Thread: Home made sash clamps made from cheap pine short cuts

Originally Posted by GarciaJ

There are some fittings that close the clamps and press on the edges of the board at the same time, that would add to the cost and I find that this arrangement works well.

The fittings that I was talking about are like these from Carbatec. They cost $41 a set and you would need to get three sets to fit on the clamps that I showed in the photos above. They look as though they CAN be fitted onto the T-Bars that I made.

Double Panel Clamp Set : CARBA-TEC

There are others that have a scissor action - as the screw is tightened the scissors close, forcing the top and bottom clamp together.

If you glue up a lot of panels, maybe these are worth considering - I will be sticking with the wedges for the foreseeable future.

Enjoy

Jorge Garcia

That's really, really clever.

I made some sash clamps for myself following a recipe from one of the woodworking magazines - involved lots of threaded rod, bolts, washers, epoxy and such. Too complicated and didn't work well, especially given that I don't have a drill press (it's necessary to bore very accurate holes to ensure everything works properly). Finally, it involved a good deal of time-consuming joinery.

I will definitely give this a try soon. Can you show some closer photographs of the washer arrangement?

Originally Posted by snafuspyramid

That's really, really clever.

I made some sash clamps for myself following a recipe from one of the woodworking magazines - involved lots of threaded rod, bolts, washers, epoxy and such. Too complicated and didn't work well, especially given that I don't have a drill press (it's necessary to bore very accurate holes to ensure everything works properly). Finally, it involved a good deal of time-consuming joinery.

I will definitely give this a try soon. Can you show some closer photographs of the washer arrangement?

Yes, I've seen plans for clamps like the ones you describe. The problem is that they try to reproduce the design of store bought sash clamps in wood.

The square washer is nothing special - in my case its a bit of 19x42mm offcut cut in ~ 42 mm lengths - making 19x42x42 squares. the dimensions are not critical. You then drill a hole right through the centre of the square. The hole has to be big enough for the cup head bolts to fit through - in my case 10mm. The square washer goes on the bolts and separates the two sides of the clamp. Two bolts per clamp - so two washers are also required.

The point is that the board being glued does not butt up against a steel bolt, and the wedges which apply the pressure during glueing also need a flat surface to butt up against.

JG

A most useful device and an excellent use of scrap materials. Sometimes the solution is so simple.

Had you considered using two wedges at the top of the clamp instead of the timber washer? That way the two folding wedges would bear against your bolt. It may come to the same thing and possibly no easier to use, but maybe slightly time saving.

I can see myself copying your design .

Regards
Paul

Originally Posted by Bushmiller

JG

A most useful device and an excellent use of scrap materials. Sometimes the solution is so simple.

Had you considered using two wedges at the top of the clamp instead of the timber washer? That way the two folding wedges would bear against your bolt. It may come to the same thing and possibly no easier to use, but maybe slightly time saving.

I can see myself copying your design .

Regards
Paul

In fact I often use two wedges anyway., Paul.. sometimes the work is not wide enough for one wedge to reach the washers, and other times I feel that two wedges do a better job of forcing the boards together. However, you will need something to keep the work away from the bolts on the opposite side and the washers are better for that.
..

I like these very much and will make some straight away as I need to glue up some boards to make a book case so we can unpack many cartons of books that have been in storage for quite a few years. All my sash clamps have gone we have been traveling in the caravan for about 5 years so most of my tool's had to go now starting to get back into it and this seams to be a great alternative to the commercial product. I will give them a go soon.
Regards Rod.

Originally Posted by Rod Gilbert

I like these very much and will make some straight away as I need to glue up some boards to make a book case so we can unpack many cartons of books that have been in storage for quite a few years. All my sash clamps have gone we have been traveling in the caravan for about 5 years so most of my tool's had to go now starting to get back into it and this seams to be a great alternative to the commercial product. I will give them a go soon.
Regards Rod.

Tell us how you go, Rod.

Originally Posted by GarciaJ

Oh! don't forget to put a bit of grease proof paper between the work and clamps so that any excess glue does not cause any unexpected results

I use the brown shiny packing tape on many of my packing blocks. Cover the wedges , washers and the part of the T beam that contacts the stuff being clamped with the tape and no more wasted baking paper. Less fiddly in the long run too.

The tape also works so so as a quick and dirty clamp by itself as it acts a little bungee like when stretched. This makes setting up the work prior to proper clamping easier as well.

Originally Posted by titchtheclown

I use the brown shiny packing tape on many of my packing blocks. Cover the wedges , washers and the part of the T beam that contacts the stuff being clamped with the tape and no more wasted baking paper. Less fiddly in the long run too.

The tape also works so so as a quick and dirty clamp by itself as it acts a little bungee like when stretched. This makes setting up the work prior to proper clamping easier as well.

Great tip.I only use small squares of paper placed where the glue line intersects the clamping line. I save these bits of grease proof paper for the next job. I store them in a zip lock bag along with the wedges. The packing tape is a much more elegant idea.

I finished a set of 3 today after waiting for my morticer/drill press to get wired up, it all happened this morning so I drilled all the holes and made the washer's and wedges ready to start gluing up boards tomorrow. I think I will use packing tape also to stop unwanted area's getting stuck,thought about bundling film I use it a lot instead of tape but tape will probably be easier. Will post some photo's tomorrow.
Regards Rod.

Glued up shelves today using clamps the clamps are 1200 long with holes every 100mm made 3 set's glued 3 shelves 300mm wide at a time clamp's worked camera didn't, the board's were 240mm wide needed 300mm so added 65mm to allow for clean up finished shelf 1500 x 300 x 19mm all worked very well. Thanks GarciaJ for the idea.
Regards Rod.

I made a set of these and used them to glue up shelving for a book case I am building but the camera wasn't working. I have just used them again to glue up some 12mm draw sides that I needed to be 200mm wide and had to glue up from narrower stock so just made thinner washers and wedges they work great and I am very happy I found this thread by GarciaJ thanks for the idea here are some photos this time.

Originally Posted by Rod Gilbert

I made a set of these and used them to glue up shelving for a book case I am building but the camera wasn't working. I have just used them again to glue up some 12mm draw sides that I needed to be 200mm wide and had to glue up from narrower stock so just made thinner washers and wedges they work great and I am very happy I found this thread by GarciaJ thanks for the idea here are some photos this time.

RG

Nice job. Love the colour scheme on the "Tough" and I imagine the Aussie wine box was not always empty.

Regards
Paul

NIce job and good recycle