All in One Clamp A-50 50-Inch Grip Clamp Guide w/T-track
by E. Emerson Tool Co
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Our Price: $44.99 Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Category: Tools See more product details |
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of All in One Clamp A-50 50-Inch Grip Clamp Guide w/T-track
Customer Review: Flexing and other issues
Summary: 3 Stars
The product is useful, and speeds up panel cuts (etc), but it is far from perfect.
When cutting a sheet of 4-foot-wide 3/4" plywood, it clamps securely, but the guide can flex significantly if you push too hard in the middle, resulting in a cut that is not straight. The less wide the wood, the less of an issue this is.
I was able to push mine more than the reported 1/16" in the middle when used across a sheet of plywood (4'). To me, ANY amount of flexing is a problem, because it is inevitable that I have to push the tool against the edge while cutting. However, use of the optional tool guides presumably reduces the problem, because when using them you don't have to push against the guide.
Another reviewer suggested clamping a piece of the wood to support the middle of the straight-edge. A good solution, but it takes away from the instant-setup convenience this tool is said to offer.
Years ago I bought an aluminum straight edge called Cutters Edge II. I can't find it in google so I assume it is no longer available. It was substantially more rigid than this one, and it came in two 4' lengths which could be joined together. However, its clamping system was much less convenient than this one.
I have not tried it yet, but I suspect this guide would not work well for very thin sheets, such as plywood less than 1/4". Because the clamps rely on edge-to-edge force, thin sheets have the potential to bow with this kind of clamping force applied.
The All-in-One Clamp Guide seems to be best suited to 90-degree cuts, yet they do not have any means of ensuring that the cut will be square. There is a squaring attachment (wide jaws), but measuring and/or checking with a square will still be required.
I only just learned about the "Ultra" model that is 100 inches long. That's the tool I really need (for ripping sheets), and I wish I had bought it instead. Being wider, it should flex less, however with its longer span, it is more subject to flexing. But it's expensive, and I could easily build my own jig, albeit using clamps that are not as quick to use, but with immeasurable flexing.
Customer Review: Good value but had higher hopes
Summary: 3 Stars
I am starting to put together a small 1-car garage shop and have been reluctant to fit a table saw into that space. For the cost, this seemed like a good way to see if I could get away without a table saw. I had high hopes of being able to make near finish cuts with this accessory when paired with decent circular saw installed with a Forrest WWII blade. The jury is still out.
As a previous reviewer had noted, this length (50") actually will flex almost 1/16 inch in the middle when just trying to keep the saw firm against the guide during a cut. A board clamped against the guide in the middle of a cut span on the opposite side of the cut solved that problem. Still, I would recommend going with the wider ultra guides at this and longer lengths.
I haven't yet figured out a system to get consistent results similar to that a locked fence on a table saw would yield. Another thing, as evenly and carefully as I tried to make cuts, I still end up with blade marks. Out of every 10 cuts, only 2 or 3 have been near perfect. The rest bothered me enough that I had to clean up with a router. I checked for blade alignment and everything seemed perfect and I measure and check each cut prior to cutting. Maybe my circular saw just isn't stout enough. I will try the saw plate to see if that helps but for now, I am spending extra time working to get one piece perfect and then using that as a template for a router with a bearing guided straight bit to clean up and make exact copies.
Overall, I do like this accessory. It does what it's advertised to do at a reasonable price. Also as a clamp for glue ups, it's very handy (I have each of the shorter lengths as well). However, I have had to lower my expectations for what I can do. I don't think it'll replace a table saw. I have looked at other options (e.g. Festool) but for their price points, I'd rather figure out how to fit a table saw into my small shop.
Customer Review: Versatile and useful clamp
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a useful and versatile clamp that helps you cut and rout on very straight lines.
Pros:
1. Very straight and sturdy- difficult to flex side-to-side, allowing you to keep your tool on the edge without distorting the guide. It allows you to make cuts approaching that of a table saw, if you are careful. Never been able to do that before with my Skilsaw.
2. Clamp - having just the one lever to clamp down rather than separately clamp both ends of a straightedge is very handy and saves time. Once fully clamped, it holds well. I have even used it at very slight angles and it seems to hold fine.
Cons:
1. The graduated measuring guide on mine was just plastic coated paper that moved within its slot. It is fine for very, very general reference, but I did not find it useful for precision measurements.
Other thoughts:
I found the clamping mechanism to be somewhat notchy. I've been using it for years, and have watched the how-to video intently, but I still have problems getting the clamp to work consistently. On this basis, I can only give it four stars. It may be that I am just lacking some technique or finesse, but I think the action should be more reliable. I can say that when it does clamp, it's a champ; my difficulty with the clamp does not rise to the level of the annoying, but merely quirky. This I can live with and still think it is a great clamp that I can recommend.
Customer Review: Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out how it works...
Summary: 5 Stars
I received my 50" All in One Clamp on Friday and have been using it all weekend and am just loving it. I've used it as a guide for my circular saw WITHOUT the Saw Plate attachment and it worked perfectly. It didn't move or slip at all which resulted in a perfectly straight line. I have also used it to cut a groove in a piece of MDF with my Porter Cable router (without the Router Plate attachment) and again worked perfectly!
And it is not at all difficult to use, it's basically like using a bar clamp. Just slide the clamp to the edge of your board/work piece and press the locking mechanism down, THATS IT! To release it just pull up on the mechanism. I didn't even have to look at the instructions to figure out how it works.
Now I will say you do need to mark, measure, and line the All in One clamp just like any other straight edge out there because you can never rely on ANYTHING being perfectly straight. If you do, well you're just setting yourself up for an uneven cut.
I will definitely be buying more of these in different sizes, as well as the optional attachments because this has so far saved me hours of setting up a straight edge and clamps to hold the straight edge in place. A definite must have!
Customer Review: could not get it to work, arrogant customer service
Summary: 2 Stars
the clamp seemed first off to be on the thin side. i tried to get it to clamp on A table and could not. so wrote customer service and got an arrogant, patronizing, rude response laying blame on me for being less in ability than one should be. it went on saying to view their online video to see how to make it work. guess working with wood for 50 some years doesn't count. i tried to use other clamps to hold it down and check what other reviewers said about the 'give' in the middle. true, esp when using a router. anyway needing an online video tells me something...when it should be easy and intuitive.
i finally called them. was disconnected the first time, on hold the 2nd...gave up (their package does not give a toll-free number-so at one's own expense). caled again the next day and got thru ok. the guy said they had experienced a problem and were including instructions on newer clamps explaining how to set the traveling end clamp. FINALLY i was able to use the thing. i;d give it a three-star, but based on that email sent me from their customer service, it will be two. i guess those types have to make others feel less, esp when they have a problem of their own.
hopefully others who risk buying this thing will fare better when they get adequate instructions,