Sliding Table Clamps
The origin idea came with the need of making a shield between the saw blade and my body when cross-cutting. As time went by the result didn't prove as useful as expected but I found out many other purposes for that hold-downs and I am always wondering why I didn't build them earlier. They are merely the main component of several fixtures locking on the
sliding table and really easy to make as well as lock and release since the are tool-free.
They are made up of plywood and beech. The five millimetre thick trapeze strengthens the base and mount but is also able to hold a sacrificed block. I stuck two beech tracks on the base because its fine grain improves the gliding of
the wooden nut-knob without any drawback as regard clamping. The two holes through the mount matche those of the
mitre gauge and
scaled fence T-nuts and allow for several ways of locking as shown below.
They are also able to hold any stock of wood to make a shield or press a workpiece. The large plate may prevent the body from being reached by little offcuts when cross-cutting but such arrangement didn't satisfy myself because I sometimes need to simultaneously look at the workpiece.
Holding two plates had naturally come but the first trial held a strong safety failure that the caution icon enhances. Each plate may rotate around its fastening in the sliding table groove and consequently the working tool might catch the guard that could turn into a damaging device.
The angle fixture solved the issue and brought a new function as
tenoning guard.