TexasTimbers

It's easy Jay. Make her an entertainment center or something you know she wants and that you promised years ago and still have not made, and buy the clamps just prior to giving it to her. You know you can't be efficient with your time, edge joining those boards for her heirloom quality furniture without them.
When she is at the apex of her glowing reviews of your craftsmanship pop it on her . . .

"I could not have done it without that panel clamp!"

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When our outgo exceeds our income, then our upkeep becomes our downfall.
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joasis

And do you have one Kevin? hmmmmmm........yes Steve, pretty lame excuses...you guys forget my wife carries a gun and a badge?

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TexasTimbers

Lost it in the "liquidation" 8 years ago. But what is the point. YOU are the one pining for it not me. :icon_wink:
Although it is on my list I have alot of other things in front of it

Plus I don't need my wife's permission to buy things.

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When our outgo exceeds our income, then our upkeep becomes our downfall.
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Burlkraft

...I guess I wouldn't be messin' with her then....

You didn't get any lame excuses from me....

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We will harvest no burl before it's time.....

Majakdragon

I, too, bought the Bessey clamps from Woodcraft. A whole lot better than the cheap pipe clamps that I had to guess if they were going to hold when I used them. For interested parties, Irwin site has/had a deal with Home Depot where if you buy one clamp, you get one free.
NEVER can have enough clamps.

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If you have never made a mistake, you probably haven't done much.

pitbull

I dont know if America gets wolfcraft, but these cramps in my opinion are far better that the irwin quick cramps, totally 1 hand operation, opening or closing. Far more comfortable to use, I have never got enough of these.
just realised you can get them.
http://www.wolfcraft.com/product_detail.cfm?id=66

I like others have never got enough, I have a few pony pipe ones, but my favourite are the top quality Record T-bar clamps. Not the sash ones.

http://www.irwin.co.uk/xp/PDF/IR_LIT_Workholding-UK.pdf

johnep

Gosh, loved the pics of the plano clamps. Never seen them before. will search in UK as could do with a couple.

The 'I' bar looks like the type used for levels.
johnep

Uncle Ben

Every time I'm out with my wife and we make it into a store of my liking, I usually take a look at the clamps. She just cannot understand why I need so many. I think I will print much of this thread for her so she can see that I'm not the only one that says "you can never have enough"

I'm a beginner, so I'm just starting my collection and I have most common types of clamps, but only two or so of each thus far.

2 - 36" pipe clamps
2 - 48" aluminum bar clamps
2 - large spring clamps
3 - 6" C clamps
4 - 4" C clamps
2 - quick release C clamps
4 - 4" bar clamps
2 - 6" quick (squeeze) bar clamps
2 - 3" quick (squeeze) bar clamps
6 - racheting cargo straps (works great around large or oddly shaped items)

Just bought 2 - 8" wood hand screw clamps and 2 - tiny 4" of the same yesterday. Found use for them immediately...love 'em!

Leo G

10-32" pc
14-36" pc
9-60" pc
5-80" pc
2-120" pc
6-spg clp
4 "C" clp
4 jorgenson
6-6" sq clp
22-12"sq clp
4-18" sq clp
20-24"sq clp

I still need/want more, you will never have enough clamps, the more you have the more you can clamp quicker and get more done in a shorter amount of time.

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Measure Twice Cut Once -- It's a lot easier to cut more off then it is to cut MORON.
TGIF just means two more working days until Monday http://lrgwood.com

Gerry KIERNAN

I have a fairly good collection of various clamps, but like everyone else, when I get to gluing things up there's just never enough. As I have been edge gluing a lot of boards together lately, for book cases and shelves, I have been using my Pony one inch pipe clamps. I have nine working sets, but I would like to get at least another six. Also, I need a better selection of pipes. Just a note to anyone looking for pipes for these clamps, do not buy galvanised pipe. Buy black gas pipe. Somewhere along the way I acquired a couple of galvanised pipes, and the clamps will not hold onto the pipe, so they slip. They are going to become crow bars, I think.

Those panel clamps look pretty sweet. I'm not sure if I have them in my budget, but maybe. As for the Bessy clamps, they are really nice, but they are way too pricy for cheep old me.

I think the Pony style pipe clamps are a fairly good compromise for anyone doing panel work, and not wanting to blow the bankroll.
Gerry

Gerry KIERNAN

Hey Texas Timbers:

Do you have sketches or drawings for shop made panel clamps?

Gerry

drumqueen

I make ashiko drums for a living. I have been doing it almost ten years and I have used the same type of clamp that whole time. I have been getting frustrated lately at the quality of the clamps I can find now. They break, twist, won't fit together blah blah blah. SO any suggestions on how to tightly clamp a conical shape? Any help much appreciated.

TexasTimbers

no skethes or drawings Jerry soory.

drumqueen checked out your website way cool. What clamp have you been using all along?

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When our outgo exceeds our income, then our upkeep becomes our downfall.
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drumqueen

worm drive hose clamps

edp

I have been using the ¾" pony clamps for years. I have 30 sets of clamp ends and an uncounted collection of pipes. With teh adapter pads available from rockler.com I have no complaints. The adaptors raise the pony up off the work bench and provide a wide stance to keep them from falling over. Having said that though. I just bought 12 bessey clamps off of amazon.com. They were selling the 50" clamp at $30.00 each with free shipping. Even I will bite the bullet on a deal like that.

Ed

edp

Drum Queen, have you given any thought to using varying sizes of rings cut from plywood. I used this approach to glue up some tapered bed posts for a canopy bed. It worked real well.

Ed

edp

A final tip on using black pipe on your pony clamps. Keep a ro;; of masking tape handy. When you get your pipe clamp adjusted to the approximate sixe, cover the surface of the pipe that will contact the wood with masking tape to prevent the black marks that occur with contact. Cheap and effective.

Ed

drumqueen

edp....that's an idea worth thinking about. Thanks! Any more suggestions out there?

Gerry KIERNAN

Good tip on the masking tape edp. Also, on clamping the drums with plywood with circles cut out. The pieces of plywood could be wedged down the drum wih pipe clamps, or with threaded ready rod and nuts. Saran wrap or scotch tape could be used to prevent the plywood from gluing to the drum. Another possibility is to use ratcheting strap type clamps.

Gerry

drumqueen

I had thought about the ratcheting clamps but need to use them over and over and was worried about the glue factor. But that saran wrap sounds interesting. I think I am going to try the plywood. Adding the clamps to that seems even better. Thanks so much.