Thread: HOW TO FIX SLIPPING PIPE CRAMPS

This is a real issue with pipe clamps, I had a load of them and when I picked up some proper T bar clamps I put them round the side of the house and never used them again.Got rid of them recently for $50 for all nine of them and was glad to see the the back of them.
The previous owner had the same problem with some of them as holes had been drilled along the pipes to insert a pin throught to stop the sliding jaw slipping.Apart from suggesting that you could get replacement ends as they are not very expensive.

If you have any T bar clamps their effective length can be doubled by temporarilly bolting them together.

I made myself some long cramps using 32mm RHS. They are pinned in position and do work. I prefer to use the pipe cramps because they are light and quick to change the cramping length. The cheap pipe cramps that are available at the moment seem to have too soft a steel in the locking jaw. To drill and pin them as suggested is a way around the problem but defeats the quickness of a pipe cramp that does work as intended.

With my remedy, the effort to fix them is slight and the enjoyment to use them is replaced

I get all glued up, stick on the pipe clamp and wind away and then remember why I didn't use that clamp last time then I run down to the shed like a mad headless chook, reach for the grinder, flick it on and peck away at the bit where I want the jaw to sit and then rush back and the jaws grip well. Eventually I guess the whole pipe will be covered in grinder marks and it will double as a huge rasp.

The pipe clamps that use the 3 slanted circular locking rings seem to be much less likely to slip that the ones with the small teeth.
Like these http://www.carbatec.com.au/rockler-s...e-clamp_c21943
Maybe its because they lock on two sides of the pipe?

I've had some of these for about 7 years and they work just as well as when I first got them.

I think that if you were to stretch the spring, the problem would be solved.

Originally Posted by mark david

If you have any T bar clamps their effective length can be doubled by temporarilly bolting them together.

I never thought of that but it is a brilliant idea!

My solution is to drill holes through the pipes at approximately 50mm intervals and use 4" nails as the pins. I have done this with a few of the pipe clamps I have and it works very effectively.