True Parallel Clamps

[harry strasil]

I posted this on the tailed side and decided to post here too. Hope I don't get in trouble for double posting. But I thought some might be interested.

True parallel clamps are not hard to make. Just some scrap pieces of 1/2 thick oak with 2 holes in them.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/wood/parallelclamps002.jpg

Some ordinary pipe clamps, and walaa true parallel clamps that actualy give pressure in the center of the board and the pipes keep the bow out.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/wood/parallelclamps001.jpg


This is one of two purpose built parellel clamps I made for my mid 1800's demo shop.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/wood/clamp2.jpg

I did at one time see some jorgensen pipe clamps that were made like mine.

FWIW, I have been known to cut plastic pipe into different length and slide over my pipe clamps to keep them from marring or staining the wood, different lengths means I can always come up with somewhere close to what I need without cutting more pieces.

[Thomas Knighton]

Thanks for sharing this Harry. I might just have to make some of those, rather than buy them!

[Pedro Reyes]

Thanks for sharing Harry. I really like simple, affordable solutions. Keep'em coming.

/p

[Jim Becker]

Harry, this is a great idea. But please explain to me how you keep the jaws parallel since you are, in effect, adjusting two pipe clamps per unit. I'm just curious on the theory/physics here...

[harry strasil]

Jim, the way the clamps are positioned, they work just like they would if you were using them top and bottom in the normal way, there just is not metal to wood contact from the clamps and the force is distributed over the whole area between the holes of the wood parts, and the with the clamps secured together with the distrubution pieces theree is little chance that the two or more pieces will bow up or down in the middle. And if needed you can exert much more pressure than with just clamps alone and not damage the edges as the clamping pressure is distributed over a large area.

[Cliff Rohrabacher]

Nice job. That is more like the real Parallel clamps than just about anything else I've seen:
http://tinyurl.com/33zn6m


The jaws can be adjusted to be parallel.
They can be made from wood or metal.

Ya need both right hand and left hand threads and nuts to make 'em.

[harry strasil]

Well Cliff, if you want to go that way.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/wood/prllclmps.jpg