Hold down techniques and jigs - please share!

[bobmoore]

What a bunch of tender egos on this forum lately. If I only learned from people that were nice and agreed with me I wouldn't know half of what I do. Take a little and give and little back but don't take it so seriously, it is just cnc work. you are not curing brain cancer.
Bob Moore

[Brian Harnett]

I like pneumatic clamps for production type work they can be set up just about any way.




Air cylinders running through the table


Off the end, great for dovetailing and tenons

[Brian Harnett]

Odd rounds clamp




Vac box, clamps to table when needed.

[Brian Harnett]

Simple wedge and dowel setup I do have air cylinders that drop in if needed for multiples.

[Brady Watson]

I like pneumatic clamps for production type work they can be set up just about any way.

Brian - nice demonstration of your hold down Kung Fu ~ Right on!

-B

[bleeth]

Brady has espoused a system in which the object piece has a layer of transfer tape (like the vinyl sign guys use) on the back making it easy to remove later and then double faced tape to hold it down. You would use a "liner" with a smooth face(like a piece of melamine) on your table. Much faster than screws and quite safe.

If you have a belt sander (Table type) you can cut through leaving a skin and then sand the back off leaving your inlay parts.

The bench parts can also be done that way but you would need to start with thicker stock instead of the correct thickness.

I've cut thin veneer by spraying the back and a sacrifice carrier board with a light coat of contact cement and then peel off the finished pieces. May work for your inlay pieces.

There's a couple quick ideas anyway.

[chiloquinruss]

Our live steam park has lots of senior members and as an unfortunate artifact we have several passing's of members during the year. What we have done is set up section of our railroad as a memorial garden. I have elected to do some engraving in the tie material we use as a name plate in honor of the member. The material is like Tek Deck recycled plastic. I use a 1/8th ballnose. Here's the weird jig for doing the engraving. The jig is clamped to the table and the material is clamped on to the jig. Russ