Me make clamps

the Padma · **Posted:** Wed Apr 06, 2011 7:46 pm

See...clamps

Fifteen....another fifteen to go, but not today.

blessings
duh

Padma

John A · **Posted:** Thu Apr 07, 2011 7:36 pm

I am afraid to ask - what for ?

the Padma · **Posted:** Thu Apr 07, 2011 10:38 pm

John A wrote:

I am afraid to ask - what for ?

Gee John,

Don't be afraid...me glad you did ask...you see, me grow them little pear shaped Italian
tomatoes which make A1 first class sauce for me anchovy and onion Pizzas and so me use the clamps to squash the tomatoes to make the sauce.

Now John, arn't you glad you asked.

pizza

blessings

Padma

cphanna · **Posted:** Fri Apr 08, 2011 12:03 pm

Hey, Padma,
I don't see any pivot inserts in the jaws of your home-made hand screws. How do you manage to adjust the jaws so far out-of-parallel without pivots for the screws?

the Padma · **Posted:** Fri Apr 08, 2011 3:41 pm

cphanna wrote:

Hey, Padma,
I don't see any pivot inserts in the jaws of your home-made hand screws. How do you manage to adjust the jaws so far out-of-parallel without pivots for the screws?

Your right,

there aren't any and the trick is to not let the jaws get too far out of parallel.

You start with the clamping jaw slightly wider than what your gonna clamp, then close it down and open up the back screw which acts as a lever on the jaws. Just a turn or two will create tremendous clamping pressure.

I think it was Jorgensen that came up with the new fangeld modern pivot insert you are referring to as a modification of this much older and simpler design thats been around for at least a millennium or so.

These clamps cost me a total of $50 to make compared to $15 each for the smallest 4" Jorgensen and they work just as good. Thats like way over $500 with sales taxes and shipping. Now with taxes in Canada running at 70%, me would have to earn $1,600 to own 30 Jorgensen camps. NOT!

Next me gonna be making about 30 small cam clamps, but not today.

Blessing
duh

Padma

cphanna · **Posted:** Fri Apr 08, 2011 5:12 pm

Yo again, Padma,
I understand what you're saying about the "trick." Couple more questions, please. Did you also make a home-made thread box and tap to make these wooden screws? And if so, would you put up a picture of those tools at your convenience? I know I can find plans and photos in lots of places on the web. I'm just curious to know how The Padma goes about these things.
Thanks. And whatever you're doing, press on.
Blessings,
Patrick

the Padma · **Posted:** Fri Apr 08, 2011 5:38 pm

The die and tap come outa the Orient some wears and is commonly available from the big box and on line tool type stores for around $45 and up. I borrowed one from buddie. The thread sizes commonly available are
1/2; 3/4; 1; 1 1/4; and 1 1/2.

The 2 larger sizes are somewhat harder to find but make good vises.

I have made successful vices from 1/2 inch threaded dowel and is excellent for this type of clamp.

Don't bother buying dowelling from the box stores...they say its hard maple and thats a crock of doo doo droppings. The harder the wood with a cross grain the better. Go here, read what Steve Stevens had to say about threading dowel.

http://www.luthiercom.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=2579&p=43116#p43116

And here is the link to the plans that I used. Like, is a real no brainer.

http://lumberjocks.com/projects/9830

blessings
duh

Padma

cphanna · **Posted:** Fri Apr 08, 2011 5:49 pm

Thanks, my friend. I will now do some reading.

the Padma · **Posted:** Sat Apr 09, 2011 1:28 am

screw box, showing the alignment guide

The screw box, showing the cutter and the bolts for adjusting it

hand made in Rwanda

Here is a link to a more spiffed up design of parallel jaw clamp. But it definably needs a lathe. Well guess a wood butcher could figure out how to get around that. Wish me had seen this design before I made the ones I did. But me still happy.

Bobc · **Posted:** Sat Apr 09, 2011 6:43 am

the Padma wrote:

screw box, showing the alignment guide

The screw box, showing the cutter and the bolts for adjusting it

hand made in Rwanda

Here is a link to a more spiffed up design of parallel jaw clamp. But it definably needs a lathe. Well guess a wood butcher could figure out how to get around that. Wish me had seen this design before I made the ones I did. But me still happy.

Padma that looks older 'n you. laughing6-hehe

the Padma · **Posted:** Sat Apr 09, 2011 11:13 am

Bobc wrote:

Padma that looks older 'n you. laughing6-hehe

Yo, Bob,

They do, I'd guess they be closer to your age old feller, maybe even older.

Truth is, me really happy to come across this pic, See any machines can knock out a tap
but a good rod threader is trickier to make than most think ~ and just like us old "good" old guys, are getting harder to find.

blessings

Bobc · **Posted:** Sat Apr 09, 2011 11:26 am

the Padma wrote:

Bobc wrote:

Padma that looks older 'n you. laughing6-hehe

Yo, Bob,

They do, I'd guess they be closer to your age old feller, maybe even older.

Truth is, me really happy to come across this pic, See any machines can knock out a tap
but a good rod threader is trickier to make than most think ~ and just like us old "good" old guys, are getting harder to find.

blessings

Yep your right about that. I remember clamps like that when I was in high school shop. Worked just fine.

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