Thread: Progrip and similar clamping guide rails

Originally Posted by damian

I know this might sound like an absurd question but what about accuracy on the progrip ?

Obviously anything can be accurate if you are prepared to put the work in, I guess the question is do you have trouble making accurate cuts with it ? Say you mark a line, how hard is it to get the clamp bang on the required offset ? at both ends ? I've been thinking about the 8' version. $150, but when I'm ripping long lengths it's be nice sometimes to have a proper fence to bear against that clips on easily..

I was chatting to my neighbour a couple of months back when a flock of southern basa came through the gully. Very eery. One at a time they would fly to a new perch, while the rest would sit and watch for movement. Silent and systematic teamwork.

Once you know the additional offset for your saw, it is a very easy to measure the distance required. For instance if you need to cut strips of 235 mm, you measure at 235+saw offset.
Clamping the ProGrip to those marks is a cinch, it has 3 clamp positions, first position only just grips so you do a fine adjust, then push the lever all the way down. Once it is clamped in place it just doesn't move.
I haven't got the 8" one, wasn't available when I bought mine, I use just use an 8" straight edge and a couple of clamps. I try to break down the sheets width wise rather than lenght wise if possible.

I can watch birds all day (yes both kinds!) Have a pair of kookaburras nesting right opposite my shed window above the work bench atm.

I've started a new thread because we were hijacking the other one. Hope no one minds..

I assume it doesn't move while your locking the clamp ? what about getting both ends exactly the right distance from the line ?

Sorry for so many questions but you only learn this from someone who's used it.

avent seen the other thread but i have 3 lenghts of progrip from shortest to longest and find they are easy to align easy to see if you are straight its as good as you are with marking out doesnt move once locked into place but can certainly be knocked out of place when bumped or hit hard unless using router i tend to free cut not locking onto guide and havnt found this a problem
what i find nice is that 2.4m sheets can be cut quite nicly but it all comes down to marking out and measuring well

fubar and damian, I have moved the 2 relevant posts from the other thread, see posts #1 and #2

Fred

Wohw. Ok took me a minute to figure out what you did. I thought I'd mucked it up there...

Ok, I've noticed some rip fences and clamps move slightly as you lock them, so I assume this isn't a problem with progrip. Even if the work ends aren't parrallel ?

I get the offset and marking out bit. No worries. Just wondering about the mechanism. Sounds like it's pretty well sorted out. I notice there are several competing systems overseas like blackjack and others. Progrip is the only one I've seen in aus and of course if I go the long length posting isn't a viable option...

Damian, like I said before the locking mechanism on the ProGrip is multi stage, once it is fully locked down I have never ever had it move on me.

Bear in mind I have not used the 2.5m one, so can't comment on it.

Damian, I use an ordinary straight edge.

To make the marking out easy I have two spacer blocks the same size as my CS ofset between the saw edge and the saw blade. I clamp one at each end to the cut mark and then clamp the straight edge against it and then remove the spacer blocks.

Easy and accurate.


Peter.

ive found spacer blocks work well until you change blades and then yuo need to redo spacers

Nice idea Peter. I've been using similar setups for years but I thought the dedicated device might be quicker/more convenient.

Ironically at $150 for the 8' version the progrip isn't much dearer than an al section. It also has T slots which might be useful.

Anyway might have a solid look next time I'm visiting carbatec...

Hi,
I have just purchased the 2.5m Progrip from Carba-Tec at $149. It has a clamping capacity of 2520mm and a total length of 2700mm. It has the grooves for a guide to run along and because of it's form should be more stable than just a straight piece of alunimium for which I was quoted $145 for a 100mm x 10mm x 2500mm.
If you do not trust the inbuilt clamping system, one can always still use normal clamps for extra stability depending on the situation at hand.
When I used the 36" one previously, I found that the clamping system does not work well on a melamine edge as it is slippery, but for ply/mdf/chipboard as well as timber, it is good.
Another advantage is that a tape measure can be fixed to the centre groove and does not protrude.
Regards
Les

Hi all,

Some of you may remember me. Been sick for the last 4 years or so, but getting better now and back into the shed.

I just wanted to point out how much I like my progrip clamps. Here I am using 4 4' rails with a back to back kit to form a clamping bench for sanding. Job is quite secure, clamps are below the surface so I can sand right to the edge.

Obviously you can do this a dozen ways but I have dozens of parts to sand and this system is quick and reliable.

Great things. Looks like carbatec has got out of them and getting rails over 1 meter from overseas shipping will be problematic. Pity.

The units are really versatile. Guide rails, clamps, marking out.

I made three of these in differing lengths and in this way. Saves lots of time and is pretty damn accurate
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIeIZdrbz-Y

Originally Posted by david.elliott

I made three of these in differing lengths and in this way. Saves lots of time and is pretty damn accurate
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIeIZdrbz-Y

Right, watched the video, how does that make a back to back clamp that you can use to secure stock for sanding or whatever. Ok it's a straight edge, but it's got nothing vaguely approaching the versatility of the Progrip clamps.

Everyone likes to do things their own way so I'd never suggest any tool is right for everyone. The point with progrip is it's more than just a fence. It is a convenient fence/guide rail but there are all sorts of accessories that turn them into clamps as I have shown, resawing jig for your bandsaw, drill guide, stops for repetitive cuts, a square.

I have not looked closely at the festool and other saw guides, but apparently they do things the progrip doesn't, but the progrip is a woodworking system which you can build to do a variety of tasks like various other products out there.

Peachtree have a good selection here:

https://www.ptreeusa.com/clamp_progrip_accessory.htm

oddly some of it is cheaper on amazon that their own site, but I believe they don't ship to aus off amazon. Pity...