Clamps

[Larwyn]

It is true that there are never enough clamps. Here's a pic showing a variety of clamps in use as well as some "just hanging around", during the construction of my hatch.



And another;

[Dewi]

Thank you for all the great posts!

Taken my first step... just been out to the shop and bought...



They didn't have any sash or pipe clamps in there, so I'll have to order those online I think, but I've found an online retailer who does a type of pipe clamp... does this look good enough?



Long way to go... but day by day getting closer.

Cheers, Dewi

[S. Heisley]

Hi, Dewi:

You've hit a point of interest with me. With that in mind, I hope you don't mind my expanding your original thread in a way that might help you, me, and others:

Whenever the plethora of clamps has been discussed in the past year, I've counted them. Excluding the straps and pipe clamps, (I didn't count them.) the seemingly popular large groupings of clamps have been more than 43 and less than 50.

Clamp Purchase/Build Questions:
With that in mind, where's the least expensive place to purchase clamps and how much do they cost? Can you get a deal if you buy them in bulk? Where? Is it better to make them? Does someone have instructions for making them?

Here are some clamp ideas/thoughts to mull over:
If a person has finished their build and doesn't think they will need all those clamps anymore, perhaps they could sell their excess at a gathering?

A probably way-out-there idea would be to start a few borrowing stations, where people could donate their excess and new builders could borrow them, like borrowing a book at a library.

Or, clamp rental stations at various locations, where forum members rent clamps for a small donation that is used toward a camp gathering or given to the forum to help pay this website's expenses?

[Toytaco2]

Here's a couple of threads I remember about makiing your own clamps out of PVC pipe. Simple, easy and CHEAP. I intend to try this some time.

Look several posts down in the thread:
http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=26604&highlight=pvc+clamps

Here another:

http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=17973&highlight=pvc+clamps

[tk]

Re: pipe clamps. Here in the US there are two commonly available sizes of pipe clamps. Ones made for .5" ID pipe and ones made for .75" ID pipe. I highly recommend the .75" since the .5" pipe flexes too much when exerting heavy pressure.

Also, there are two types of locking mechanism: One (as pictured above) has multiple leaves that lock against the pipe. The other has a single lever mounted in line with the pipe. I much prefer the former as the latter is sometimes difficult to disengage and reposition after pressure has been released.

Best,
Tom

[Dewi]

We went to a carboot today and as well as an air-powered nailgun, a full set of golf clubs (for a fiver!!!!) and some toys for the kids, my wife found me some more clamps... I have a cupboard full of the things now.

So far got about 30 spring clamps and the two I got today are F clamps... still have to get some of those pipe clamps yet but I did find some rachet straps the other day, cheap as chips so I got two... figured they will come in useful for skinning the roof.

Cheers, Dewi

[bfitz]

I've used the PVC clamps mentioned by Toytaco. They are definitely easy to make, and very cheap! You won't get a ton of force out of one, but a bunch of them would be perfect for holding sheet material to, say, trim. I'd just be sure to have some "real" clamps as well!

If you go with them, experiment with varying the width of the cut...a wider section will give more force. Also, use an old saw blade...PVC will wreck whatever blade you use.

[mallymal]

Hey Dewi,
If you're still looking for clamps, keep your eyes open in ALDI... I bagged a set of 4 large & 4 small ONE HANDED clamps, for about £6. Dead useful being one handed. Just realised that makes it sound like I'm one handed, which I'm not!

They're similar to these:

http://www.abbeypowertools.co.uk/buildi ... -6575.aspx

As you're relatively close to me, I'm keen to ask how the build's going... afraid I'm only at the lurking/planning/clearing s**t out of the garage stage!

[Dewi]

I'm only at the lurking/planning/clearing s**t out of the garage stage!

You wouldn't believe how close that is to where I'm up to... I have the donor vehicle and a shed load of tools, but today has been spent in the garage trying to figure out what to keep and what to chuck... there's just too many useful things in there!

