SHOP MADE CLAMPS

[fiddle1]

i have a project that requires lots more clamps than what i have in the whole shop.

has anyone here improvised shop made clamps?

if so what did you use? How well did it work?

[zopi]

ratchet straps..and boards to keep things aligned and even pressure..dirt cheap and takes up little room in the shop....

Rope and turn buckles work too..for making big boxes or tabletops

[Dan_Shade]

what are you clamping?  you may be able to make a frame or sorts and use wedges to press the boards together against the frame

[zopi]

yah that is something else i have done...couple of 2x4's with blocks on the ends and a set of wedges to force them togehter...i've done a couple tabletops that way...

[Don_Papenburg]

Clean up the scrap pile clamps  ;  Take two strips a bit longer than you need for clamping and drill holes in the ends for allthread , bolt over the clampee .  Takes the place of parallel jaw hand screw clamps  ,Like Jorgenson .

[logwalker]

I have even used shrink wrap to clamp odd shapes. The more wraps the more pressure you get.

[fiddle1]

im trying to cinch up a workbench top.

i got plans from this SAM ALLEN book
im glueing boards up and decided maybe i need to simplify and use less clamps
and then join everything in sub assemblies.

im using the clamps i got in a better way.

straight and square wood with no twist glues a whole lot better
checked the straightness on a glass plate and with straight edges.


i glued up sub assembies using less clamps,  and then i glued the sub assembies
together to get the top.   8)

That rachet idea helped quite a bit. THANKS A BUNCH!

its also possible to over tighten a clamp and over compress
the wood then you feel like you need more clamps,
when infact you need to use clamps you have less tight and in right place.

i got good glue squeeze out so that tells me it might dry
stable. then its on to the shaving well and endcaps and building out the vices.

also alignment pins helped a whole bunch----book didn't say to use em but they
help alot when your the only guy in the shop.   :P

Im no expert......it's first time doing a bench.

Its a giant leap from a kitchen table to a workbench.