surface clamping solutions

[Greg Portland]

I am in the process of designing a new TS cabinet and outfeed table. I'm leaning toward a Festool-style top (evenly spaced holes for clamps) but with imperial spacing and hole widths (3/4" holes 4" apart). My problem is finding a good quick release surface clamping solution (for sanding parts, using the Domino, etc.). My goal is to avoid having the clamp touch the top of the workpiece. I am aware that these "clamps" are more for holding than clamping.

I have looked at the Veritas "bench blade" (http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=64685&cat=1,43838,43847&ap=1)but do not like that I'd have to adjust two clamps. A bench dog + bench blade would only give me 1/4" of clamp swing so the dog would have to be adjustable (thus eliminating the niceness of a quick release clamp mechanism IMO). I could keep some aluminum spacers handy but this would be a kludge. The Veritas bench pup would work well except that it is not a quick release and the profile is somewhat high.

Are there any surface mount quick release clamps that would work in 3/4" holes?

[Greg Portland]

any thoughts?

[Charles Wiggins]

http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=63825&cat=1,41637
http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=41645&cat=1,41637

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=25232
http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=19597
http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=19590

[Andrew Joiner]

Shop Fox D3347 Cam Clamps are interesting.

This page has some photos that might help:
http://www.vectric.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=3653&view=next

[Eric DeSilva]

...but with imperial spacing and hole widths (3/4" holes 4" apart).

I've thought about the same thing, but am curious why you don't stick with the 20mm holes and 96mm spacing of the MFT? There is a lot that can be done with that, and a lot of neat extras (not all festool--google Qwas Dogs).

The one issue I struggled with is that you want a TS outfeed table to be slippery on top. You want a clamping table to be not-slippery (why festool uses MDF). A flip top the size of an outfeed table seems... large. That is about as far as I've gotten in thinking about it... I'd love to see what you do tho'.

[Greg Portland]

Thanks, I'm looking for something low profile, adjustable, and quick release. The Veritas surface vise & the Festool clamping elements are the only two solutions that I've seen so far. I'm still considering multiple clamping 'systems' (Kreg trak, Festool, Veritas, mixture of 2-3, etc.). Certainly a rapid vertical toggle clamp is key (mortise ends of rail/stiles with Domino, pocket screw assembly, etc., etc.) and these types of clamps are cheap and plentiful. However, it would be nice to have a quick surface clamp solution for sanding and surface/edge cutting. There are plenty of bench dog solutions (rockler, veritas, festool, qwas, etc.) but not a whole lot of answers from the clamping side.

Eric, I'm familiar with the QWAS options from reading about them on FOG. There would be a large startup investment if I went with a Festool clamping elements + QWAS solution and I'm trying to avoid that if possible.

Andrew, the Shop Fox cam clamps are in the right price range, I'll have to think about possible solutions (grid pattern of T-trak instead of bench holes? mixture of both?). They suffer from the same problem as the Veritas bench blade (little adjustability). However, with multiple T-traks this issue would be resolved.

[Greg Portland]

Eric, regarding slippery table tops:

Depending on the clamping system, the table surface could be semi-slippery (for my usage model). My real concern is having a corner of the cut piece hang up on one of the holes. A slight chamfer in each hole might prevent this...

[Chris Parks]

Vacuum clamping will solve all your problems. In fact Festool do a system if you are feeling rich.

[Tom Cornish]

Vacuum clamping will solve all your problems. In fact Festool do a system if you are feeling rich.
Not yet available in the US.

[Brett Nelson]

Just grab an old air hockey table and install a reverse switch on the motor.... That way it would be a clamp when set to draw, but a great outfeed table with absolutely no friction when set to blow. :D

[Greg Portland]

Brett, the 'blowing' might be perfect to reduce surface friction when in outfeed table mode & I could use that in conjunction with conventional clamping solutions.

Chris, vacuum clamps have been added to my list of things to investigate, thanks! Can you point me to a good resource? I've seen the systems @ Joe Woodworker but am not entirely sold with having the hoses flop around. For example, if I'm routing an edge of a workpiece I'd worry that I could nick one of the hoses.

[Chris Parks]

Get some of the generic vacuum modules you can buy like these

http://www.shop.vacuumclamping.com/product.sc?productId=1&categoryId=1

Attach them to a sub-board that can be then mounted in a vice or itself clamped to a bench and run the lines through the board into the modules. This way the board could be clamped in a vice vertically or clamped to the face of the bench and then it could be used to prepare the edges of boards.

[Eric DeSilva]

...when set to blow. :D

I might worry with large sheets that blowing might actually lift the workpiece, which might not be good either...