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Kreg and Triton team up with a handy bench clamp and a high-performance sander

comments (0) August 23rd, 2012 in blogs

Asa Christiana, editor, Fine Woodworking magazine

2 users recommend

The Klamp Vise Plate mounts anywhere along a benchtop, and the version shown here (coming in January) will self-adjust to thick and thin workpieces. The little black tabs can be placed in the upper or lower T-tracks as a positive support for boards.

The beefy Triton Geared Eccentric Orbit Sander was designed with a 6-in. pad and a fixed-orbit mode for more aggressive sanding, like the Festool Rotex, but for about 1/3 the price!

Turn this lever to change on the fly between the aggressive fixed orbit and random orbit, for finish sanding.

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With Kreg Tools as their new U.S. distributor, it seems that Triton is rolling out tools not before seen in the North American market. One innovation is a dual-mode orbital sander, much like the award winning Festool Rotex, at 1/3 of the price or less. There is the normal random-orbit mode for finish sanding with no visible swirls, but a flick of a switch locks the rotation into a fixed orbit, for aggressive stock removal. With a 6-in. pad, that could make this beefy sander a pretty incredible deal at a street price of $150. Can't wait to give this one a test at FWW.

But Kreg isn't resting on its pocket-screw laurels. By getting the rights to the same clamping technology that Bessey uses in its self-adjusting toggle clamps, Kreg was able to roll out a similar series of clamps (Automaxx) for holding down pieces for its pocket-screw jigs. But my favorite use of the new hold-downs is the Kreg Klamp Vise Plate, which can be used as a front vise on a budget, or better yet for fine woodworkers, could be placed at the right end of the front apron as a rock-solid board jack. The Klamp Vise Plate retails for $50-$60 with a standard hold-down clamp, but I'd wait until January when the company will add the self-adjusting clamp to it.