1M wooden bar clamps

**IanW** · 8th February 2012, 03:08 PM

Been meaning to make myself some longer bar clamps for some years, and the time finally came. It happened indirectly, as these things do. I finally got around to making the bed extension for my old Woodfast lathe, in preparation for turning some long posts (1100mm) that won't fit between the current 800mm centres. To fit the extension, I had to move a pile of wood that was in the way. These were all screw blanks - scraps & bits of wood that I think might be good for threading, and the pile had been building up for several years. The best way to move 'em was to use 'em, so a frenzy of turning and threading ensued. I made batches of three different sizes (1/2", 3/4" and 1") which gave me a heap of screws for clamps, plus a bunch of screws for bar clamps and other projects like the new dovetail vise I am planning to make.

I've shown these clamps before, but you might be interested in a couple of WIP shots.
1. The head mechanism (one in bits, the other assembled plus close-up): 1 Moving jaw assembly.jpg 1a Moving jaw assembled.jpg

So that the moving jaw can be screwed back & forth, the screw is captured in the jaw by a wooden collet, which in turn is held in place by the side cheeks. To stop the jaws riding up when clamping, you need some restraining system. After trying a couple of different methods, I've settled on this one -a piece of wood through a slot in the bar, screwed to the side cheeks. It's very simple & seems to work well enough. The head stock is epoxied to the bar, but I think a couple of strategically-placed dowels is warranted. I had a couple of early versions come loose, but since using dowels have not had any failures.

2. The rear jaws, one assembled, one in bits. 2 Rear jaw parts.jpg

I use all wood for mine, just because I like the look, but you can just as easily make the side pieces from some aluminium, and use bolts instead of the wooden axle and pin.

3. The clamps oiled, waxed and assembled for use. 3 1M bar clamps.jpg

Don't skip the waxing step - bare wooden threads & glue could ruin your entire day! I re-wax the threads once in a while (an old toothbrush is good for the job), & have never had one stuck by glue (yet).

4. And a pile of handscrews etc. that the rest of my activity produced. 4 Pile of clamps.jpg

Now I have to extend my clamp rack......

I do like like these woodies, and use them a lot in preference to metal clamps, of which I have a goodly collection. These bar clamps will be a most welcome addition to the family.

Cheers,

**Vann** · 8th February 2012, 03:40 PM

They look fantastic Ian

I use Record clamp heads (#146?), but I really like the looks of those wooden ones. I wish I had a lathe (and the time to use it

).

Cheers, Vann.

**IanW** · 8th February 2012, 04:49 PM

Originally Posted by Vann

.....I really like the looks of those wooden ones. I wish I had a lathe (and the time to use it

).

Thanks Vann. Yairs, it is nice to be able to make your own gear, but your comment about having the time is very apt. I was thinking as I was making these that the raw material cost virtually nothing; the bars were from a piece of Tassie Oak that was left over from a job I did for someone else, whilst the rest of the bits & bobs are scraps. However, they did take the better part of two days to make, so if I had to pay for my time, it would make bought bar clamps seem very cheap!

Cheers,

**johnredl** · 8th February 2012, 07:30 PM

Nice work Ian. Good use of scraps.

**pmcgee** · 8th February 2012, 07:33 PM

Like Like Like!

**Sam** · 8th February 2012, 08:02 PM

Well done IanW

**mattocks** · 9th February 2012, 11:21 AM

they're beautiful.
I want one!!!!! or 10
cheers
frank

**Sawdust Maker** · 9th February 2012, 05:45 PM

Noice and I note the cost in time - but it's not the same as having a home made one

**IanW** · 10th February 2012, 05:12 PM

Isn't it strange how one job always leads to several others?!

My clamp-makng episode left me with too many clamps to fit on my old clamp rack. It was a rickety thing that I'd modified several times over the years, but there was no room left for any more modifications, so I decided it would only take a short afternoon to make a new one (yer, right....).

The basic dsign of the old thing was ok, it just needed some decent structural members, & to be a little longer. I fossicked in the recycled wood heap under the house & found enough bits to give me what I needed. My entire shed is kitted out with recycled wood except for my main workbench, so I had to keep it to standard. I even found 4 scrounged castors that matched - excellent!

So after a long day, the rack was done. (pic 1). To save you counting, I already did it -there are 54 handscrews and 4 pairs of bar clamps (you can't have too many, right?). The L-shaped bit on the left is for attaching a few Irwin quick-action clamps and some spring clamps. I have a few other commercial clamps which I never seem to use now, except for a couple of long pipe clamps.

But it didn't end there. I had to clean up a mess in one corner to fit the new rack in place. In doing that, I 'discovered' the old mirror I had promised to fix one or two moons ago, so put a few of my bar clamps to work & did that (pic 2).

Then I needed to find somewhere convenient for my saw vises, which had been tucked down beside the old clamp rack. So organised them, too (pic 3).

Finally, after nearly 3 days worth of fiddling, I'm sort of back where I was at the beginning of the week, but better organised.....

Cheers,

**johnredl** · 12th February 2012, 09:50 PM

Do u think u have enough clamps?!!

**IanW** · 12th February 2012, 10:12 PM

Originally Posted by johnredl

Do u think u have enough clamps?!!

Not quite........

**Scribbly Gum** · 13th February 2012, 07:30 AM

Very cool - verging on super cool!
Love your work Ian

SG

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