Author Topic: Are these bench clamps going to be released in NA? (Read 7391 times)

jobsworth · « **on:** October 29, 2021, 11:10 AM »

Or are they NAINA for a while

Bob D. · « **Reply #1 on:** October 29, 2021, 11:25 AM »

They look useful. I have seen similar clamps from others available in the States.

Hopefully Festool will make these available here soon. Look like they would make
nice stocking stuffers.

Crazyraceguy · « **Reply #2 on:** October 29, 2021, 07:22 PM »

I sure hope so

RJNeal · « **Reply #3 on:** October 29, 2021, 10:01 PM »

Why yes probably in a couple of years….

All kidding aside, they look nice and very useful.
Hope the come over soon.
Rick.

woodferret · « **Reply #4 on:** October 30, 2021, 01:22 PM »

I might just have to import them. But one question... will the 20mm post fit in my NA 20mm holes? /s

Cheese · « **Reply #5 on:** October 30, 2021, 03:20 PM »

Neat clamps…however, I do wonder how many times you can use them before they “obround” the MFT holes. They secure themselves to the MFT by being wedged at an angle in the hole.

With all the threads on the FOG about precision dogs, these clamps may mandate both a clamping MFT and a precision dog MFT.

MikeGE · « **Reply #6 on:** October 30, 2021, 04:47 PM »

Quote from: Cheese on October 30, 2021, 03:20 PM

Neat clamps…however, I do wonder how many times you can use them before they “obround” the MFT holes. They secure themselves to the MFT by being wedged at an angle in the hole.

The manner of securing is why I would never use these on my MFT-style workbench. Here is a video from Dennis (Hooked on Wood) where he is testing similar clamps from Banggood. The shafts of these clamps are knurled and he tested them in a double-layer plywood top for wear after repeated insertions, but did not test them for damage to single-layer MDF tops.

Mini Me · « **Reply #7 on:** October 30, 2021, 08:29 PM »

I use the clamps from Bangood on a hardwood bench and I reckon they would destroy the holes in an mdf top.

Bob D. · « **Reply #8 on:** October 30, 2021, 08:39 PM »

Quote from: Cheese on October 30, 2021, 03:20 PM

Neat clamps…however, I do wonder how many times you can use them before they “obround” the MFT holes. They secure themselves to the MFT by being wedged at an angle in the hole.

With all the threads on the FOG about precision dogs, these clamps may mandate both a clamping MFT and a precision dog MFT.

That is a valid question @Cheese , and I believe you are right that they will eventually deform the dog holes which could create problems with dogs or other types of clamping systems.

guybo · « **Reply #9 on:** October 30, 2021, 09:01 PM »

Question, do a lot of you use your tables w/dogs as your primary way to cut? I ask because with the advent of rail squares and pgs to get square cuts are cnc quailty mft holes really necessary anymore. I use mine mainly for clamping and cross cutting and yes I know the ease in which the mft goes out of square,and dashboard has improve that. just curious.guy

Cheese · « **Reply #10 on:** October 30, 2021, 10:20 PM »

Quote from: Bob D. on October 30, 2021, 08:39 PM

That is a valid question @Cheese , and I believe you are right that they will eventually deform the dog holes which could create problems with dogs or other types of clamping systems.

Ya Bob, they will deform a small sector of the upper lip hole on the top side and they will also deform a small sector of the lower lip hole on the bottom side. For me that's "das macht nichts" as I use my MFT's as clamping platforms only.

I never really got into using holes & dogs as precision indexing systems because if you do the math...it will not be pretty, it's really catch as catch can. Sometimes it's accurate and sometimes it's not...that certainly doesn't work for me. You're asking the impossible...there are way too many variables to get your arms around and control.

It also should be noted that Festool never intended that the MFT was to be used as an "absolute position" table to be used for precision cuts, but rather they offered it as a general assembly table that was convenient to use for on-site glue-ups and assembly. Thus the reason for the wildly different measurement variability when measured on state-of-the-art Woodpecker vision systems.

Packard · « **Reply #11 on:** November 01, 2021, 10:24 AM »

I have these Harbor Freight clamps. By grinding off the cross-pin I can remove the clamping mechanism and slide the shaft through a MFG hole and then reattach the clamping mechanism. These are light-duty clamps but have sufficient holding power to keep pieces from sliding around. I bought them because they were too cheap to pass up at $2.00 each. The H-F store is just 4 miles from my house and directly across from Starbucks and I wander through the store on occasion.

