Have you ever wanted to clamp in two directions on a multi-piece project on your workbench? How did you do it?
That was the problem I had for over 25 years of woodworking. I searched the catalogs—no clamp existed that would do that. If you used pipe-clamps, the second direction was impossible as you couldn’t cross them. And there was no control over small parts.
Than I thought of the solution! It’s simple! Just SURROUND the objects you want to clamp!
So I designed a clamp that will do that. It works like a wooden band-clamp with pipe-clamp power!
I have tried it on a complicated segmented platter and it worked just fine. (See picture) You have control of where the pieces go at all times. And when you want to glue them, you can adjust the two sides in eight places and get the workpieces to fit exact with no struggle.
This is especially important when you are trying to clamp angular pieces or uneven material.
At any rate, this thing really works and saves a lot of grief.
-- Dick, Novato
5 comments so far
patron
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12071 posts in 1512 days
#1 posted 874 days ago
simple and straight forward
i usually just hammer wedges
against stops
but this is re-usable
thanks
great for boxes and bread boards martyn (britboxmaker) did something similar
but i cant find it
his had higher sides
for squaring and clamping boxes
can be done for angles too
-- david - only thru kindness can this world be whole . If we don't succeed we run the risk of failure. Dan Quayle
Gregn
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1643 posts in 1155 days
#2 posted 874 days ago
Very handy and simple to make. In some cases better than band clamps. Funny how some of the simple ideas can be the best ideas.
-- I don't make mistakes, I have great learning lessons, Greg
Greg The Cajun Box Sculptor
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#3 posted 874 days ago
That is a great idea and similar to a surround clamp/downdraft table I built a while back. The panels with holes for the dust collection can be removed and solid panels put in their place. The clamping on all four sides can be adjusted from perfectly square to any angle in between. It has come in handy for glue up on projects, holding projects for sculpting, carving & Sanding. The table top adjusts from flat to 45 degrees and the table height is also adjustable.
-- Every step of any project should be considered your masterpiece if you want the finished product to reflect the quality of your work. http://www.FineArtBoxes.com
Eagle1
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2044 posts in 1236 days
#4 posted 874 days ago
Wow a couple of great looking and useful homemade jigs. Great thinking there..
-- Tim, Missouri ....Inside every older person is a younger person wondering what the heck happened
Don
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504 posts in 1244 days
#5 posted 873 days ago
I mostly just use bar clamps with a deep throat that can easily be crossed over each other.
For small things like boxes and frames I can see where this jig would be quite usefull though.
-- Don - I wood work if I could. Redmond WA.
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