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Vacuum clamps?
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Author:  vindennl48 [ Wed Apr 02, 2008 4:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Vacuum clamps?
I was thinking for routing bodies if it would be easier to clamp down the wood with vacuum clamps? or maybe there's an easier way than regular clamps?

What i've been doing is clamping the wood to a bench and i have to keep moving the clamps around when they get in the way.. a big pain. So i was looking on ebay for vacuum clamps and found a set of 4 pucks for 25$.. sounds kind of cheap but the guy has awesome feedback and raving reviews so i might give it a shot...

before i jump off that ledge, are there any other brands that are recommended for this kind of use? preferably on the inexpensive side.


-mitch
Author:  Dave Fifield [ Wed Apr 02, 2008 5:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vacuum clamps?
Yo Mitch,

You can make your own vacuum clamps with a piece of wood, some foam-rubber door insulation strip and a cheap plastic pipe fitting (assuming you already have a vacuum pump and pipe...). You just have to drill a couple of holes and tap in the pipe fitting, stick the foam-rubber strip seal on both sides of the wood and you're in business. Cost is way less than the $6.25 you see on the 'bay!

I use them all the time for holding stuff down to my table saw for routing. I make mine from plastic/acrylic (cheap offcuts from my local plastic store). For example, here are some photos of a couple I made - a large round one for clock making, and a smaller rectangular one for general work:

Image

Image

HTH,
Dave F.
Author:  Guest [ Wed Apr 02, 2008 6:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vacuum clamps?
Thanks Dave. I actually was just thinking about making them myself but i wasn't sure if there were specifics involved with building them. I have an old pump lying around that will hopefully do the job.
Author:  vindennl48 [ Wed Apr 02, 2008 6:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vacuum clamps?
Guest wrote:
Thanks Dave. I actually was just thinking about making them myself but i wasn't sure if there were specifics involved with building them. I have an old pump lying around that will hopefully do the job.


oopse forgot to log in.. [headinwall]
Author:  Bob Garrish [ Wed Apr 02, 2008 6:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vacuum clamps?
Yeah, what he said. If you're just holding the work down, then you can make a vacuum clamp out of just about anything nonporous. If you want the work held flat or parallel to something, then it gets really technical all of a sudden.
Author:  Darren W [ Wed Apr 02, 2008 7:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vacuum clamps?
Mitch,

If you're looking for one to buy, this is a nice deal. I picked mine up in person since it's just around the corner from my house. The guy said he had an order for like 20 or so all in one week after someone posted about it on the OLF. [:Y:] He had them made thinking he'd compete with LMII, but now he's selling them at a loss (at least according to him)... http://www.vac-u-clamp.com/specials/index.htm
Works well enough and is nicely constructed.

Darren
Author:  Dave Fifield [ Wed Apr 02, 2008 8:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vacuum clamps?
I think I'll grab one of those vac-u-clamp stands. Thanks for the link Darren!

Cheers,
Dave F.
Author:  Dave Fifield [ Wed Apr 02, 2008 8:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vacuum clamps?
Bob is being bashful Mitch - he runs a CNC shop and makes THE MOST AMAZING QUALITY stuff, including some very affordable vacuum clamping fixtures for doing bracing and (I think) bridge glue ups. Right Bob? ;)

Cheers,
Dave F.

P.S. Bob - I still owe you an email about my bridge needs - I think I actually want something a bit different than the pyramid design, and I want to talk to you about headstock routing etc. too.... [:Y:]
Author:  Terry Stowell [ Wed Apr 02, 2008 10:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vacuum clamps?
[quote="Darren W"]Mitch,

Darren,

That is great deal, just seems a little short. If it was mounted close to the edge of the bench, would it tilt down a full 90 degrees? Does it accomodate a 15' radius well? Can it accomodate ratchet jig handle? What size is the hole?

Maybe you could give us a review, or PM me. I'm ready to buy one if it works well...
Author:  Dave Fifield [ Wed Apr 02, 2008 11:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vacuum clamps?
Terry - I tried to buy one - their shopping cart doesn't work. I'm going to call them tomorrow to find out what's going on....

Dave F.
Author:  Mattia Valente [ Thu Apr 03, 2008 3:29 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Vacuum clamps?
Terry Stowell wrote:
Darren W wrote:
Mitch,

Darren,

That is great deal, just seems a little short. If it was mounted close to the edge of the bench, would it tilt down a full 90 degrees? Does it accomodate a 15' radius well? Can it accomodate ratchet jig handle? What size is the hole?

Maybe you could give us a review, or PM me. I'm ready to buy one if it works well...


I've got a pair, and also bought the cheapie bolt-on-to-the-compressor venturi pump thing (don't have a vacuum pump here, haven't been able to locate any, and they're a bit heavy to ship over), and they work very well. Excellent fit and finish, do need a little lubrication (they're assembled dry). The head doesn't tilt down to a full 90 degrees, more like 85 or so. The head only tilts one direction (away from the fitting), locking at 90 degrees in the other, and rotates a full 360 degrees. I just went out and stuck my 15' radius body to the clamp again to double-check, and confirmed that it works a charm. It holds on quite nicely to the carved back on my electric guitar as well.

The relatively low height's an advantage for me, as one of the two is going to be used to hold instruments for my fleishman/williams binding jig. The angulation (0 and about 85 degrees) combined with the rotation means I should be able to (with a bit of careful rotation and measuring) even hold wedge bodied guitars at the appropriate angle without the need for mounting it on a hinged platform.

The other clamp's likely going to stay in the box for now (easy enough to dismount), but will be used for electric guitar work on the workmate. Raises the work up a little, and lets me hold things at more or less any angle I want to hold them.

Basically, as soon as my invoices come in, my last bit of tax gets paid, and my credit card stops smoking, I think I'll go order a couple more of the nice cheap things on the specials page. Vacuum clamping is already my favourite kind for basic workholding.

Not sure what you mean by 'ratchet jig', so I can't answer that question. As for hole, which one do you mean?

As for ordering, I just made a phone call, worked a charm.
Author:  Terry Stowell [ Thu Apr 03, 2008 7:40 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Vacuum clamps?
Thanks Mattia,

That's what I was looking for. I think I'd prefer the LMI version if I could build/buy one at a good price. But at less than $60, it seems a great value if it doesn't have debilitating limitations
Author:  Michael Dale Payne [ Thu Apr 03, 2008 9:05 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Vacuum clamps?
I use V-clamp vacuum system for holding the body to rout binding channels and various other tasks. The vacuum venture is built into the base so you don't need a vacuum pump. I paid $89 for 2 bases valve and fittings. I use the heck out of these things

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Author:  Terry Stowell [ Thu Apr 03, 2008 9:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vacuum clamps?
More info Michael! Does it vac on both sides? How big is it? Where did you buy it? How much? What colors does it come in? :shock:
Author:  Terry Stowell [ Thu Apr 03, 2008 10:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vacuum clamps?
oops didn't read the price :oops:

Here's their link as well: http://www.vac-clamp.com/default.htm

Thanks Michael!
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