Help, parallel clamps won't open

[dan sherman]

I was right in the middle of a glue up, and when I grabbed two cabinet masters of the rack, they wouldn't open.Thankfully I had enough extra clamps to finish the glue up.

Upon close examination, the issue appears to be that the they are all the way unscrewed, and up against the other face, and thus don't have enough space to disengage from the bar.


Anyone know how to fix this?:confused:

[Chuck Isaacson]

Just give the handle a good WHACK!!! Make sure that you WHACK it away from the bar. Not towards. I just had to do it to mine today. It will come right open.

[Jason Strauss]

Dan,

I've found that on my Cabinet Masters, sometimes screwing them into the 'open' position too tightly causes them the stick. Now, when not in use, I leave them 1/2 a turn in the other direction. Or as Chuck said, a well placed whack should do it.

[dan sherman]

Thanks for the help guys, I was able to get them open again late last night. I put a scrap of 2x4 on the floor and dropped the clamp outboard end first, from about 2 feet. It dislodged the head no problem.