Michael Ray Smith
07-17-2015, 4:37 PM
I had to clamp a strip to the edge of a wide panel the other night, and I didn't have a clamp long enough to span the panel. To substitute for a clamp, I used a technique I've used before, something adapted from my other hobby of backpacking. It's not a big deal, but it's convenient sometimes, and as I was working on it, it occurred to me that somebody else might want to use it. I'm sure others have used this same technique, and I apologize if I'm pointing out something obvious. It has its limitations and doesn't work in every situation, and there are probably dozens of other techniques that work as well or better, but I've found this handy every now and then. Take it for what it's worth, and ignore it if you don't see any use for it.
I use a length of 550 cord (550 lb test parachute cord) and a version of a trucker's hitch (although when I Googled for it, I found that there are other knots that go by the same name; maybe there's a different name for this one) to hold the two glued pieces together. You can buy 550 cord lots of places, including Amazon, but make sure you're getting 550-lb test line and not something that looks similar but is much weaker. It comes in several colors -- I buy orange cord so I can see it lying on the ground when I use it in the woods.
First, tie a fixed loop in one end of the cord. This is a bowline, but any good fixed loop will work. Wrap the cord around the pieces to be clamped (I took these pictures just for the demo, so there's only a panel here -- I'm not actually gluing anything to it), and tie a slip knot in the cord like this:
317557
Make sure the working end is on the "slippery side" of the slip knot. You can also use some other sort of loop, like an alpine butterfly, but they can be difficult to untie after you stress the line they way you're going to.
Pass the working end through the bowline. .
317559
and then through the slip knot...
317558
then back through the bowline again -- in the same direction as the first pass.
317560
Then pull it tight.
317561
As it tightens up, the second pass through the bowline should slip underneath the first pass (it usually does it all by itself, but help it along if necessary), which keeps the whole thing from loosening after it's pulled tight. You don't need to tie off the working end.
317562
To release it, pull the working end in the other direction so the second pass through the bowline lifts from under the first pass, and the whole thing will loosen.
317563
I use a length of 550 cord (550 lb test parachute cord) and a version of a trucker's hitch (although when I Googled for it, I found that there are other knots that go by the same name; maybe there's a different name for this one) to hold the two glued pieces together. You can buy 550 cord lots of places, including Amazon, but make sure you're getting 550-lb test line and not something that looks similar but is much weaker. It comes in several colors -- I buy orange cord so I can see it lying on the ground when I use it in the woods.
First, tie a fixed loop in one end of the cord. This is a bowline, but any good fixed loop will work. Wrap the cord around the pieces to be clamped (I took these pictures just for the demo, so there's only a panel here -- I'm not actually gluing anything to it), and tie a slip knot in the cord like this:
317557
Make sure the working end is on the "slippery side" of the slip knot. You can also use some other sort of loop, like an alpine butterfly, but they can be difficult to untie after you stress the line they way you're going to.
Pass the working end through the bowline. .
317559
and then through the slip knot...
317558
then back through the bowline again -- in the same direction as the first pass.
317560
Then pull it tight.
317561
As it tightens up, the second pass through the bowline should slip underneath the first pass (it usually does it all by itself, but help it along if necessary), which keeps the whole thing from loosening after it's pulled tight. You don't need to tie off the working end.
317562
To release it, pull the working end in the other direction so the second pass through the bowline lifts from under the first pass, and the whole thing will loosen.
317563