Milwaukee Track Saw Clamps

[Steve Gojevic]

Hi:

It looks like the Milwaukee track saw track clamps are sold out everywhere I can find on the net and locally. Places that didn't show them sold out on their web site still were sold out when I actually called them to make sure they had them.

Our local Rockler has a set of Makita track clamps. They claim to also fit Festool, Bosch and DeWalt tracks.

Does anyone know if these will fit the Milwaukee track? If not, I guess I will have to buy them and see if they fit. If not, I can return them.

Thanks
Steve

[Greg Parrish]

If you have the track already, measure the slot opening and share. One of us can measure our various clamps and compare. I have the Festool ratchet style and some Wood River ones from Woodcraft. I’m betting they are the same clamps that seem to be available for all of the track saw tracks.

[Paul F Franklin]

Or make your own: (see about halfway down in this post) https://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?275622-Track-Saw-Accessories-and-Jigs&highlight=

[Jim Becker]

I could be mistaken, but I believe that Milwaukee is using essentially the same extrusion in general for their track as Festool and I suspect that the track clamps are going to be compatible regardless of brand. You can even get them in Bessey branding...the make many of them for OEMs as well as in Bessey red. I have two Festool and two Bessey and they are virtually identical other than the Bessey version is slightly longer.

[Jim Dwight]

I'm sure they are nicely made and they are not out of line from a price standpoint but I wouldn't spend any time looking for Milwaukee track clamps. They are about the same thing as Grizzly track clamps which are cheaper. That type will work but are a bit challenging to work one handed. Festool makes good quick clamps for tracks as does DeWalt. DeWalt clamps will work in other tracks and I am sure Festool will too. I use DeWalt and have for years. They work great. I've also used PowerTec clamps and I would stay away from those. The provide nearly no clamping force.

[Greg Parrish]

For what its worth, after I made my post above I searched for Milwaukee Track Saw Clamps and clicked on their branded clamps which took me to the Milwaukee page for them. The reviews were not very good and indicated their own clamps didn't fit well and had to be ground down to work properly. Don't know if that is a sign of a poor quality controlled clamp, or a sign that the track doesn't fit the same specs as all the competitors. Take it with a grain of salt.

https://www.milwaukeetool.com/Products/Accessories/48-08-0573#sp-reviews

[Dave Sabo]

Steve - just get these and cry once:

https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/tools/hand-tools/clamps/110662-bessey-ratcheting-track-clamp?item=17F3716&utm_source=free_google_shopping&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=shopping_feed&gclid=CjwKCAiAl9efBhAkEiwA4ToripsDPEEQicTDFck-UB-vI9bgYoZxCt-haTI717SowZkgM0miNOtmrxoCMkAQAvD_BwE

They fit festool style rails and will match your color scheme well enough. The screw type clamps are royal PIA.


Lotsa guys like these for bit more wallet friendly alternative:

https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DWS5026-TrackSaw-Track-Clamps/dp/B001J31PJM/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2S6U0O3X12WDB&keywords=track+saw+clamp&qid=1677108317&s=hi&sprefix=track+saw+clamp%2Ctools%2C263&sr=1-3


If you wanna roll the dice you might find these a winner :

https://www.amazon.com/QWORK-Ratcheting-Release-Capacity-Sanding/dp/B08B4FFMR6/ref=sr_1_19?crid=2S6U0O3X12WDB&keywords=track%2Bsaw%2Bclamp&qid=1677108385&s=hi&sprefix=track%2Bsaw%2Bclamp%2Ctools%2C263&sr=1-19&th=1

[Walter Plummer]

I have the Kreg track saw. I took my Matchfit dovetail clamps and tried them. It only took two or three strokes with a round file to make them work in the Kreg track.

[Darrell Bade]

The only time I've used my new Makita I didn't clamp it. On my old Eureka I just always used basic spring clamps on the edge of the rail. So based on this conversation I'm guessing this don't work on the other brand saws?

[Steve Gojevic]

Steve - just get these and cry once:

https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/tools/hand-tools/clamps/110662-bessey-ratcheting-track-clamp?item=17F3716&utm_source=free_google_shopping&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=shopping_feed&gclid=CjwKCAiAl9efBhAkEiwA4ToripsDPEEQicTDFck-UB-vI9bgYoZxCt-haTI717SowZkgM0miNOtmrxoCMkAQAvD_BwE

They fit festool style rails and will match your color scheme well enough. The screw type clamps are royal PIA.


Lotsa guys like these for bit more wallet friendly alternative:

https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DWS5026-TrackSaw-Track-Clamps/dp/B001J31PJM/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2S6U0O3X12WDB&keywords=track+saw+clamp&qid=1677108317&s=hi&sprefix=track+saw+clamp%2Ctools%2C263&sr=1-3


If you wanna roll the dice you might find these a winner :

https://www.amazon.com/QWORK-Ratcheting-Release-Capacity-Sanding/dp/B08B4FFMR6/ref=sr_1_19?crid=2S6U0O3X12WDB&keywords=track%2Bsaw%2Bclamp&qid=1677108385&s=hi&sprefix=track%2Bsaw%2Bclamp%2Ctools%2C263&sr=1-19&th=1



Thanks for the links.

