| Project by SteveMI | posted 27 days ago | 1199 views | 1 time favorited | 17 comments | ![]() |
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Like an earlier post
http://lumberjocks.com/projects/22802
I needed some hold downs for a new project and just could not rationalize the woodcraft price. So I went looking at the local big box store and found an answer. Bought a clamp for I believe under $2, drilled out the rivet, cut the tabs with tin snips, drilled several holes in the steel, trimmed the rubber and done.
The application I had needed to use #8 screws which drove the size. Obviously there are much larger clamps that could be modified just as easily. That is on my list for this weekend.
Not being a metal working guy, I put three holes in the arms for different adjustments.
Steve.



































17 comments so far
davidroberts
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242 posts in 380 days
posted 27 days ago
Brillant, like the sun. Lest I ever forget why I visit LJ at least once a day. I must have 20 of those clamps sitting around looking for a job.
-- david roberts, houston area, "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but that has never been a problem for me."
kolwdwrkr
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2249 posts in 485 days
posted 27 days ago
Very cool Idea and nice use of a clamp that hardly gets used.
-- ~ Inspiring those who inspire me ~
TraumaJacques
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382 posts in 395 days
posted 27 days ago
Man! that is going to be some pissed off clamps when i start drilling them but I paiid for them so why can I not put them to work? I too have a dozen of those gathering dust in the shop great idea!
-- All bleeding will eventually stop.
woodworm
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8243 posts in 485 days
posted 27 days ago
It’s a fun project, I supposed.
-- masrol, kuala lumpur, MY.
stefang
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1647 posts in 229 days
posted 27 days ago
Steve, this is a good idea, but if you want even cheaper clamps you might have a look at the toggle clamps I designed and made out of plywood scraps. You can find them with the plans in my projects on my home page. You can also see one on my workshop photos being used on my sanding jig.
-- Mike, American in Norway
Mike Gager
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224 posts in 162 days
posted 27 days ago
HD sells some of those clamps for $0.99 they have green rubber thingys
OregonBurls
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158 posts in 43 days
posted 27 days ago
ingenuity!
-- Greg, Southern Oregon, www.oregonburls.com
Kindlingmaker
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1470 posts in 421 days
posted 27 days ago
Great idea!
-- Never board, always knotty, lots of growth rings
SteveMI
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214 posts in 189 days
posted 27 days ago
Mike – I have some commercial toggle clamps, but this application had hardly any clearance above the work surface. Your shop made toggles have been in my favorites and I have a plan (in my head) to modify them for a glue up fixture using a couple additions, still shop made. Will post it for your review when done.
HokieMojo
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1142 posts in 622 days
posted 27 days ago
looks good, but why not just use wood scraps? is it because the rubber ends make a difference?
CharlieM1958
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7632 posts in 1113 days
posted 27 days ago
Consider this idea stolen!
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
SteveMI
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214 posts in 189 days
posted 27 days ago
hokiemojo – I needed very low profile above the board being held. If I made them out of wood, then they may have been too high using the scraps I had available. The rubber ends are a plus as they don’t leave any mark on the wood and help with keeping tension.
Actually, with the shop made and commercial it seems that putting a strip of rubber under one end of the hold down would be helpful to maintain the clamp load. In a normal clamp load (torque) you actually stretch the bolt which isn’t practical in wood work.
Steve.
HokieMojo
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1142 posts in 622 days
posted 27 days ago
cool. thanks for the response.
CessnaPilotBarry
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1268 posts in 597 days
posted 27 days ago
If cheap clamps aren’t handy, one could also use 1/8” steel or aluminum strip stock, with the tips wrapped in carver’s, handle bar, or hockey tape
-- - Please help keep Lumberjocks an enjoyable escape by refusing to participate in political discussions. Simply spit out the bait and ignore the thread...
Mike
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267 posts in 511 days
posted 26 days ago
I have aluminum stock and vinyl dip both go well together. Does the same and make it any length you want.
The aluminum stoch is 1/2” wide by 1/8” thick by 4 ft. And a can of vinyl dip is about 7 bucks and goes a long way.
-- Measure once cut twice....oh wait....ooops.
BTKS
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484 posts in 359 days
posted 26 days ago
Excellent idea, thanks.
Karson
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25801 posts in 1295 days
posted 26 days ago
I saw the ones at HD for 99 cents last night. They seem to be strong.
-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †