clamp question

[aurelio alarcon]

has anyone had any experience with this type of clamp? What was your experience like?

[Chris Knight]

has anyone had any experience with this type of clamp? What was your experience like?

They are nice lightweight clamps that are inexpensive and easy to use. However, don't plan on using them where high clamping forces are needed. Also watch out for glue squeeze out which may stick to the wood or cork
Chris

[Mark Mazzo]

Aurelio,

That type of clamp is often used in lutherie (the making of stringed instruments). They are useful in that field because they are lightweight, usually have a relatively long reach and can apply moderate pressure.

--Mark

[Mark Singer]

Very good for small parts...like gluing a "dutchman"

[Jim DeLaney]

has anyone had any experience with this type of clamp? What was your experience like?

Yeah. lots. They're a very handy light duty clamp.

But don't buy them. Make your own. Just use the picture you included with your post as a guideline. Use 4, 5 or 6/4 maple or other hardwood for the jaws; some #10 machine screws for the pins (roll pins would work even better) and some 3/4" or 1" wide strap iron from the Borg. If you've got enough small wood cut-offs in your scrap bin, you can probably build them for under a dollar each...

[aurelio alarcon]

Yeah. lots. They're a very handy light duty clamp.

But don't buy them. Make your own. Just use the picture you included with your post as a guideline. Use 4, 5 or 6/4 maple or other hardwood for the jaws; some #10 machine screws for the pins (roll pins would work even better) and some 3/4" or 1" wide strap iron from the Borg. If you've got enough small wood cut-offs in your scrap bin, you can probably build them for under a dollar each...
How does the bottem jaw lever work? Does it just slide between the bottem jaw body (cut just wide enough to have ough enresistence so that it doesn't loosen up or slip)?

[Mark Mazzo]

How does the bottem jaw lever work? Does it just slide between the bottem jaw body (cut just wide enough to have ough enresistence so that it doesn't loosen up or slip)?

Aurelio,

The end of the lever on the bottom jaw is essentially a circle that is drilled off-center for the dowel. When the lever is rotated about the dowel it produces a cam action that will create greater force on the flexible part of the bottom jaw as the rotation increases. The compression on the lever while in operations is enough to keep it from moving. Obviously, the clamping pressure available on a clamp such as this is limited to what you can exert by rotating that lever.

Hope this helps.

--Mark

[aurelio alarcon]

Aurelio,

The end of the lever on the bottom jaw is essentially a circle that is drilled off-center for the dowel. When the lever is rotated about the dowel it produces a cam action that will create greater force on the flexible part of the bottom jaw as the rotation increases. The compression on the lever while in operations is enough to keep it from moving. Obviously, the clamping pressure available on a clamp such as this is limited to what you can exert by rotating that lever.

Hope this helps.

--Mark
Thanks Mark. That does help.

[Jim DeLaney]

How does the bottem jaw lever work? Does it just slide between the bottem jaw body (cut just wide enough to have ough enresistence so that it doesn't loosen up or slip)?

It's a teardrop shaped 'cam' that pushes up the top, flexible, portion of the lower jaw.

[aurelio alarcon]

It's a teardrop shaped 'cam' that pushes up the top, flexible, portion of the lower jaw.
Thanks Jim. I might just try to make a few of these.

[John Wadsworth]

I have a few of these in different lengths and find them quite useful for light-pressure jobs where the bearing surfaces are parallel or close to it. They are being superseded these days by the Irwin-style pistol-grip type, but their very light weight makes them preferable in many situations.

[Mark Singer]

"You can"t have Too many clamps" If you need some I know a bad Chinese restaurant