clamp construction

[Gabriele Piccini]

Hi All,

Is there anyone who has ever built a sort af clamp?
My trouble it has always been the screw.
Could anyone help me?
Thanks.

[Mike Weaver]

Hi Piccini,

No, I haven't made any clamps yet. Some day...

For the screw though, there are a couple of ways to do it that come to mind.
At least in the US, we can get ACME thread rod and nuts in various diameters. The thread cross-section looks like a square/rectangle, rather than a triangle as in regular bolts and it a bit stronger.

With that said, there's no reason that you couldn't use a hefty "regular" bolt. The nut can be imbedded in the clamp arm, sort of like a bar clamp.

If you'd rather have a wood screw, Beal makes wood threading kits, or you could try talking to a local turner about chasing threads on his/her lathe.

Anyway - good luck, and I hope I haven't confused you further.

Cheers,
-Mike

[Tim Sproul]

Rope was often used before metal could be worked well enough to make matching screw and nut.

2 blocks of wood, roundover the edges pretty heavily and fluted to hold the rope in place. Use a stick to help twist the rope tightly.

[Mike Wenzloff]

Hi Piccini,

There are kits you can purchase for a few dollars that are the threaded rod, the cross bolt the rod goes through and the handles.

Here's just one source. I lost the bookmark for the business I have bought from years ago. I don't know about the quality of these kits. It's also possible Axminster or even local to you stock such a thing.
http://www.right-tool.com/steelwoodcla.html

Also, in the past I have found very used handscrew clamps that the wood was nearly gone and used their screws to build new ones.

Mike

[Gabriele Piccini]

Hi All,


Certainly rope could be an idea:) .

Many thanks guys.

[Jim Becker]

There are threading tools available so you can make your screws out of wood if you want to go that way. But using threaded rod with embedded nuts that can swivel will give you the most flexible clamp design. Acme threads are definitely nicer if you can source the rod and nuts where you are...very smooth.

[Bob Smalser]

Hi All,

Is there anyone who has ever built a sort af clamp?


Oh, once or twice I guess.

http://pic3.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/2594266/31795869.jpg

http://pic3.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/2594266/75121185.jpg

http://pic3.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/2594266/31795850.jpg

http://pic3.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/7297605/95103764.jpg

I use a Beall wood threader in a router...and allthread fabrications when more strength is required:

[Tom Hamilton]

The woodworking genie is smiling on you today. The Sept 05 issue of Am Woodworker arrived today with an article on building your own wooden clamps.

Perhaps it will give you something else consider.

Best regards, TJH

[Jerry Palmer]

I recently obtained some of the kits that Mike linked to. Not as good as the metal in the Jorgys but decent. I've built four of them in varying sizes.

Depending on what you are needing to clamp, there are a lot of old fashioned methods such as the rope mentioned along with using wedges and fixed mountings on a bench or other fixture.