://www.festool.com.au/WebRoot/S...res/edge-bander/manual/FESTOOL_EN_CONTURO.pdf
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erock
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[member=8352]erock[/member] I actually made it yesterday also. It was easy, but maybe took me a bit longer than 15 minutes. I used some extra t-bolts and knobs from a Gripper kit instead of the Festool keys and knobs because I didn't have those just sitting around. I was a little concerned that the t-bolts seemed to be a bit narrower than the slot on the MFT (still held well though) and was a little concerned that maybe the keys would give better, long-term support. What did you use? The Festool classroom in Indianapolis currently has the VacSys mounted this way and it does work well and is a much better height. Another nice thing about it is that it is easily removed and clamped to a more solid workbench to provide more stability for light chiseling or small planing jobs (which I've used it for).
erock
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grbmds said:
[member=19734]grbmds[/member] I used two 5/16" T-bolts and knobs to hold the board onto the MFT. I have two 12mm (1/2") pieces of pre finished plywood stapled together. Since the Festool plans called for a 23mm thick board. I'm not familiar with the size of the Gripper T-bolts, but the 5/16" T-bolts are solid and I have no worries about using them. I was a little leery about the 5mm bolts. But it's solid. [cool]
Eric
erock said:
[member=8352]erock[/member] The T-bolts I used were 1/4" diameter and the T-heads are 1/2" wide. They hold well. As for the base, the holes are only 5mm so there really isn't a choice I guess. The weight is spread over 4 of them so probably there isn't much strain on each. The whole setup is much more convenient and easier to use, especially for sanding and making mortises with the Domino.
erock
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Okay guys, 2 more pictures for you. Maybe this will get some of your creative juices flowing.
A friend of mine said that it would be great if I got the vac-sys pump off my mft/3.
So I came up with this.
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
It's nice having the pump out of the way.
Hope this helps someone.
Eric
A friend of mine said that it would be great if I got the vac-sys pump off my mft/3.
So I came up with this.
[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]
It's nice having the pump out of the way.
Hope this helps someone.
Eric
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Hello all
This looks like a neat system to have at a later time but my question is does the pump run all the time? Or does it build up Vacuum pressure then shut off like a air compressor? Also why a classic systainer? That seems a little strange. Thanks
This looks like a neat system to have at a later time but my question is does the pump run all the time? Or does it build up Vacuum pressure then shut off like a air compressor? Also why a classic systainer? That seems a little strange. Thanks
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The answer to your question about the classic systainers is that everywhere else in the world the pump is different and is mounted in a classic systainer. As such the other stuff was also put in a classic systainer to maximize the stacking possibilities. Festool probably didn't feel the need to have an additional sku just for the other stuff in a T-Loc.
Peter
Peter
erock
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Drich said:
[member=42176]Drich[/member]
Hey big D......the pump runs until you shut it off. It's quiet. I can't hear it when the CT and tool is running. I've had it running continuously for an hour or more, no problem. The pump gets warm, all normal, nothing big.
I didn't like the classic systainer.....but I've never put it back in the systainer since I took it out the first time. [cool]
Eric
GarryMartin
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erock said:
If you extended the back a little and braced from underneath, you could remove the top brace from one side and use it as a shelf to drop your TS on to when you weren't using the VAC SYS...
jonathan-m
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The single most annoying thing about the vac-sys is the air hoses.
I like how you managed to get them as much out of the way as possible erock.
I like how you managed to get them as much out of the way as possible erock.
erock
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Cheese said:
[member=44099]Cheese[/member], I wish I could take credit, but I remember seeing this in a photo a while back in a VAC-SYS google search I did. I don't remember the pic or the person I stole the idea from......but it's a slick solution. [wink]
Eric