I've started stripping the donor... slowly. But until the garage is clear, I can't start producing sawdust and cut fingers. I can keep gathering materials and tools though... and you're that close you can come over once the build has started if you like... kettle is nearly always and you can laugh at how many times I can injure myself in one day. I managed a shin and my neck today

Thank you though... will definately be going to an Aldi this week... thats a bargain! If you want some good spring clamps, 4 for a quid at the pound shop in Warrington (and in Birchwood)... also there is a brilliant car boot in Warrington, opposite the B&Q warehouse.

Cheers, Dewi

[Mauleskinner]

Jumping in a little late here, but I make a lot of my own clamps...mostly "cam clamps".

On the left is one that I bought, and the two on the right are homemade:



They're made from 1/4" thick maple pieces, laminated together for the heads with room for the arm to go through. I use 1/4" dowels for the cam pivot, as well as to hold the upper part of the head in place on the arm. I sawed (and stop-drilled) a kerf to allow the lower pad to flex, but I've also seen them screwed on as a separate piece.

The arm is 1 1/4" wide, and allows pretty good clamping pressure up to about 18"...above that, it starts to flex sideways and twist. I'm thinking of making some longer ones using 1/2 or 3/4" thick material for the arms...it'll make the heads pretty wide, but will probably allow me to clamp on a 3 or 4 foot span.

Here's a closeup of one of the heads, with a repair that I made after trying to pound too large a dowel into too small a hole...



David

[Dewi]

They are really cool... how does the cam clamp work then?

Was wondering... you know the flex at over 18"... could you not use a broom handle for the arm?

Cheers, Dewi

[Mauleskinner]

They are really cool... how does the cam clamp work then?

The lever on the front is a cam...the pivot hole is drilled off-center. When it's pointed back towards the arm (like the two on the left in the first pic) there's no pressure on the jaw. Put the clamp on your workpiece, and slide the lower part of the head up the arm until both the upper and lower parts of the head are snug on your workpiece. Then move the lever away from the arm, like the third clamp in that picture, and it forces the lower jaw pad up towards the upper jaw.

Probably not the best explanation, but here's a plan for making them that might help. http://ye-olde-cabinet-shoppe.com/cam_clamps.pdf

Was wondering... you know the flex at over 18"... could you not use a broom handle for the arm?

Cheers, Dewi

Possibly, but another problem is the arm bowing from the force of the jaws...there'd be more resistance to that with rectangular stock than round stock.

David

[kennyrayandersen]

Jumping in a little late here, but I make a lot of my own clamps...mostly "cam clamps".

On the left is one that I bought, and the two on the right are homemade:


They're made from 1/4" thick maple pieces, laminated together for the heads with room for the arm to go through. I use 1/4" dowels for the cam pivot, as well as to hold the upper part of the head in place on the arm. I sawed (and stop-drilled) a kerf to allow the lower pad to flex, but I've also seen them screwed on as a separate piece.

The arm is 1 1/4" wide, and allows pretty good clamping pressure up to about 18"...above that, it starts to flex sideways and twist. I'm thinking of making some longer ones using 1/2 or 3/4" thick material for the arms...it'll make the heads pretty wide, but will probably allow me to clamp on a 3 or 4 foot span.

Here's a closeup of one of the heads, with a repair that I made after trying to pound too large a dowel into too small a hole...



David

Did you get plans or drawings for those anywhere -- pretty cool clamp?

I confess though I buy a lot of higher quality tools, I do buy a lot of my clamps at Habor Freight (Chinese). There ain't that much to them and it crazy what gets ask for them sometimes.


OOPS! I should have read a little slower... I'll check the PDF

[Dewi]

Ahhh... the PDF shows the bit that you can't see with the piccies... thank you! That gives me a project inbetween clearing space for the TD. I love hand made tools... bought an old battered wooden mallet at a car boot last week and a marking tool... both hand made.

Might sound like a bit of strange question... but what made you decide to make your own clamps?

Cheers, Dewi

[Mauleskinner]

Might sound like a bit of strange question... but what made you decide to make your own clamps?

Cheers, Dewi

1. I'm cheap Seriously, as has been said, you can never have too many clamps, and at 15-20 dollars each for storebought vs about a dollar for the homemade ones, it's good economy.

2. I enjoy making my own tools. A few others that I've made...







Careful...it's addicting!