Thread: Using threaded reo in place of a cramp

If the budget dosent support longer sash cramps why not buy some pipe cramp sets and you can go as long as you want

Hi China,

Threaded reo looks cheaper than pipe clamps and the associated pipe. I think I've also seen threads saying that getting ahold of pipe suitable for use with the clamps these days is becoming an issue.

I'm kicking myself that I didn't snag a couple of discounted Record clamp heads I saw at Bunnings a couple of months ago when they were downsizing the hand tools department. Those heads attached to timber beams.

p.s The Habco jointer had to go, I got a good deal on a broken Hafco that is now working much better than the old one ever would. However getting the Habco up and running was worth the learning experience and I used that knowledge to fix up the Hafco much more quickly.

Reo is often used as clamps in concrete, known as she-bolts, to hold the formwork in place. There are special ends you use, but cost a bit, or you can use welded ends and wedges.

What length do you need Fuzzie? I have 4 record clamps on hardwood timber 3m long that I have used to clamp a 2.7m entertainment unit below.



You are welcome to come around and borrow them if they are long enough for you.

Cheers

Can you get away with using a couple of tie downs? (the small nylon straps & winches found everywhere these days.)
Regards, Bill

Fuzzie,

How many sash cramps do you have?

Grind off the lugs on the end so the floating stops can be taken off and joint two of them together with some steel plate and bolts.

Put floating stop the other way around on the cramp and volia now I have 2 1.8 metre cramps that go 3 metres.

Thanks for the ideas guys. Having slept on it and got over a bit of the frustration of balancing all the pieces without clamps, I think I'll try the threaded rod.

The cabinet is only about 1400mm long and by the time the reo rod is cut that short I doubt there will be any issue with flex. I think I will run the rod through clamping timbers that have nuts and washers on both sides. This should give me a sort of clamping cage that will help hold things in place during clamp up as well as being able to draw things together incrementally along 3 axis and be in control.

Get a longer bit and make some V blocks to go across the diagonals to pull it into square if needed. Although i'm sure it won't be necessary

All thread worked a treat. It was a bit slow to draw all the joints in by moving around doing a few turns at a time on each leg, but on the other hand it was quite relaxed for the dry fit since I didn't know how it was actually going to pull together. In the end I found I had misplaced the tenons on one of the web frame pieces, but that was easy to fix with the cage holding things together while I took the piece out and adjusted it. For the glue up I suspect it might be a touch slow if the glue grips fast. The extra support offered by the cage arrangement was much better than an extra pair of hands trying to juggle sash cramps. However for speed I might take up Niels offer on the long cramps when I get to the real glue up.

The diagonals were only 5mm out and I think I should be able to introduce enough diagonal force by a simple twist of rope between the thread sticking up on the diagonals.

It was a slightly different story trying to break it down again by pushing the ends apart. It was a juggle getting the rod and noggins on the inside without accidentally applying the thread as a rasp to wood, but it eventually all came apart without damage.

Originally Posted by Fuzzie

Hi China,

Threaded reo looks cheaper than pipe clamps and the associated pipe. I think I've also seen threads saying that getting ahold of pipe suitable for use with the clamps these days is becoming an issue.

Sounds like it's too late but I got heaps of black pipe for pipe clamps from metal land in Geelong - they even cut it for me. Not sure how many metal lands around now though

This was only 6 months ago

Edit - I did have to thread it myself though and I got a kit off eBay for $40 - bugger of a job and messy with all the cutting oil. Sounds like you did great without them though!