Note: Mine are an older version and the small gripping end is not removable on mine. It might be easier to drift the pin from that end rather than from the clamping end.

https://www.harborfreight.com/hand-tools/clamps-vises/4-in-ratcheting-bar-clampspreader-68974.html

FestitaMakool · « **Reply #12 on:** November 01, 2021, 06:12 PM »

Cheese has a good point here. Those who have set up (and may have used the Parf guide system or have a CNC drilled top) their MFT for critical cross cutting should consider these lever clamps carefully. I see that even a fresh top don’t necessarily hold dogs dead straight anyhow, not to mention what the well used holes might do.
I’m using it as an assembly, jig and clamping table. So I’ll probably buy a couple of these clamps.

Festool have released a limited set with these here, including some dogs, flat bars and those click clamps I don’t want.. in a systainer. Expensive though, most due to those click clamps. Bugger!
I’d like to add them new clamps to my old MFT Fix-set-in-a-systainer instead, keep it in one box, not two, otherwise I’ll be looking for what’s in the other box, which probably be out of reach..

Bob D. · « **Reply #13 on:** November 01, 2021, 07:36 PM »

Quote from: Packard on November 01, 2021, 10:24 AM

I have these Harbor Freight clamps. By grinding off the cross-pin I can remove the clamping mechanism and slide the shaft through a MFG hole and then reattach the clamping mechanism. These are light-duty clamps but have sufficient holding power to keep pieces from sliding around. I bought them because they were too cheap to pass up at $2.00 each. The H-F store is just 4 miles from my house and directly across from Starbucks and I wander through the store on occasion.

Note: Mine are an older version and the small gripping end is not removable on mine. It might be easier to drift the pin from that end rather than from the clamping end.

https://www.harborfreight.com/hand-tools/clamps-vises/4-in-ratcheting-bar-clampspreader-68974.html

You don't have to grind those pins off. It's just a roll pin that can be pressed out easily.

Packard · « **Reply #14 on:** November 02, 2021, 08:48 AM »

As I recall the older version had a dimple to prevent the piece from sliding off. It was a few years back. I might be mistaken. But note that if you get these, they are for simple hold-down purposes. If you try to use these to pull a joint together the mechanism will strip. It is probably just plastic gear teeth. I ruined one, but I do use the others to hold down face frames while assembling using pocket screws.

Once set up, I can switch out the to-be-assembled pieces quickly. It does require threading through the MFT holes and some may be a longish reach. But for $2.00 each, they are worth having around. I also have Festool clamps, but I prefer the trigger clamping method for face frames.

Packard · « **Reply #15 on:** November 02, 2021, 01:02 PM »

Rockler makes a version. Most of their stuff works fairly well. I just don't know if there is any way to adapt it to work with the MFT holes instead of the track.

https://www.amazon.com/AUTO-LOCK-T-TRACK-CLAMP/dp/B01JGERNT6/ref=pd_bxgy_img_2/133-1081451-3558027?pd_rd_w=Ov82o&pf_rd_p=c64372fa-c41c-422e-990d-9e034f73989b&pf_rd_r=7KDK77RP9Z6MY7DAS6DA&pd_rd_r=a658d4f7-3dcf-4d58-ad4b-db1ed27e29c2&pd_rd_wg=gcKon&pd_rd_i=B01JGERNT6&psc=1

Mjolner174 · « **Reply #16 on:** February 22, 2022, 01:27 PM »

These clamps will be part of a MFT Set that will be available in the US next month. I got mine from Amazon.de with about a $15 shipping charge.

ChuckS · « **Reply #17 on:** February 22, 2022, 01:36 PM »

For a while, this was the deluxe hold-down clamp (about $100 US) available to avid handtool woodworkers:

https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/tools/workshop/workbenches/benchtop-accessories/70930-veritas-fast-action-hold-down?item=05G4701

I use holdfasts a lot; the Gramercy's are the most affordable -- about $100 US for a set of 4.

Cheese · « **Reply #18 on:** February 22, 2022, 01:47 PM »

Quote from: Mjolner174 on February 22, 2022, 01:27 PM

These clamps will be part of a MFT Set that will be available in the US next month. I got mine from Amazon.de with about a $15 shipping charge.

