Review of Airtight Clamps

  

                    David at work in his shop
                        February  2016

   



Review of Airtight Clamps

The addition of pneumatic clamps to a sliding table saw or shaper is one of the best upgrades a woodworker can make in terms of efficiency and safety in the workshop. I recently made the decision to purchase a set of Airtight clamps made by Mac Campshure. They were added to my Felder CF741SP combination machine. This review is my impression of the clamps after using them for the past three months.






My decision to purchase pneumatic clamps was borne out of my frustration in using the standard Felder eccentric clamp. While this clamp does what it is supposed to do, it requires the operator to manually lock and release each clamp, in addition to setting the height of the clamp relative to the work piece. When working with large plywood panels, this means repeated trips around the saw to reach the rear clamp. I wanted the ability to control the clamping from one position. I contacted Mac and expressed my interest in a pair of his clamps. I explained my equipment set up and he provided me with a quote. There are several options available as to how you configure your clamp. You can utilize the existing 30mm post that is standard with the Felder clamp, or opt for the sliding base that Mac produces. I decided to keep the Felder post positioned at the back of my slider, and upgrade to Mac’s sliding base at the front. My reasoning was the front clamp would be moved the most, and the sliding base operates with a large Kipp lever tightening against a thrust bearing to make this a quick and easy task. The base itself is beautifully made from polished aluminum.






The clamping mechanism for the air cylinder can be ordered with a tilt component that allows fixed and free positioning of the cylinder. This option has fixed pin positions that tilt the clamp 6 degrees either side of vertical, as well as 90 degrees. The clamp cylinder can be positioned at any other angle with the pin removed. The beauty of the 6 degree setting is it allows you to push your work towards the fence, insuring solid contact, while also forcing it tight to the slider. This clamping component is very well designed and rock solid when tightened.






The remote operation option allows the front (master) cylinder to operate two cylinders in concert. This solves the problem of going back and forth behind the saw to activate the rear clamp. This remote cylinder can also operate independently of the front. A sliding anodized aluminum sleeve on the remote cylinder changes this function. The ability to quickly switch from a master/slave cylinder configuration to independent operation is a huge plus for me when using these clamps.






Installing the clamps was a straight forward affair, once I dealt with how to mount the bulkhead fittings in the front end of the slider. Mac supplied quick- connect fittings to attach the air lines at the front and back of the slider, as well as to the clamp cylinders themselves. This requires drilling a couple holes in the plates that cover the ends of the slider table and feeding the air line through the slider cavity. At the back this was easily done. In the front however, I have the remote start option, which limits the available space to mount the fittings. This required Mac to create an adapter plate for the lines to attach to, and some modification of the front bulkhead by myself. After all was said and done, the actual hook up was very quick. The pressure regulator attaches with a felt covered magnetic base at the back end of the slider.






In use, the Airtight clamps have exceeded my expectations. They make working with large panels much faster by reducing trips around the saw. The indexing tilt feature makes it easier to keep work tight to the fence while firmly clamped to the slider. I added a 10 foot length of twin coil tubing for the rear cylinder so I could move it anywhere on the table, just like I can do with the front cylinder. This gives you both clamps available to assist with shaper work if you have a saw/shaper combo machine. An operation like cutting tenons or coping cabinet rails is safely and quickly secured against the fence and slider with no chance of slippage. I really feel the Airtight clamps will allow me to get the most out of my Felder machine. Mac was very easy to work with, extremely helpful during the set up with answering questions, and his workmanship on the clamps themselves was impeccable. They work flawlessly. I highly recommend the Airtight clamps.






Charles Argo


August 2010

                                      Please note my clamps are a little different                                         today with numerous improvements!