![Needs Pictures](https://www.woodworkforums.com/images/smilies/happy/photo4.gif)
Results 1 to 13 of 13
-
17th August 2016, 02:19 PM #1
GOLD MEMBER
- Join Date
- May 2011
- Location
- Albury
- Posts
- 3,030
A Clamp Rack That Works In My Small Shed
My shed is quite small - approx. 3.8 by 4.4 metres - has limited wall space (half of the front and part of both sides is laserlite clad) and a low ceiling height at the back. All the machines are on mobile bases, but I have always struggled for space. Although I often thought about a clamp rack I didn't have the wall space to dedicate to housing my collection. I recently bought a second hand Incra TS-LS and fitting this to my saw made the situation even worse.
One night, in bed of course where all the best ideas are born, I came up with the idea of a double storey clamp rack. It was a real light bulb moment. With a bit of figuring I worked out that I could get at least 50% more clamps in the same space.The attached picture shows the result. The rack is about 1270mm wide, width determined by a piece of ply that I had on hand, and I've managed to fit 41 clamps on it. Couldn't be happier, just hope the shed wall doesn't fall down under all the weight.
Cheers,
David
-
17th August 2016 02:19 PM # ADSGoogle Adsense Advertisement
- Join Date
- Always
- Location
- Advertising world
- Posts
- Many
-
17th August 2016, 02:44 PM #2
Hi,
Like all good ideas that take a lot of thought, it is so simple afterwards.
Good oneHugh
Enough is enough, more than enough is too much.
-
17th August 2016, 03:08 PM #3
Could I please get a close up of the slots you have the clamps resting in.
-
17th August 2016, 03:48 PM #4
GOLD MEMBER
- Join Date
- May 2011
- Location
- Albury
- Posts
- 3,030
No problems Pac man. The shot with the wider spacing is the top rack and the other two shots are of the lower one. I cut the slots with a dado stack, maximum depth of cut was just right.
Because I was cutting across the grain I was a bit concerned about the 'fingers' snapping off so I've glued and screwed a block under every second one so that all clamps are fully supported on at least one side. Thinking afterwards I wondered if it would have been just as strong if I simply drove in a screw from front to back of each finger. Would have saved a bit of time, but it's done now and it seems to work fine so far.
In case you can't tell, the whole thing is made of junk, I did have to buy a few bolts and screws though.
I'm a hoarder, it should be recognised as a mental illness.
Cheers,
David
-
17th August 2016, 05:23 PM #5
Thanks aldav. That will help me to get the clamps off the floor
-
17th August 2016, 07:00 PM #6
Great Idea, David.
Hi David
Great idea. Simple ain't easy, and reflects a lot of thought.
By moving your bottom rail to a position just/comfortably below the top clamp screw handles, and restricting that rail to short clamps, then you would have enough room to fit a third lower rail for middles size clamps.
Then you would have to go and buy some more clamps to fill the rails........
Fair Winds
Graeme
-
17th August 2016, 08:09 PM #7
Graeme, confirming that the second row of slots would be offset to the other two rails so they would fit between the clamp bars?
-
17th August 2016, 08:30 PM #8
GOLD MEMBER
- Join Date
- May 2011
- Location
- Albury
- Posts
- 3,030
Well Graeme you've got Pac man thinking. By the time he's finished he's going to have 500Kg of clamps hanging on the wall!
Collecting more clamps is something I don't really have any problem with. I sell quite a few different styles of clamps so stopping myself from 'reserving' them for my own use is usually the problem.I was actually discussing the 'third storey' option with my wife this afternoon, but she thought it would only encourage my bad habit.
-
18th August 2016, 03:47 PM #9
-
18th August 2016, 03:53 PM #10
No, PacMan, that would add 50% to the width of the clamp rack.
My suggestion was to make the middle and bottom row identical to the existing bottom row. That is why I suggested reserving the middle row for short clamps only - so the clamp bars do not overlap the clamps below.
But if you went wider then you could hang more than 500 kgs of clamps on your wall!
Fair Winds
Graeme
-
18th August 2016, 04:06 PM #11
Great idea on organising your clamps.
I would say using wedges to support the fingers is a better option.
-
18th August 2016, 04:41 PM #12
Got it.
I missed the fact that they were already offset.
i also missed that it's a tin shed. At least I'll be anchoring to a brick or stud wall ( when I get on and do it)
-
18th August 2016, 05:39 PM #13
GOLD MEMBER
- Join Date
- May 2011
- Location
- Albury
- Posts
- 3,030
Yes, that's why the racks are mounted to a sheet of ply that sits on a wall brace and has 10 bolts connecting it to the wall. I figured if it fails the whole wall will fall down, but at least the wall doesn't hold up the roof.
Tidyness isn't a habit of mine Graeme, but the previously noted collecting is.
Similar Threads
-
Clamp rack
By pellcorp in forum WOODWORK - GENERALReplies: 5Last Post: 15th January 2013, 07:50 PM -
Clamp Rack Ideas
By Snarf in forum FURNITURE, JOINERY, CABINETMAKING - formerly BIG STUFFReplies: 6Last Post: 2nd September 2009, 02:34 PM -
Simple Clamp Rack
By wheelinround in forum HOMEMADE TOOLS AND JIGS ETC.Replies: 10Last Post: 11th January 2009, 11:41 AM -
Clamp Rack +
By Bob38S in forum WOODWORK - GENERALReplies: 19Last Post: 18th August 2008, 12:11 PM