Customer Reviews

JDS Company MC-1 Manual Clamp

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I bought this along with my Accu-Miter, thinking it would be a great addition to the miter gauge. Unfortunately, the clamp knob to set the height of this clamp cannot be tightened enough by hand to prevent the clamp assembly from coming loose on the post it's mounted on when the clamp is engaged. Also, when the clamp is tightened, it tends to lift the bar out of the saw's slot, allowing the stock to shift in relation to the fence. I have replaced the height knob with a standard hex head bolt, tightened with a wrench, which solves that problem, but unless the clamp is adjusted for just the right height (which is not that simple to do), the problem of lifting the bar and shifting the stock which I mentioned occurs. All in all, it's a good idea in theory, but I don't think it works that well. Knowing what I know now, I wouldn't buy it again.

I've owned an Accu-Miter Gauge, and this clamp, since the mid 90's. The clamp holds the wood down so it doesn't move -- for safety, and to ensure the wood doesn't move during the cut. My gauge/clamp is used on a Delta Unisaw.

It's frustrating that it takes so much trail and error to adjust the clamp's screw mechanism to provide just the right amount of force. However, once adjusted for a given thickness and width of wood, it tends to stay in place. The clamp head (a nylon end-cap) can be adjusted for distance from the table and distance from the miter gauge.

When the wood is clamped, it raises the guide bar above the miter slot. Any clamp would likely do this, since downward force on the wood results in upward force on the miter gauge (thus raising the gauge). I.e., wood is "trapped" between the guide bar and the clamp face, so when you tighten the clamp, the bar actually arches (bends) up in the middle by about 1/32". Since the wood itself is now slightly above the table, it would seem that some inaccuracy in the cut would result -- although it's really not much.

If you own an Accu-Miter Gauge and want a clamp, this one will do the job. Unfortunately, there aren't any other clamp accessories for that gauge (at least that I'm aware of). Stated another way -- since I own the Accu-Miter, I'd buy this clamp again - but wishing a better one was available...