Thread: Lets design a clamping jig

Would it work?

Thanks Wongo,

I'll give the wedges a try. It would cost me $0.00 to try.

Not sure if it would work for a single row though. I dont usually plane sheets of MDF!

Lefty,

Why go through the trouble of threading a dowel, why not weld a nut ontop of a 3/4 metal rod. Or even buy a cheap G clamp and cut the threaded end of this and weld it onto the 3/4 metal rod.

just a thought,

Himzo.

Great idea, but my welding experience and/or equipment = 0

And would the weld be strong enough?

Originally Posted by LineLefty

If there was some way I could screw a threaded rod horizontally throu a 3/4' dowel, I'd be right. A home made wonder dog.

Help Jigmakers!

Adam, how could I resist a plea for help.

One of the projects that is on my to do list is replacing the surface of my workbench and incorporating various hold-downs, dogs and clamping systems based on ¾ inch dowel holes.

Underneath the bench surface I will be placing captive nuts so that you can insert home made clamps with a threaded bolt through the dowel holes to clamp the work to the bench. I have a copy of some sketch plans and description out of an old magazine that shows how to do this and if you want a copy send me a pm with a mailing address.

If you really want to make a homemade wonder dog I suggest that you glue a small rectangular piece of wood onto your dowel and then drill the hole for your threaded rod and use a T-nut against one side of the face of the block. However a more elegant way of doing this is to make the T-nut captive by glueing a small piece of wood against it similar to the way I made the Sturdee handscrew clamps.

If you make it post some pictures.


Peter.

Don't bother trying to weld bits of G clamp to anything, they are cast iron and with out the correct equipment/techniques, the welds will literally fall apart.

If you use a piece of round bar to suit the holes in your bench and have your local engineer drill and tap it to a standard bolt size (suggest no less than 3/8" prefer 1/2") Get a long bolt which is threaded through to the head. Get a small piece of hardwood with a blind hole drilled in it big enough to take the end of the bolt. The wood will protect the work. Simple but it should work. If you use a ratchet to tighten the bolt/clamp you will not mark your bench.

Dan

I think I have the answer if you are willing to spend a little money and order in from overseas.
I've just finished reviewing the Kreg Universal Bench Klamp, which you should be able to mount into your MDF by routing out a place for it.
I'd imagine its probably ideal for your situation, assuming you have a few dollars to buy it. I guess the only downfall is that it is an 'overhead' type clamp so probably not ideal if you were trying to plane thin stock the full length - the clamp has to hold down onto some part of it).
Have a look at my website for the review (its part of the Kreg K2000 pocket hole system review).

It has some awesome clamping potential and I have used it to secure boards for planing without any drama. Plus, its both a permanent and portable solution. You can fix it direct to your bench by routing out a space for it and securing it with screws. You can then remove the clamp assembly and the metal plate stays flush with your workbench. Alternatively if you don't want to destroy your bench, you can fix it to a large piece of 19mm or large ply or MDF and then just clamp down the ply/MDF to your table and make it a portable option. Works great!

Gregory machinery in Brisbane is the Kreg Dealer, but I don't think they stock this particular item. You could try calling and asking them to get some in, otherwise you have to order in from overseas. Price is US$39.99

Hope that helps!

Thanks for the suggestions guys, I really appreciate it.

A few points:

1) I've seen the kreg dean it's OK but if I wanted to send 39US plus P&H I'd just get a wonder dog from carbatec and be done with it. I can survie with a bench stop, this problem is in the "it would be nice to have" category whilst my hard earned cash goes to the "absolutely can not get by without it" tools.

2) You say "take the steel bar to your local engineer to get drilled and tapped" Do you mean "Metal Worker" in the yellow pages?

3) Sturdee, your idea sounds good. A wooden contraption will be more forgiving to a chisel or plane blade. I 've read it 5 times and still cant get a good picture, i'll draw a plan.

I nearly had the perfect set up. A brass plumbing threaded t-junction, except the threads didnt extend all the way through.

Adam,

I'm in the country and they do what they call 'engineering' here. They are machinists or in the old terminology, fitters and turners.

Dan

Originally Posted by LineLefty

Sturdee, your idea sounds good. A wooden contraption will be more forgiving to a chisel or plane blade. I 've read it 5 times and still cant get a good picture, i'll draw a plan.

Adam,

As I haven't made a jig for a while (getting withdrawel symptoms ) I've decided to bring the project of making dogs and wonderdogs forward.

This morning I spent about an hour cutting, drilling and sanding the parts ready of assembly which I'll do tomorrow. I'll take photos as I go along, as a pic is worth a thousand words , and post them hopefully on Sunday.

Peter.

Excelenté! Thanks.

I've just read through your handscrew and other jig posts again. I sincerely apologise for calling your design a "wooden contraption"

Believe it or not, but I've never actually used a T-Nut before, so before I go and ask more questions I'll go and jam some into a dowel and see how they work.

Sounds like Sturdee and I are on similar courses re benchtop construction/reconstruction/rehash/rebuild/refit/fix up.
I was looking to simply making dog holes and making home made thingys similar to wonder dogs, but I'll certainly wait to see Sturdees idea, sounds like it might be a go.

When I saw this thread, I just had to run out to the shed and make my version of a wonderdog. It took about 20 minutes. I cut a 150 mm length of 19 mm dowel and glued it into a hole throught the middle of a 35 x 35 x 60 mm piece of jarrah. I then drilled an 8 mm hole angled down at 3 degrees through the jarrah and dowel; tapped it with a 3/8" thread; cut a 150 mm length of 3/8" threaded rod; fitted a wing-nut and lock-nut and drilled a blind 3/8" hole in a bit of wood to fit to the end of the rod, and Bob's your uncle. it works fine

Rocker

P. S. I already own a couple of genuine wonderdogs

Aother pic.

Rocker