WANT: Festool "F" clamps

[fritter63]

Just got my Festool Quick Clamps in the mail and tried them out on my new box beams with the 20mm holes. WOW, those things can really put down some pressure. Was able to clamp a 3 foot board with one clamp in the center, and I couldn't move it from the ends.

So that got me to thinking. What I hate about my "F" style clamps (pony brand, I think), is that sometime I really have crank on the twisty handles to get the pressure I need to close up a joint, etc. It would be great if Festool made an "F" style clamp, but with the cam mechanism of the quick clamp, so you could apply all the pressure easily while clamping up your project.

You'd want to make different lengths from 12 to 36" of course.

For reference, here is an "F" style clamp

 

[AlexThePalex]

Fritter, Festool's clamps are made by Bessey.

The Festool quick clamp is just this Bessey clamp with a different head so it fits in the rail. As you can see on their website they make it up to 31''.

 

[fritter63]

Fritter, Festool's clamps are made by Bessey.

The Festool quick clamp is just this Bessey clamp with a different head so it fits in the rail. As you can see on their website they make it up to 31''.

Thanks Alex. Never noticed those before, but now I see that Woodcraft carries them too.

 

[dinkjs]

Those freakin exspensive

 

[semenza]

If you want a Festool Quick clamp with a little longer bar.... you can grind off the little bumps that keep the head from  sliding off on a pair of quick clamps and a pair of 12" Festool screw type, and swap the heads as needed. An 'O' ring or the like could be used  to retain the heads.

Seth

 

[Jalvis]

I was checking out the "Bessey Kliklamp" which sounds more like what you want.....

http://www.besseytools.com/en/product_details.php?ASIMOID=000000020003d70500030023&ASIMOID_SC=000000020003d6ed00030023&ASIMOID_MC=000000000001f3f000030023

 

[AlexThePalex]

The kliklamps are nice, I've got a couple, but they're definitely not for heavy use, and they only come in sizes up to 16''. 

 

[peter halle]

Just because they have been mentioned here, I noticed that the local Lowe's stores has reduced their price on the 8" Bessey Quick Clamps to less than $10 each.  These are not the same design as the Festool clamps.  The head is much broader.

Peter

 

[jeep jake]

I was checking out the "Bessey Kliklamp" which sounds more like what you want.....

http://www.besseytools.com/en/product_details.php?ASIMOID=000000020003d70500030023&ASIMOID_SC=000000020003d6ed00030023&ASIMOID_MC=000000000001f3f000030023

those are killer I'am going to have to pick up some.

 

[Julian Tracy]

They're nice, I have a set of 8" ones.  But though they look similar, they're nowhere near the build or strength of the Festool Green handled quick clamps.  Much less clamping pressure - they seem quite a bit less heavy duty.

No problem for my 8" long versions, don't need a lot of clamping pressure for what I use them for, but I'd bet I'd want something beefier in a 36" clamp.

As for F-clamps, the best value in those is the larger heavy duty Jorgie versions.  They're solidly build and made in the US (at least the ones I've had were).  They are a nicer design than the equivalent Bessie sized f bodies.

JT

 

[JayStPeter]

The bessey klik clamps are OK.  They are too big to fit into the holes of a MFT, so not the same functionality as the Festool version.  They are lighter duty, with less clamping pressure also.  I use them for temporary clamping of jigs to workpieces and stuff like that.  I often prefer the also cheap Irwin quick grips for that stuff because they can be used one handed.  The cheap Irwins will slowly lose grip over time, so not always the right choice.  They also seem to need replacing every so often.
The festool clamps work great in MFTs and other situations, but the metal edge can mar a workpiece if you don't get it clamped just right. 

While I like the Bessey F-clamps, I like this style of F-clamp also as it can be used one-handed because of the way the lower jaw locks http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-24-in-bar-clamp-steel/p-00966734000P?prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2.  Would be nice to find an ideal single solution.