Key Features
Overview
The Festool FS-HZ 160 Quick Clamp is a ratcheting clamp designed to secure material to Festool guide rails and Festool MFT work tables. This is a quick clamp designed for workholding during precision cutting. sanding. routing. and other bench or guide-rail-based tasks. Model number 491594. If you use the Festool guide system and want faster. cleaner setups. this clamp solves a very real problem: keeping your work locked down without slowing the job down.
What makes this clamp useful is not just that it holds material. but where it holds it. It is designed to slide into the bottom t-slot of Festool FS guide rails and work with the holes and channels on Festool MFT tables. That gives you controlled positioning instead of trying to reach around your setup with a regular F-style clamp that gets in the way. For track saw cutting. routing. sanding. or drilling on an MFT. that kind of placement matters because the clamp stays low and out of the working area.
The ratcheting mechanism is the other big reason people buy this style of clamp. You can lock it down quickly and release it just as fast. which is a lot more efficient than spinning a traditional screw clamp open and closed all day. On repeated setups. especially when you are moving from panel to panel or switching operations on a bench. that time savings adds up fast. It is a simple feature. but it directly improves workflow.
Festool also builds this as a solid steel version. which is the right call for a clamp that is going to live around sawdust. rails. tabletops. sheet goods. and constant repositioning. The steel bar and clamping hardware give it the strength and rigidity you want when holding work for accurate cuts or routing passes. This is not a throw-in accessory. It is a real part of the workholding system.
In practical use. the FS-HZ 160 Quick Clamp is a strong fit for cabinet work. finish carpentry. furniture building. trim work. and any shop or jobsite workflow built around Festool rails or MFT tables. It helps keep material from shifting while you cut. sand. or route. which is exactly what you want when you are working for clean edges and repeatable results. It is also useful when clamping awkward parts to the table edge or side tracks where a standard clamp is inconvenient.
Compatibility is a major part of the value here. Festool lists this clamp as suitable for FS/2. FS/2-KP. FSK. and MFT systems. If you already own those platforms. this clamp makes more sense than a generic shop clamp because it is designed around the way those systems are actually used. It fits the workflow. not just the workpiece.
Who should buy it? Anybody already invested in Festool guide rails or an MFT setup who wants faster. cleaner. more reliable clamping. If you are a casual user with no Festool rail or table system. this is probably too specialized. But if you cut sheet goods with a track saw. route on an MFT. or need secure workholding that does not interfere with the tool path. this is exactly the kind of accessory that makes the whole system work better.
Designed Around the Guide Rail
This clamp earns its keep by fitting where regular clamps usually get in the way. It works with the Festool guide rail and MFT layout so you can hold stock securely without fighting your setup.
- Designed for the bottom t-slot of Festool FS guide rails
- Works with holes and channels on Festool MFT tables for flexible positioning
Fast Clamping. Solid Hold
The ratcheting handle gives you quick one-handed tightening and release. which is exactly what you want when you are making repeated cuts or changing parts on the table.
- Solid steel construction for repeated shop and jobsite use
- Built for precision cutting. sanding. routing. and similar bench tasks
What’s in the Box
- (1) Festool FS-HZ 160 Quick Clamp
Key Specifications
| Tool Type | Quick Clamp |
|---|---|
| Clamping Width | 6-1/4 in. (160 mm) |
| Material | Steel |
| Weight | 1.1 lbs |
| Compatibility | Festool FS/2. FS/2-KP. FSK. MFT |
| Clamp Style | Ratcheting quick clamp |
| Package Quantity | 1 Clamp |
| Made In | Germany |
Compatibility
Built For
Pro Tip
If you are cutting sheet goods with a guide rail. set the clamp in the rail t-slot before final rail placement. It is faster than trying to feed the clamp in after the rail is already lined up. especially on larger panels.
Warranty & Support
Tool Nut’s Take
Festool FS-HZ 160 Quick Clamp: Small Accessory. Big Workflow Upgrade
The Festool FS-HZ 160 Quick Clamp is the kind of accessory that does not look exciting until you use it for a day and realize you do not want to go back.
- Who it’s for: Festool rail and MFT users who want quicker workholding for cutting. sanding. and routing.
- Why it stands out: It is purpose-built for the Festool system. uses a fast ratcheting action. and keeps the clamp where it helps instead of where it interferes.
- Worth knowing: This is a specialized clamp. not a general shop clamp. If you do not use Festool guide rails or an MFT. you will not get the full value out of it.
Common Questions
- What does this clamp fit? Festool lists it as suitable for FS/2. FS/2-KP. FSK. and MFT systems.
- Is this a ratcheting clamp? Yes. It uses a ratcheting mechanism for quick locking and quick release.
- What is it mainly used for? It is made to secure workpieces for precision cutting. sanding. routing. and similar operations on Festool guide rails and MFT tables.
- Is the clamp made of steel? Yes. Festool describes it as a solid steel version.
