Auto lock 5/16 track clamps

[Bob Eustace]

Cheaper alternative to Festool - like tge 45 degree lock option.

http://www.newwoodworker.com/reviews/rcklrttrklvrclmp.html

[myxpykalix]

i don't see anything on that page, it just sits there and grinds and nothing comes up:confused:

[Burkhardt]

i don't see anything on that page, it just sits there and grinds and nothing comes up:confused:

Same here. But I looked at it yesterday and it all showed up just fine. Maybe just wait another day.....

[Bob Eustace]

Comes up OK here but here is tge link straight to the Rockler page

http://www.rockler.com/auto-lock-t-track-clamp

[scottp55]

Bob, When I looked at the Festool at Rockler, they always seemed to lift the material up. Looked for them at Rockler last trip, but they didn't have any yet. Was it just me? or can the Festool types push the material firmly down?

[shilala]

I like that they have the little pieces of track so I could screw then down anywhere, but I can't see where I'd use them. I'd sweat the lack of downward pressure, myself.
I guess if I was using manufactured material, that'd be different. I'd still be scared.
As a backup to a vac system, using both, that'd be awesome.

[Burkhardt]

I finally coughed up the money and bought 2 of them, together with a set of four T-track short stops (two 0-degree and two 90-degree). They are actually quite nice. Three things I had to change:
- the narrow-head screws in the base that should go into the Rockler T-track slots for guiding are a tad too big for my 80/20 table slots (1545 size). I could grind them down but I just took them off which makes them anyway more flexible.
- The t-bolt, also made for the skinny Rockler profiles is a little too short for the massive 15-series of 80/20. So I replaced them with the stubby 5/16 carriage bolts that I normally use for this table.
- The rubber pad that prevents slipping comes off easily. I rubbed off the adhesive snot and re-attached it with Loctite Go2

I would probably not use these clamps for simple hold-down purpose. Vacuum can do that better. But I needed something to hold a skinny frame to the table for secondary machining operations and that worked great. I did not see any lift-up and for such specialty operations I can really recommend it. Easier to set than the usual cam clamps and it is very gentle with the work piece.

Another possibility is what Jack wrote to support vacuum and prevent the work piece from slipping horizontally or to guarantee a fixed position against a fence. Anyway, not cheap but quite a smart gadget and usable.

Picture is from internet, not the setup on my machine
http://www.elitetools.ca/documents/shop/product/58616/auto-lock-t-track-clamp-rockler-58616-10.jpg

[Burkhardt]

Here a real example of CNC use of these clamps.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-l3-GGGxeJ9M/VCivnY3VN9I/AAAAAAAAFU4/JzkbpIINywQ/w1597-h769-no/DSC02693.JPG

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYZq2TecYB4

[Brian Harnett]

Its pretty simple just to make wooden cam clamps then when you whack them no big deal.

[Burkhardt]

Its pretty simple just to make wooden cam clamps then when you whack them no big deal.

I used cam clamps occasionally, some homemade and also the Shopfox steel ones. There is nothing wrong with the cam clamps but these new Rockler clamps are just convenient and a little easier to set. Not to mention that I am a sucker for new gadgets :rolleyes:

[gundog]

They look like a nice clamp I think I am going to order some thanks for the link and write up.

Mike

[scottp55]

G., How Tall it the clamp body itself? How about the clamp face?
Thanks

[chiloquinruss]

"I am a sucker for new gadgets " Isn't it funny how often that comes into play! :D BTW, me too! Russ