Festool VAC SYS Creates Clamping System Using Vacuum Suction
You can’t do woodworking without clamps. Let me rephrase that – you can’t do effective woodworking without clamps. Clamps hold work pieces in place for us while we glue, screw, cut, plane, sand, and stain our way to a beautiful finished product. But what if there were a way to handle the task of holding our materials without having to adjust clamps with our hands dozens of times a day? Thanks to the Festool VAC SYS System, we now have a better option.
When I got a glimpse of the Festool VAC SYS, the first thing that came to my mind was the hand fatigue I deal with nearly every time the clamps come out. Since the vacuum-based system holds material by suction, turning on the vacuum pump is the only step. You’re probably thinking the same thing I did – What if my work piece requires two hands to stabilize while I turn the vac on? Festool addresses that with a foot-activated power switch.
Festool’s new clamping solution also increases versatility in a big way. Your material can be rotated 360 degrees by simply turning off the suction. The Festool VAC SYS Clamping Module can rotate 90 degrees, giving you access to work surfaces in a much more ergonomic manner. Your back will thank you for it. You’re also able to combine the Clamping Module SE2 for more holding power. They can be set independently of each other to hold materials with unusual shapes and twists.
A couple of other concerns have also been addressed prior to the Festool VAC SYS’ release. Each of the clamping pods are designed from non-marring material so you won’t leave any unsightly marks on your work piece. The vacuum suction is strong enough to hold most non-porous work pieces, so you can work with a wide range of material along the process of getting to a finished product.
Festool VAC SYS System Purchase Options
Festool VAC SYS System
- VAC PMP Vacuum Pump
- VAC SYS SE1 Clamping Module
- Round Vacuum Pod
- Foot Valve
- Price: $1300
Festool VAC SYS System Set
- VAC PMP Vacuum Pump
- VAC SYS SE1 Clamping Module
- Round Vacuum Pod
- Foot Valve
- Clamping Module SE2
- Oblong Vacuum Pod
- Price: $1800
Festool VAC SYS System Additional Vacuum Pods
- Round 580067 (comes with System): $120
- Oblong 580066 (comes with System Set): $120
- Small Oblong 580064: $100
- Narrow 580065: $150
- VAC SYS Accessory Set (includes Oblong, Small Oblong, and Narrow): $350
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