Thread: DIY K-Body clamps

Yeah well good luck with that! I can't imagine that these are going to provide good service over an extended period. Maybe you should be looking at some of these - https://www.timbecon.com.au/heavy-duty-parallel-clamps

Sorry for taking the wind out of your sails.

Clever work Mark. Hope they do what you need from them.

Like to see people solving problems and making stuff.
Regards
John

Originally Posted by aldav

Yeah well good luck with that! I can't imagine that these are going to provide good service over an extended period. Maybe you should be looking at some of these - https://www.timbecon.com.au/heavy-duty-parallel-clamps

Sorry for taking the wind out of your sails.

No offence taken.

I would be shocked if Bessey owners (and I am one) seriously expect that these would outlast Bessey clamps. That said, these are more than powerful enough for the job and they are infinitely repairable in my workshop.

All parts are available at Bunnings and a specialist nut and bolt supplier. The most exotic part is an M10 threaded insert, and that could be substituted for a nut.

I did consider the Timbecon items but even the four pack of 2m clamps is $500 plus shipping, and I need four clamps. I may never need 2m clamps again. I could cut my design back down to a size I might use.

But more to the point, I am a hobbiest; as, indeed, the majority of us here are. I am highly unlikely to exceed the duty-cycle of this clamp design and I would rather spend the $500-$800 on something else.

As much as I admire your creativity Mark it would be hard to go past pipe clamps for a one off glue up (or perhaps the Groz type heads for timber stretchers - clamp heads - Google Search)

The one advantage of your design is that the weight is probably considerably lower. That being said it's usually possible/preferable to take the work to the clamps so that advantage is perhaps not as significant as you might first think. Apart from the saving in construction time with the pipe clamps you get an acme thread that will stand the test of time.

A few years back I needed 2 very long clamps for a bed project so just got 2 sets of clamp heads from McJings at about $21.00 per set. Got the job done nicely. Nice as Besseys are they do get expensive for long ones.
Regards
John

Originally Posted by orraloon

A few years back I needed 2 very long clamps for a bed project so just got 2 sets of clamp heads from McJings at about $21.00 per set. Got the job done nicely. Nice as Besseys are they do get expensive for long ones.
Regards
John

And you can adapt these to have a longer pad - somewhat emulating advantages of a parallel clamp. I did that a long time ago with a similar system that I think was from Irwin; I wanted to spread the clamp forces better. I made a riser for each end & broader & longer wood pads. Gave away the heads a long time back.

I was eying off the Bessey clamp extender idea last year. The thought being that you could do something similar yourself by getting some flat steel bar & make long clamps of any reasonable length from 2 short ones

https://www.timbecon.com.au/parallel...clamp-extender

Originally Posted by aldav

As much as I admire your creativity Mark it would be hard to go past pipe clamps for a one off glue up (or perhaps the Groz type heads for timber stretchers - clamp heads - Google Search)

The problem with pipe clamps nowadays is sourcing a suitable length of pipe!

While some people may be literally tripping over the stuff, I haven't been able to source any at a reasonable price within several hours drive.

Had the same problem in Perth a number of times, every time I've had cash ready to go they've been out of stock. Last time I asked Carbatec the sales person told me they get them from Timbecon [emoji2955]

Originally Posted by Skew ChiDAMN!!

The problem with pipe clamps nowadays is sourcing a suitable length of pipe!

While some people may be literally tripping over the stuff, I haven't been able to source any at a reasonable price within several hours drive.

This is at Bunnings Kinetic 20 x 1200mm Galvanised Pipe | Bunnings Warehouse. Hope it suits.

I also got the pipes for my pipe clamps also from Bunnings. The already had the leading screw and fit the carbatec clamp heads.

Regards

Adam

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Originally Posted by taz01

I also got the pipes for my pipe clamps also from Bunnings. The already had the leading screw and fit the carbatec clamp heads.

Regards

Adam

Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk

Still only 1200 long. You can get 25mm in 1800 long but that is $37 and you still don't have a clamp to fit it.

Originally Posted by markharrison

Still only 1200 long. You can get 25mm in 1800 long but that is $37 and you still don't have a clamp to fit it.

It's not that hard to join two (or more) lengths together with a joiner or a tee to get looooong clamps. https://www.bunnings.com.au/kinetic-...d-tee_p4700089 would work, although you have a slight headache with the tee.

Guys, steel suppliers sell this stuff in 6.5 metre lengths. It's about $8 a metre. If the pipe is all too hard for you use the clamp heads designed for timber as pictured by orraloon. These are only $20 at McJing - Clamp Head. Surely any of us can cut down a suitable width of 35mm MGP pine to accept these heads. Don't make things more complicated than they need to be.