Sliding Table Saw Hold-downs / Clamps

[Brian W Evans]

Adapting to a specific slot size isn't that hard...I made sticks of material out of oak that precisely fit the tee slot in my SCM/Minimax wagon so I could use hold-downs and fixtures attached to the wagon. Someone more skilled with metal than me could do the same with aluminum or steel.

I agree with this, but I would prefer metal for clamps. The upward pressure on whatever is holding the clamp and the need to move it around easily make metal the better choice for clamping.

However, I am in the process of making another Fritz und Franz jig, this time with aluminum runners for the slot. My wagon's slot was close enough to 5/8" that I ordered square aluminum bar in that size and sanded it down to a perfect fit. A couple of tapped holes will attach the runners to the jig. Not hard at all and no expansion or contraction to mess with the fit.

[Rob Sack]

Just ordered one from Amazon. Unfortunately, out of the four "hold down bolts" provided, the one that I needed has bad threads. Called Milescraft. No live body, just voicemail. The website offers the opportunity to contact them by email with a promise of a response within 48 hours. I guess I could just return it to Amazon and order another one, but that seems like such a waste. All I need is one bolt. If the company doesn't respond by tomorrow, I will go the Amazon return/re-order route. Buyer be ware.

[Michael Burnside]

These look great and wow, great price. Plus they have miter slot options. I have 6 of the Kreg automaxx clamps (4 3" and 2 6") and they are in my main workflow. I don't know what I'd do without them. I also have a 6 foot piece of 1545 aluminum extrusion on the front of my bench where I can use these to clamp the workpiece vertically against the extrusion or horizontally allowing the piece to project off my bench a little ways. Using these for domino, routing, edge-banding or a 3rd or 4th hand is great.

[Chris Parks]

Sam Blasco shows how clamps can move when they are locked down on one of his videos. I solved that problem by never having seen the need for clamps apart from as F&F jig which is a great clamp. My view may change if I was working on a panel saw and not a short stroke slider as some here may be doing or I was using fixed jigs which I haven't done either so horses for courses.

[Joel Gelman]

https://mac-campshure.squarespace.com

Expensive, but buyer's remorse is zero, and many would consider the safety aspect associated with their use to be justification for having these. You can read a lot of rave reviews on the Felder Owner's Group Forum.

[Brian W Evans]

Just ordered one from Amazon. Unfortunately, out of the four "hold down bolts" provided, the one that I needed has bad threads. Called Milescraft. No live body, just voicemail. The website offers the opportunity to contact them by email with a promise of a response within 48 hours. I guess I could just return it to Amazon and order another one, but that seems like such a waste. All I need is one bolt. If the company doesn't respond by tomorrow, I will go the Amazon return/re-order route. Buyer be ware.

I just opened one that I had purchased in January and had the same problem. I contacted MilesCraft yesterday evening through their web site and this morning I got an email with an order confirmation for the defective parts - for free, of course. Can't ask for faster or better service than that.

[Bert McMahan]

Sam Blasco shows how clamps can move when they are locked down on one of his videos. I solved that problem by never having seen the need for clamps apart from as F&F jig which is a great clamp. My view may change if I was working on a panel saw and not a short stroke slider as some here may be doing or I was using fixed jigs which I haven't done either so horses for courses.

I know this is like 6 months old but any chance you have a link to this?

Edit: I think I found it. This one? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuyZwY0LHbE