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Just thought i'd bring some attention to the cam clamp for people wanting to build them for themselves.
If you just need a couple of clamps i'd say buy 'em, but if your in need of a lot of clamps and have some scrap hardwood you could make them fairly quickly. it's always the first one that's time consuming.
here is a picture of my 'prototype', as you might notice i don't bother with making my tools 'easy on the eye' as long as they do their job i'm happy.


I made about 20 of these, once i had the 1st one figured out i secured a vise and some end stops to my drill press and had everything drilled out in an evening.

Here is a link to plans for a cam clamp for those who'd be interested.

Frank

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Frank

Hey Frenk777
Thanks for that link...I'm gonna build me some of them there clamps.
I like the idea of building your own tools... cool
big John Sullivan

Howdy Frank,
That sure is a nice cam clamp. I got in the clamp making mode a couple months ago and saved a lot of cash making my own since they sell for anywhere from 15.00 - 20.00 USD.
Someone once said on here that they were a guitar maker, not a tool maker and I agree. But sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

Here's a pic of the first clamp I made and did mine like you did. Got the first one made which took the longest, then made the rest lickity split!

I used 3/4" X 1 1/2" maple, 1/8" roll pins, and 1/8" X 3/4" aluminum bar from Menards and went to town. Put some cork padding on the cauls.

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"After forty-nine years of violin building, I have decided that the search for a varnish is similar to the fox hunt. The fun is in the hunt."
Jack Batts Maker and Repairer of Fine Violins

i just used what i had in my shop, a bit oversized on the bar maybe 8*40mm steel(just what i had) and round nails 3,4mm for the guide pins. i have a some scraps of leather so i used that instead of the cork, the clamps are oak.

I wouldn't call myself a guitarmaker, not yet anyways, so i guess it's okay for me to make tools and jigs and whatnot.

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Frank