Walko table top

[suds]

I've got the Walko workbench and wondered if anyone has expanded the holes and used the Festool clamps with success? 

 

[Frank Pellow]

Why would you need to expand the holes?  They are the same size (20 milimetres in diameter) as the holes in the Festool MFT.

The Festool clamping elements fit perfectly in my Walko workbench as I show in the thread http://festoolownersgroup.com/other-tool-reviews/mini-review-of-my-new-walko-3-bench/

 

[jonny round boy]

I think what suds is referring to is the fact that the tops are 1" thick, meaning they're too thick to get the standard clamps into.

Rather than enlarging the holes, you can use the festool clamps by rebating the holes on the rear of the panels, so the 20mm diameter hole is 3/4" deep, then opens up to around 1 1/4" for the bottom 1/4". This is how Rockler (at least, I think it was them) got round this issue with the 1" thick router table top for the MFT/3 - there is a thread on it somewhere on here.

 

[Frank Pellow]

Thanks for the explanation Jonny.  Sorry about my missunderstanding Suds.  [embarassed]

I had tried the quick clamp in the table but never thought about the standard clamps.

Once Jonny explained the problem, I did an experiment on one hole on my Walko top and it worked.  What I did, was to expand the size of the hole on the underside from 20mm to 30mm to a depth of 5mm.  I did this on my drill press using a home made jig to ensure that the centres was in the correct spot:

[attachimg=#1]

This worked very well: 

[attachimg=#2]

In fact, I think that a depth of only 4mm might also work.

 

[Corwin]

A countersink would also work -- and might be a little easier too.

 

[Frank Pellow]

A countersink would also work -- and might be a little easier too.

I guess that it would but I didn't know that anone made countersinks that big.  Where should I look for one?

 

[johnnyinnb]

use a round over router bit with guide bearing, maybe 3/8ths radius

 

[Frank Pellow]

Thanks Johnny, that should work and it would also make a neater job.  I will try it later today.

 

[Wood_Junkie]

Just go straight for the 45-degree chamfer, bearing guided bit in a trim router.  [wink]

 

[Frank Pellow]

Thanks Johnny, that should work and it would also make a neater job.  I will try it later today.

A 3/8 inch roundover bit worked.  So did a 1/4 inch roundover bit (shown with the clamp end in the photo below):

[attachimg=#1]

I'm now going to temporarily remove the table support brackets from my Walko  tables and round over most of the holes on the bottom with a 1/4 roundover.

 

[score0matic]

Frank
Brilliant

Craig

 

[suds]

Yeah, I should have been more specific in my description.  While we're on the subject.....my Qwas Dogs won't fit in either of my Walko tabletops.  So now I know how to fix the Festool clamp issue but what's the deal with the Qwas Dogs?  I've got six of the little buggers and not a one will fit! [crying]

 

[sw1211]

Yeah, I should have been more specific in my description.  While we're on the subject.....my Qwas Dogs won't fit in either of my Walko tabletops.  So now I know how to fix the Festool clamp issue but what's the deal with the Qwas Dogs?  I've got six of the little buggers and not a one will fit! [crying]

I'm sure John, who sells MFT Dogs on Ebay could make you a custom set, here's his email, Toolimprovements@comcast.net

 

[Brice Burrell]

Yeah, I should have been more specific in my description.  While we're on the subject.....my Qwas Dogs won't fit in either of my Walko tabletops.  So now I know how to fix the Festool clamp issue but what's the deal with the Qwas Dogs?  I've got six of the little buggers and not a one will fit! [crying]

Go to the Qwas site and read the manuals, Steve talks about how to enlarge the holes.

 

[Qwas]

Yeah, I should have been more specific in my description.  While we're on the subject.....my Qwas Dogs won't fit in either of my Walko tabletops.  So now I know how to fix the Festool clamp issue but what's the deal with the Qwas Dogs?  I've got six of the little buggers and not a one will fit! [crying]

It's the first I've heard of my dogs not fitting in the Walko.  [sad] Try a light sanding with something like this (you can build it yourself):

[attachthumb=1]

[attachthumb=2]

 

[NuggyBuggy]

Old thread I know, but I noticed the Walko table top (3, anyways) isn't the same height as the MFT/3.  Is it the same height as the 1080 ? If not, it doesn't make any sense to me as it is clearly a natural fit with the Festool system, and is marketed somewhat as such.

 

[nclemmons]

My MFT/3 is 35 1/4 high. 

My Walko 3 is 34 3/4 high with the tables in the top latched setting. 

I normally use it like this and span wood between the two on longer pieces.  If you need an exact match, you could use a 1/2 piece of lumber under each side of legs as one option.  That would let you still use the holes in the top for clamping as needed.

neil