That's good to know...Sedge has been hinting that there will be a number of new products rolled out in March.

elfick · « **Reply #19 on:** February 23, 2022, 04:07 PM »

Quote from: Mjolner174 on February 22, 2022, 01:27 PM

These clamps will be part of a MFT Set that will be available in the US next month. I got mine from Amazon.de with about a $15 shipping charge.

Do you happen to know the product number for the set?

Cheese · « **Reply #20 on:** February 23, 2022, 06:48 PM »

Quote from: elfick on February 23, 2022, 04:07 PM

Do you happen to know the product number for the set?

Clamps only 577132

Are these bench clamps going to be released in NA?

Clamp set 577131

Rusty Miller · « **Reply #21 on:** February 24, 2022, 03:57 PM »

On ToolPro the single clamp is $43 and the set in the systainer is $299.

jh63tango · « **Reply #22 on:** March 28, 2022, 05:23 PM »

Anyone know if Festool will sell those low-profile stops as individual piece?

Crazyraceguy · « **Reply #23 on:** March 28, 2022, 06:02 PM »

Quote from: jhuh63tango on March 28, 2022, 05:23 PM

Anyone know if Festool will sell those low-profile stops as individual piece?

I have been told, no. They are part of the kit only, but IIRC, you can get them as replacement parts in the EKAT system? It makes sense, sort of? If you owned the set and lost or damaged one, you should be able to replace it. But then again not, because, why not just sell them straight out?

Cheese · « **Reply #24 on:** March 28, 2022, 06:54 PM »

Quote from: Crazyraceguy on March 28, 2022, 06:02 PM

Quote from: jhuh63tango on March 28, 2022, 05:23 PM
1. Anyone know if Festool will sell those low-profile stops as individual piece?

2. They are part of the kit only, but IIRC, you can get them as replacement parts in the EKAT system? It makes sense, sort of? If you owned the set and lost or damaged one, you should be able to replace it. But then again not, because, why not just sell them straight out?

1. These are available as a pair in Europe...you could always order them from the EU.

2. Unfortunately, this reminds me of the Imperial installers set that was sold in the US. Festool released that item as a bonafide US product but they did not offer any replacement Imperial drills if they were lost or if they broke. So, they sold a product but refused to service the item...that still makes me angry.

Crazyraceguy · « **Reply #25 on:** April 07, 2022, 07:45 PM »

The thing that bugs me about those is that the metric version still has imperial sized nut drivers?

FestitaMakool · « **Reply #26 on:** April 08, 2022, 04:52 PM »

Quote from: Cheese on March 28, 2022, 06:54 PM

Quote from: Crazyraceguy on March 28, 2022, 06:02 PM
Quote from: jhuh63tango on March 28, 2022, 05:23 PM
1. Anyone know if Festool will sell those low-profile stops as individual piece?

2. They are part of the kit only, but IIRC, you can get them as replacement parts in the EKAT system? It makes sense, sort of? If you owned the set and lost or damaged one, you should be able to replace it. But then again not, because, why not just sell them straight out?

1. These are available as a pair in Europe...you could always order them from the EU.

2. Unfortunately, this reminds me of the Imperial installers set that was sold in the US. Festool released that item as a bonafide US product but they did not offer any replacement Imperial drills if they were lost or if they broke. So, they sold a product but refused to service the item...that still makes me angry.

1. They are sold as each at the more or less the same price as the FS-HZ quick clamps.

2. That’s utterly ridiculous. How hard could it be? These sets was intended as a professional installers helpful item. Apart from maybe the systainer and insert most items in metric should still be available as a separate item (I do wish that Festool made some of the items in their sets available afterwards. Ie: the different screwdriver handles - each have their own preferences)

Crazyraceguy · « **Reply #27 on:** April 08, 2022, 07:48 PM »

I did end up getting a pair of them in the Systainer set. As I mentioned in another comment about them, they are tight in a table drilled with the Parfit system. They do work, but I suspect that my holes have swollen some over the years? Some of my dogs are too tight in some of the holes too.
I took a reamer to a few of them and they are much better. It just seems to take the fuzz out of the hole, maybe a bit of glue too? With a table as large as mine, I don't use all of the holes frequently, so it happens. A few of them are only serviceable for dogs or the clamping elements because there are obstructions under the table surface, so this type of clamp can't go in them anyway.
I'll probably run the reamer in the ones that it seems most likely to get used that way, as needed and leave the rest unless they get glue drips in them. I didn't really get that reamer with the intention of doing them all. It's something like 375 holes? IIRC