Clamps and other things

Dale, I can empathize with you as can, I am sure, most of the LJs on board here. It goes without saying that there are four things that we, as woodworkers, all need more of- space, tools, clamps and, of course, time. :)

-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.

Don´t worry…I own 432 clamps: C clamps, bar clamps, pipe clamps, band clamps, corner clamps, veneer clamps, sash clamps…but never enough. For a project, 70% of them are too big. For other, 70% are too small, and so on…
If a had a metal lathe (and the knowledge to use it), I will make my own clamps. In conclusion, for now… BUY!! Never regrets.

-- Tempus fugit...better work wood!!!

Speaking of clamps…...for years all I had to use were the good old pipe clamps. To be exact, the cheap ones from Sears that use 1/2” pipe. Recently I bought a set of four of the Woodcraft knock-off Bessey style clamps. As far as I’m concerned, you can have them. There must be some trick to keeping yourself from blowing your brains out when using them. I am constantly struggling to get the head in the right position to bite on the bar. Pipe clamps = low tech = me.

-- Don, Pittsburgh

I need more too, but I got 4 sets of the Rockler 3/4 in Blue clamps and LOVE them. If you keep an eye out, they run them on special for $9.99 quite often. Next time they have them on special I plan on buying more.

-- Adrian ..... The 11th Commandment...."Thou Shalt Not Buy A Wobble Dado"

Okay, I quit procrastinating and just went to Lowes and spent over 400 dollars, mostly on clamps. I’m still in shock at how expensive they are but I just couldn’t do without them anymore. I will still come up short again the next time I need some really long clamps because I only have one pipe clamp and one pipe but I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it. Right now, I just needed some more that were at least 30 inches long. Thanks Adrian, I’ll keep an eye out for the next deal at Rocker. I bought a few other things based off of some things that were posted on LJs such as a full face shield (I don’t want a log to the face courtesy of my bandsaw), some more glue (mine is at least three years old), and a spiral router bit. I’m learning a lot from everyone on here, thanks.

-- Dale Manning, Carthage, NY

I have a few cheap bar clamps and pipe clamps. I have got all the tools I will hopefully need for now and am saving up to buy some bessy clamps if can keep from getting sick from the sticker shock.

-- Pyromedic602, free wood is always good wood

I gave my son clamps for Christmas and his birthday several times. He told me he has enough clamps, but I really doubt it :-))

-- Debt is nothing more than the 21st Century's form of slavery.

Remember what Norm always says: “A Man can never have enough clamps.” I buy some every time I see some on sale…...............LOL

-- Jerry--A man can never have enough tools or clamps

I built a two story rat cage for the young sons rats and declined to finish the wood which I now regret as they urinate on the plywwod and wood and it stinks

-- http://www.furnituremann.ca/

Well if you bought clamps at Lowe’s and bought pipe you can always add a metal coupler and make the pipe longer. If you bought a long pipe and had it cut make sure you have the cut end re-threaded.

-- //FC - Round Rock, TX - "Experience is what you get just after you need it"

AS expensive as clamps are, I’m surprised someone hasn’t designed a good build your own model. Something along the lines of a pipe with a couple of blocks with round hole that just fit. Any pressure would hold the blocks in place like a hold fast. A wedge could apply pressure.

-- Debt is nothing more than the 21st Century's form of slavery.

Once a year for the last 2 years Lee Valley has a deal on alluminum bar clamps. Last year I got 2 sets of 10 clamps, 36” and 48”. When I run low of parallel clamps, I bring these out of storage, replacing the parallel clamps on the first piece clamped, and so one. The parallel clamps essentially square up, and set a project, then these Lee Valley clamps are use to keep that setup until the glue dries. So far this has worked.

I think it worked out to about $6 – $8 per clamp. Get on the Lee Valley mailing list.

-- Regards, Rob

Thanks Rob, I’ll keep a lookout for the sales. I bought 6 clamps yesterday from 12” up through 50” plus a strap system for clamping frames and odd shaped things. I did buy one bar clamp and thought it would fit on an old pipe I had in my basement but I bought the wrong size. Of course I won’t return it. I’ll buy a smaller clamp to fit the pipe and a larger pipe to fit the clamp I bought. That’s one way to sneak an extra clamp purchase past my wife since I can justify it by pointing out that I had two useless things and now will have two good clamps. Roman, I would like to seal the wood somehow, but I asked my wife about it again after I read your comment and she said her friend didn’t want any finish on it. At least I won’t be the one living with the smell.

-- Dale Manning, Carthage, NY

i think i have around 400 3/4 in pony pipe clamps i still run out isnt that sad

-- I buy tools so i can make more money,so ican buy more tools so I can work more, to make more money, so I can buy more tool, so I can work more