I am going to order the DeWalt clamps. You're right about screw clamps being a PIA.

Steve

[Patrick Varley]

If you wanna roll the dice you might find these a winner :

https://www.amazon.com/QWORK-Ratcheting-Release-Capacity-Sanding/dp/B08B4FFMR6/ref=sr_1_19?crid=2S6U0O3X12WDB&keywords=track%2Bsaw%2Bclamp&qid=1677108385&s=hi&sprefix=track%2Bsaw%2Bclamp%2Ctools%2C263&sr=1-19&th=1

I have a set of these China knockoffs. Different "brand", but I suspect out of the same factory. They've worked fine for me (for about 6 months).

[Patty Hann]

I have the Powertec ratchet clamps and they work fine on the Festool track (which I use with a Makita track saw)
They hold solid, don't slip, release easily and they slide as far in as you need.
Got them at the the BOB (Big Orange Box)
https://www.homedepot.com/p/POWERTEC-7-in-x-2-3-8-in-Quick-Release-Ratcheting-Table-Clamp-for-MFT-and-Guide-Rail-System-2-Pack-71542/313577773

[Rich Engelhardt]

Wen - 6" quick style for ~ $16 a pair. (https://www.homedepot.com/p/WEN-6-in-Quick-Release-Track-Saw-Clamps-2-Pack-36053C/305726705)

I've been meaning to get these for some time & this thread just got me moving (due to the prices of the other ones).

Now I just have to find the Youtube hack to modify the HF clamps so they work since these look like they are made in the same factory.

[Dave Sabo]

I have the Powertec ratchet clamps and they work fine on the Festool track (which I use with a Makita track saw)
Got them at the the BOB (Big Orange Box)


Not available at Homer anymore and at the listed price there's little incentive to not get the German made Bessys.



Wen - 6" quick style for ~ $16 a pair. (https://www.homedepot.com/p/WEN-6-in-Quick-Release-Track-Saw-Clamps-2-Pack-36053C/305726705)
Now I just have to find the Youtube hack to modify the HF clamps so they work since these look like they are made in the same factory.

They're practically givin em away at that price. Is it difficult to operate the release tab ? Looks like it's be a knuckle buster especially the thinner the material you're cutting gets.



I have a set of these China knockoffs. Different "brand", but I suspect out of the same factory. They've worked fine for me (for about 6 months).

Suspect you're right about the source. Given the price they're prob. worth the gamble, especially if you use Big River deliver them.

[Patrick Varley]

Wen - 6" quick style for ~ $16 a pair. (https://www.homedepot.com/p/WEN-6-in-Quick-Release-Track-Saw-Clamps-2-Pack-36053C/305726705)

I've been meaning to get these for some time & this thread just got me moving (due to the prices of the other ones).

Now I just have to find the Youtube hack to modify the HF clamps so they work since these look like they are made in the same factory.

I started off with a pair of these and they worked fine. Then one had the bar that slides in the track pop off the clamp from what I assume was a bad weld. For the price, wasn't too upset, but then "upgraded" to the other cheap knockoffs which seemed to have fewer failure points.

[Jim Dwight]

There is not much space to put a spring clamp on the rail but it could work. No clamp works most of the time. For non-critical cuts I don't normally clamp the rail. DeWalt clamps hold very well and are easy to use one handed. I am no major DeWalt fan, I have many more Milwaukee tools than DeWalt. But their track clamps are a winner.

[Patty Hann]

Not available at Homer anymore and at the listed price there's little incentive to not get the German made Bessys. .
Weird...about a quarter of the things I have bought at "Homer" ( haha...that is good) in the last year or so have disappeared from stock as in "no longer available".
Prior to that I saw all those things listed for months if not years.
However (comma) there is a pair listed at the Big A Powertec ratcheting clamps (https://www.amazon.com/POWERTEC-Release-Ratcheting-System-Capacity/dp/B07VXMDPG6/ref=asc_df_B07VXMDPG6/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=416868252671&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10696510312339066932&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9030030&hvtargid=pla-900349324204&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=90730998661&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=416868252671&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10696510312339066932&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9030030&hvtargid=pla-900349324204) at about 3/4 the old Homer price.

The Powertecs have a clamp force of 350 lbs, the Bessey ones are over 500lbs.
But one Bessey is nearing the price of the two Powertec.
If you are using them just to hold a Track in place, do you really need 500+ lbs of force?

[Greg Parrish]

The wood river clamp from wood craft is pretty much the same style as the dewalt but is a little cheaper. I have an older version of these but They work fine at holding my tracks when needed. https://www.woodcraft.com/products/quick-bar-t-track-clamp-6-woodriver

[Steve Gojevic]

I ordered the DeWalt clamps and received them. They seem to work fine on the Milwaukee track without any mods.

Steve

[Rich Engelhardt]

They're practically givin em away at that price. Is it difficult to operate the release tab ? Looks like it's be a knuckle buster especially the thinner the material you're cutting gets.

Yep - the release isn't in the best of places.
It's only a very minor problem though. I'll just glue a piece of wood on the pad so it adds some room to get at the release.

The thing that surprised me is how heavy they are. I wasn't at all ready for that. They haven't got plastic bodies like I expected, the bodies are metal and weigh a ton.