Festool489790 FS-Rapid Clamp And Fixed Jaws For Guide Rail System

A new Festool Track Saw user here and I was trying to decide which clamp to use with its guide rail. Although the Quick/Screw Clamps are more versatile for non-guide rail uses, I really needed something to keep the guide rail from moving around on Melamine and Ikea Abstrakt sheet panels. Since I already have general purpose clamps, I chose the Rapid Clamp and have been loving it ever since.Quick to setup and does what I needed it to do: keep the guide rail from shifting on slick sheet panels, such as the aforementioned Melamine sheet panels and Ikea's super glossy Abstrakt cabinet panels and doors. The fixed jaw allows rapid setup for repeat cutting of multiple pieces.Unlike the Gecko Suction Clamping Handle which is only effective on Melamine and similarly smooth panels, the Rapid Clamps work on most all other types of sheet goods and dimensional lumber.I have no idea for the basis of one user describing the Rapid Clamp as "not up to Festool standards" by complaining that it doesn't leave enough clearance to utilize the guide rails' non-slip strip on the work piece; well, for the rest of us using common sense when power sawing, we typically lay the workpiece on top of appropriately sized sacrificial/scrap wood in order to prevent saw blades from cutting into our work surfaces. So his "complaint" really is a non-issue; in fact, with the Rapid Clamps and at least 3/4" or thicker scrap wood for elevation, you can actually have the clamps lay over your workbench (with the pistol grip rotated flat, of course), unlike the Festool Quick and Screw Clamps with their long bodies hanging way too low which essentially requires them to be clamped over the edges of workbenches.The quality of the materials, fit, finish, and assembly, are all first rate and along with the aforementioned ease of use are definitely on par with "Festool standards."Although eventually I will purchase a pair of Quick Clamps to use with the dog holes on my custom made workbench, these Rapid Clamps have made it quick and easy to cut my sheet goods and deserve consideration for your tool chest if cutting similar materials.

You don't need this rapid clamp very often but, when you do, it's an invaluable tool! It allows you to attach the guide rail to vertical pieces (e.g. doors) and cut them in situ, saving the time and hassle of removing them, cutting them, and replacing them. It's not only for cutting doors - it can save a lot of time when installing drawer fronts. Instead of cutting each drawer front individually, spacing them out carefully and attaching them, you can attach one board across all the drawer fronts and then use this clamp to cut the drawer faces while already attached. The saw blade kerf is your spacing and the spaces are all equal.(Of course, it can also be used instead of other clamps for regular gripping of boards you plan to cut when laid horizontally, but there are many alternatives for this function.)

I have had my Festool track sawFestool TS 55 REQ Track Saw for a couple years and always use a simple pair of spring clamps to hold the track down. I never felt confident enough with the non-slip strip alone on the bottom of the track to hold it in place. The Rapid Clamp slides in the bottom side of the track and then squeezes on the edge of the material to be cut. One jaw is fixed and the other is a pistol grip that can slide in the track, lock near the material and then secured by pulling the green trigger. This system works well to secure the track and all sits below the track so there is no interference with the saw, router or other tool.The one thing that I have a problem with is it seems there are left and right hand folding options for the pistol grip handle. The idea is that the protrusion under the track can be reduced by folding the handle flat. When mine folds it would be cut by the saw. I do not see an option for right or left folding but for my use, I do not find a need to fold it because I cut my sheet goods on saw horses. If you use the rigid foam method on the floor, then you may want to fold the handle.

This clamp allows the Festool rail to clip right on the edge of a panel. This makes for a very quick cycle time of position/clamp/check/cut.It should be noted this item is made in Germany (as is all Festool stuff). Also, the pistol grip swivels 90* to rest flatter against the rail. If you put the clamp on backwards it COULD be possible to clip the handle a bit. I just put it on as it states in the directions, but it technically works either way.Overall a high quality unit that I enjoy using. It is not quite as versatile as the little "F" style clamps but it is faster. Get both.EDIT: Back to my review title, I am using this clamp with two 55" rails connected together with the Festool connectors. If you clamp too hard (which really isn't very hard) the rails separate a little bit. I have been using this clamp with very light handshake pressure and the rails is clamped well enough that a 3/4" birch ply sheet slides on the bench before the clamp moves.

Festool is a system, expensive but it does deliver on its intentions to make things easy and in a high quality manor. Everything is highly engineered to work together to deliver perfect results, their track saws with guide rails are top notch. This quick clamp really speeds up using a guide rail and track saw to cut sheet goods, you line the rail up and clamp the track in place keeping it from shifting during cutting. Combined with a TSO square you can line the track up even quicker and clamp down with consistently square cuts.

This thing will save you an unreal amount of time when you need to trim the bottom of doors off for new flooring. Takes about 3-4 for minutes to set up for each door and cut with the track saw. We cut 20 doors in less than an hour. Can you imagine taking them all down and carrying them to a table to cut them and reinstall them all? Would take an entire day. This thing paid for itself 100 fold.