Festool rail clamps

[Cliff Holmes]

Played a little with my new toy this morning, all I can say is wow!

Some of you recommended getting rail clamps. Would you recommend the screw clamps (http://www.amazon.com/Festool-489570-Screw-Clamps-4-11/dp/B0036V8H8M/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1280859803&sr=8-2) or the rapid clamps (http://www.amazon.com/Festool-489790-FS-Rapid-Clamp-System/dp/B00149B7W6/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1280859881&sr=8-3)?

[Eric DeSilva]

Played a little with my new toy this morning, all I can say is wow!

Some of you recommended getting rail clamps. Would you recommend the screw clamps (http://www.amazon.com/Festool-489570-Screw-Clamps-4-11/dp/B0036V8H8M/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1280859803&sr=8-2) or the rapid clamps (http://www.amazon.com/Festool-489790-FS-Rapid-Clamp-System/dp/B00149B7W6/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1280859881&sr=8-3)?

I think the rapid clamps you linked to are the wrong ones. I think you want these: http://www.amazon.com/Festool-491594-Quick-Clamp-System/dp/B001U309KW/ref=pd_cp_hi_1 if what you are trying to do is clamp the guiderail down on a piece of ply. Mostly these days I don't even bother clamping the guiderail down, however.

I've got both types, and frankly when I do feel like clamping it down, I just grab whatever is handy. I do tend to prefer the quick clamps on my MFT, however. One final note, I've tried things that look like the Festool quick clamps from other brands, and they have not worked anywhere near as effectively. The quick clamps are solid. The ones I tried from Bessey, not so much.

[Matt Meiser]

The only time I clamp the rail is on Melamine (which I try to avoid because I hate the stuff) or when I'm making a short cut since I've only got a pair 55" rails and when you've got 40" hanging off its tough to keep it in place. Based on that, I wouldn't waste the money on the quick clamps.

[Greg R Bradley]

Played a little with my new toy this morning, all I can say is wow!

Some of you recommended getting rail clamps. Would you recommend the screw clamps (http://www.amazon.com/Festool-489570-Screw-Clamps-4-11/dp/B0036V8H8M/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1280859803&sr=8-2) or the rapid clamps (http://www.amazon.com/Festool-489790-FS-Rapid-Clamp-System/dp/B00149B7W6/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1280859881&sr=8-3)?

Those are the correct clamps for the rails. The screw clamps are the "normal" ones and the "rapid clamps" are meant to clamp the ends of the wood so that the clamp does not contact a finely finished piece of wood. You would want the "screw clamps" for most use. As mentioned above, you really don't need clamps very often, if at all. Melamine might be a likely use. Cutting wood that isn't horizontal might be another.

The other rapid clamps referred to are closer to the "screw clamps" but with a flip action. These are more appropriate as an alternative to the screw clamps when used on top of an MFT table. The main use I have found for them is that they can be adjusted for size and then clamped down with one hand.

If you think the saw and rails are amazing, just try the MFT/3 table or the Parallel Guide Rails.

You are in trouble now. Like me, you wouldn't have tried any Festool items since the cost seemed ridiculous. Now that you have tried some, you realize they are actually worth the money. A few years ago, I would have laughed at the idea of that.

[Tom Ewell]

Not sure what system you have but the C clamps came with my saw and rail combo.

The C clamps are standard gear and can be useful as clamps elsewhere.

The quick clamps (per link) are good for repetitive sheet cuts without jumping to both sides of the sheet and they stay in position on the rail but are not readily useful for much else besides the rail.

Clamping the rails is not needed for a lot of cuts but if your sheet goods (for instance) are not flat enough to get good purchase then you'll need clamps to hold fast.

These work
http://www.toolking.com/dewalt-dws5026-track-saw-track-clamp?CAWELAID=430266752

Festool has similar (kind of) to the DeWalt clamps , http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/userportal/show_product.do?pid=15460&BASE

[Rick Markham]

Screw clamps are what I have, and am more than pleased with them! ;)

[Chris Tsutsui]

I suggest to get the screw on type clamps. They're cheaper and I think you can get consistent clamping force with them.

I would use the clamps on cutting anything small where the rail might teeter. Also use the clamps on slippery sheet goods as mentioned above.

[Cliff Holmes]

You are in trouble now. Like me, you wouldn't have tried any Festool items since the cost seemed ridiculous

Actually, I already had the Domino and T15. That's why I jumped on the chance to pick up the TS55.

You're right, though. It's hard to explain how these tools are absolutely worth the money to someone who's never used one. For more than a few minutes, that is.

[Eric DeSilva]

Those are the correct clamps for the rails. ... The screw clamps are the "normal" ones and the "rapid clamps" are meant to clamp the ends of the wood so that the clamp does not contact a finely finished piece of wood.

My bad. The gun handle things do in fact appear for use with the guard rails.

I will say, however, they look absolutely useless to me. With any sheet goods, tightening those down will just bow the wood. Any how often are the faces you are cutting "finely finished" but not the ends? And couldn't you just use a small softwood block if you are that concerned about it? Does anyone actually use the trigger grip thingies?

[Dan Karachio]

I actually have both and on my track and mft I go for the screw clamps more often. Save the dough for that domino (rhymes).

[Cliff Holmes]

I did some more cutting and I'm just amazed at how well this thing works. And it's kinda freaky how the rail simply doesn't move. At all. Put the edge on the marks and it cuts the marks. Every time.

I think I'll just put the clamps on my Christmas list ...

[Rich Engelhardt]

Cliff,

I wish I could tell you how many times using the clamps has saved me from a possible "oops" due to the track moving.

Fact is though, I can't.

Then again, maybe that's the whole point of using them?

FWIW - I've seen Tom Silva use a Festool saw a few times & don't recall him ever using a clamp.
Since I'm no Tom Silva - or even close to a fraction of a Tom Silva - I use mine all the time.

I admit though, I did balk at the idea of spending ~ $75.00 for a pair of the ratchet ones and cheaped out with the screw ones.

[Tom Ewell]

Just one instance, when fitting a new door blanks into an old openings I use clamps, cheap insurance against replacing an expensive door.

A precise cut, a quick swipe with a plane and you move on to the next door.

[Roger Jensen]

The screw clamps are pretty quick to use. Once you slide up the pad you only need 1/2 a turn or so to tighten. I can't imagine the other model is much faster, and certainly not enough to justify a premium price. $35 is high enough already.

[David Arbogast]

Skip the quick clamps and go get a couple of the basic Festool screw clamps right now...so you can clear up your Christmas wish list for something really great: MFTs.:cool: Then you really will need a bunch of clamps!

[Jim Becker]

I have a pair of the screw clamps. I rarely use them for "normal cutting", but sometimes they are essential when using the rail on something like a box or other unusual situation for stability. The most recent time I used them was to trim some waste off of a large carcass (box like) that somehow was out of kilter.