What I would like to see...

[Packard]

I have a pair of Festool track clamps.  But they have more capacity than I need and they are bulkier than I want. 

What I would like is a J-shaped casting that slid into the bottom of the track and had a opening of a little larger than 3/4" and gradually tapered down. 

So I would slide this small piece into the track until it engaged the sheet goods I am cutting.  Slide it in, give it a slight push to lock it, and then cut.  A light tap afterwards would release the clamp. 

I guess it could be tapered so that it would work for 3/4" to 1/4" thick board, but I would rather it be smaller and work for each size board.  They would slip into my apron pocket and be always available.  And fast. 

Does anyone think this will work?

 

[AlexThePalex]

Sounds like a good idea to me. Maybe a U shaped piece instead of a J, and fitted with an easy quick-lock mechanism.

The standard clamps are way too bulky and stick too far out underneath. I hardly ever use them. Small clips like you suggested, which fit into your pocket, would probably get a lot more use.

 

[Packard]

Actually, I think a flat spring (a piece of flat steel that is spring temper) could put enough pressure on to keep the track locked in place. 

I know that I have made cuts where I thought to myself, "I ought to clamp this", but my clamp is in the basement and I am cutting on my driveway and I'm too lazy to go down and then up the stairs to grab the clamps. 

With these little things I could just keep them in the Systainer or in the pockets of my apron.

So something like this clip attached to a casting that would slide into the bottom of the track:

Flat springs can have a lot of holding power.  If you have ever used one of these you will know about that:

 

[woodferret]

Have you looked at LV's low profile clamps (Item 13K1230)?  They had the same issue with the bulk of the standard clamps. 

 

[rvieceli]

linky - linky
https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/sho...w-profile-track-saw-guide-clamps?item=13K1230

Ron

 

[Packard]

The Lee Valley clamps are compact and I might get a set.  But they are still about 2 or 3 times larger than what I am describing. 

I was just ruminating on an idea.  I get ideas and I like to see if they make sense.  But I like the idea of having a small piece that I simply slide down the underside of the track and it engages the board with a wedge or a spring clip. In my mind it is 1" wide x 2" tall and about 3 - 4 inches long.  Not much smaller than the L-V unit but without the extra width from the black knob.

 

[Bob D.]

I have the LV clamps and they are much more compact than any of the FT clamps. They are not quick to set since it is a screw type clamp.

I agree a low profile clamp, maybe something with a lever type clamping action with a limited range of 0 to 1" or so would be nice. Just slide in on and flip the lever to lock it in place. It could be a cam type action the pushed a piece of flat spring steel against the underside of the work. That would avoid any damage from the cam rubbing on the work.

 

[Packard]

I have the LV clamps and they are much more compact than any of the FT clamps. They are not quick to set since it is a screw type clamp.

I agree a low profile clamp, maybe something with a lever type clamping action with a limited range of 0 to 1" or so would be nice. Just slide in on and flip the lever to lock it in place. It could be a cam type action the pushed a piece of flat spring steel against the underside of the work. That would avoid any damage from the cam rubbing on the work.

That sounds better than anything I came up with.  It would be all CNC work so not too much upfront tooling. 

 

[Bob D.]

But to cover a 1 inch clamping range might make it larger than you would like.

Maybe as was said earlier give it a much more limited range of 5 to 20 mm.
That would reduce the diameter of the cam and make the whole thing smaller.

 

[Packard]

There could be inserts or covers to reduce the size to 1/2" or 1/4". Or replacement cams that change the gap. 

 

[rvieceli]

Here’s another option without re-inventing the wheel.

These Rockler t track clamps come in 2 sizes. The t track insert needs to be filed down slightly to get it to fit the Festool track slot.
https://www.rockler.com/hold-down-clamp-5-1-2l-x-1-1-8w
https://www.rockler.com/mini-deluxe-hold-down-clamp

Before you say “it’s got a knob “ the knobs On these things have a threaded brass insert molded in. It really spins freely and smoothly on the threaded stud.

So slide it on pull the clamp up to the material and spin the knob to tighten then finger tight if needed

Ron

 

[Bob D.]

I have a few of those and I know how they work on my DP table.
But I have never tried them upside down. I'll have to give them a try.

It still will not be as fast a lever type clamp.

 

[tallgrass]

would not the quick clamp solve this problem since once clamped they fold sideways?

 

[Bob D.]

would not the quick clamp solve this problem since once clamped they fold sideways?

Yes, it does, that is a good point. The quick clamp applies pressure on the edge of the work not
the underside though doesn't it. Do you know how well it works with thin materials under 1/4".

 

[Packard]

My major objection to the existing clamps is that they won't fit in my apron pocket.  The quick clamp would not either.  So it does not address my one requirement. 

 

[dltflt]

What about a toggle clamp. You would need to make a mount that fit the track but it would be low profile and quick.
Toggle clamp

 

[Packard]

What about a toggle clamp. You would need to make a mount that fit the track but it would be low profile and quick.
Toggle clamp

I do have a bunch of those in the house for a project that never moved forward.  But how do I attach it to the track?

 

[Bob D.]

What about a toggle clamp. You would need to make a mount that fit the track but it would be low profile and quick.
Toggle clamp

I do have a bunch of those in the house for a project that never moved forward.  But how do I attach it to the track?

They are also not likely to fit in your apron pocket which is #1.

 

[Packard]

I have small light-duty ones and without any mounted fixtures they would fit in my pocket.

I just looked at the specs and they are nearly 6" long and 2" high.  So maybe too big. 
https://www.amazon.com/Accessbuy-To...SLV3/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=toggle+clamps&qid=1633534096&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyTUc2N1ZZTjZaMzZRJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNDY2NzEzMk9SUFU3RTI5OE04NyZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNjcyMDMxMzJFQjVSUEtWM0pYNCZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

 

[tomp]

Sorry, not a Festool track but I did this about 6 years ago when I had to trim the edge of a door, just taking a sliver off to fit it to an existing out-of-square opening and was worried about the track slipping. The track mfgr. didn't offer a clamp so I had to improvise on the fly so I could get the job finished. Not the best set-up as I didn't have a longer bolt or a piece of threaded rod but it held the rail in place until I got the door trimmed.

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