Thread: Advice on pipe clamps

I can't comment on the ones you have linked too, but I have pipe clamps varying from 1m to 2.5m which always get used on bigger projects. I got mine off eBay, they are old and a couple do slip a little, but are always good enough to bring the joint together.

I have several sets of these clamps - I use them for long stuff because the pipe can be bought in long lengths.

Mine are the Rockler ones but I got them on sale from somewhere other than Carbatec, can't remember where.

I bought 2 lengths of 6m long galv pipe and cut one length into 2 x 3 m lengths, and the other into 2 x 1 m lengths and 2 x 2 m lengths, that way I have access to 3 different pair lengths of clamp.
I have my own 3/4" threading gear so I was able to cut my own threads.

The most common lengths I have used are the 2 and 3m lengths. They are really useful for clamping/stretching the diagonals on large frames so that they are square.

There are a range of different types of galv finishes and some are smoother than others.
I didn't care what the finish was but the ones I got were quite smooth anyway.
You can always polish up the galv to get a silvery dull sheen surface that looks quite attractive but I haven't bothered because the clamp will dent/mark the polish anyway.
Too high a polish may also affect the grip of the pipe clamp onto the pipe.

If you want to get fancy you could always use SS pipe which usually has a smooth grey finish. It could be polish it to a very high polish although same problem as before.

Hi Evan,
I predominently use 1/2" pipe clamps for anything wider/longer than about 500mm and upto 3+m, I also have some 3/4" but not much in the way of 3/4" pipe, the good thing about 1/2" is it is a lot lighter and will be plenty strong enough for most cramping work, it will flex a bit more than 3/4" when you put a big squeeze on.
Plumbing supply/Bunnies will have standard length "risers" in both sizes, which will be threaded both ends and from about 100mm to (I'm guessing here) 1.2m not sure how long long lengths are. With some sockets/joiners it is possible to make up longer lengths. For one piece longer lengths do as Bob did and get full lengths cut and threaded to suit, most plumbers/engineering/air workshop places will be able to thread it, for cheap/free see if any local plumbers are pulling out any galv water pipe (most likely will be 1/2") or let them know you want some.


Pete

Just to add, I had a look at all the ones you linked to, I have one of that type with the spring loaded leaves, nice and quick to adjust but will slip on a stainless steel pipe, I'll throw it one day I'd say it would be better on a galv or black (uncoated) pipe but it's not the first clamp I grab, the moveable foot on all my others are a serrated pawl type that digs into the pipe the more sqeeze you put on.

Here's what my galv pipe looks like.
It's a leftover piece of 1/2" as used in my retic compressed air system but my clamps use 3/4" and it has the same finish


FWIW I applied the Scotchbrite grinder wheel to one half of the for about 30s, and then half of that copped a coarse stitched buffing wheel for 30s.

Of course it won's stay like that for long as it will oxidise back to a dull gray but you have to admit it's fairly smooth.

I also scored some light weight 3/4" from a skip a work and it had the same finish.

Ripper. I like that look.

The air-line idea is a good one. Thanks BobL for the polishing demo. It looks good.

I love to have my gear look spick and span. When you don't have a lot of bux, you need the gear clean and maintained. Keeping it looking good is a visual reminder of the pride of the end product.

On Monday, I'll give a few shops a call to see about that pipe. Many thanks all.

Hey Evan,

I have besseys, and I like them, the quality of the thread is great and it works smoothly - something that I value in clamps. It seems that generic clamps from carbatec do not have 'feet', so they are not as convenient in some cases, when you want to place the clamp on a flat surface and then put whatever you are clamping on top of them.

I got 2x 6m length of pipe from Reece plumbing in Mitchell. At that time they told me that they do not have much stock, since they do not use it (much) anymore, and people are mostly buying it for clamps

I do not worry too much about finish, the sliding mechanism dents the pipe quite a bit.

I am sure that this subject has been covered before so a search will probably give you more info.

Originally Posted by Ilya

. . . .It seems that generic clamps from carbatec do not have 'feet', so they are not as convenient in some cases, when you want to place the clamp on a flat surface and then put whatever you are clamping on top of them.

I agree, you definitely need those with the feet

I got 2x 6m length of pipe from Reece plumbing in Mitchell. At that time they told me that they do not have much stock, since they do not use it (much) anymore, and people are mostly buying it for clamps

The mob I got mine from (VFS) in Perth are Valve and pipe suppliers to the mining industry so they have a big yard full of pipe. They will also cut and thread the pipe

I do not worry too much about finish, the sliding mechanism dents the pipe quite a bit.

Yep it sure does

G'day, i use pipe clamps at work and at home all the time. I am a cabinet maker they are great. I prefer them rather than using a sash/bar clamp due to the ease of clamping and getting the non handle end into place quickly and without fuss. At work we have old ones and the new spring irwin ones. I have only the irwin ones at home. I like the fact i can remove the clamps from the pipe and store them easily. I have never had a problem with them. We use them on pipe upto 3m long on ocassion we put 2 clamps together when we have something really long to clamp. They work great, you just need a 30mm packer under the pipe in a few spots to keep the job nice and flat. I have also considered machining a hole all the way through the handle end on a few of my clamps so you can slide it down the pipe and use it as a spreader. I bought all my 3/4 galv pipe from the plumbing shop like reece. All of about $30/6m
Hope that gives some help

A basic law of physics is that the longer the clamping distance under pressure, the easier that the pipe will bend making the faces of the clamps non-parallel.

Half inch pipe bends rather easily and anything much more than 1M is about useless.

Three quarter inch pipe is good up to about 2M.

I have three different brands of clamps, Bessey, Pony and something. All three are very good. The offer of the $20 including shipping seems too good to be true. They look like the Bessey that I purchased from Lowe's (US equivalent of Bunnings).

Hi all,

Thanks for the info, it's worked well.

I took the sample clamp to Fyshwick Metal Mart and had them make up 10x600 and 10x1200 with nicely finished ends and extra care on the threads and they did a sterling job for me.

If anyone wants some lengths and is interstate, I can organize them and send them via my discount courier for about $10 a length plus cost price on the courier.

I used mine on a bunch of chairs today and it was wonderful to have use of so many short clamps. They are very powerful. The bessy k-body are still my absolute favorite, but these will be heavily used too.

wouldnt it be easyer to use sash clamps after all one length of wood give loads of differnt widths.must be cheaper than buying the pipe and more versatile ?

Originally Posted by cobalt32

wouldnt it be easyer to use sash clamps after all one length of wood give loads of differnt widths.must be cheaper than buying the pipe and more versatile ?

Pipe clamps have two advantages over sash clamps.
1) They don't use pins to fix the location the lower jaw so can also be set to any length along the pipe.
This also makes them quick to set up and adjust because the lower jaw can be brought into immediate contact with the work so there is less taking up of the slack with the turn screw on the top jaw..

2) The lower jaw can be rotated and locked through a full 360º so the lower jaw can be used at any angle to the top jaw.

Whether it's sash or pipe, different lengths of the clamp are useful especially in a small shed where there's often insufficient room to use long clamps.

Under about 4ft I tend to use sash clamps and although I have several longer sash clamps I tend to use pipe clamps over this length.

One more point that I forgot to post originally.

It is a waste of money to paint / powder coat the pipe. The tangs of the movable part of the clamp will dig into the paint.

If you are concerned about glue contact with the pipe leaving stains on the timber, just wrap that part of the pipe with a bit of wax paper. Steal some from the kitchen or do as I do, have SWMBO buy some for you at the grocery store.