fryovanni Posted October 21, 2006 Report Share Posted October 21, 2006 While I was at the woodworkers show I ran across these clamps(see pic.). They looked like an interesting option for joining. They press the wood flat as well as squeeze it together. You have to add your own wood to the clamp system(but that does give you spacing options(I used 24" boards). I assebled and tried them out and sure enough they worked slick as can be. Here are a couple pics with an 18" wide body blank in the clamps. CLICK CLICK HERE TOO I tell you I was able to put some serious pressure on the body blank and it was perfectly flat and was pressed very evenly. I definately give it a thumbs up. The outfit I bought them from is called Just Clamps.Link They charged $25 per. Clamp. They also told me this is a new item so you won't find them on their web site. You should be able to shoot them an e-mail and request them. You could check the Woodworkers show calender also (I believe they are touring with the show).Woodworkers Show Peace,Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted October 21, 2006 Report Share Posted October 21, 2006 Those are **** hot. I believe I saw some on sale in the UK when I was deciding what clamps to buy for blanks. I'm kind of kicking myself I didn't go for a set, because I didn't have a frame of reference on how well they'd work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jammy Posted October 21, 2006 Report Share Posted October 21, 2006 They look ace! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted October 21, 2006 Report Share Posted October 21, 2006 Would it not be worth attaching wooden cauls to the side clamps also, perhaps one caul per side attaching both clamp sets? I'm trying to think of something that would act as a barrier between the top/back cauls to prevent the glue line sticking....waxing perhaps? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oz tradie Posted October 21, 2006 Report Share Posted October 21, 2006 Here's an alternative to timber......D.I.Y. steel/alloy square tubing click me Just don't look at the price......OUCH Food for thought anyways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted October 21, 2006 Report Share Posted October 21, 2006 Arrgh!! My eyes, my beautiful eyes!! Damn my curiosity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oz tradie Posted October 21, 2006 Report Share Posted October 21, 2006 Arrgh!! My eyes, my beautiful eyes!! Damn my curiosity. Can you imagine a President (any one will do) in front of a nuclear weapons control desk , looking avidly at a big flashing red button which says ' Don't touch'. Hmm, what does this button do?...............Press...... Similar scenario I guess. I like your brand of humour, Prostheta. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jammy Posted October 21, 2006 Report Share Posted October 21, 2006 I love the simplicity of those metal clamps - but the price! I'm sure a nice homemade version in possile.... *ponders* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fryovanni Posted October 21, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2006 I love the simplicity of those metal clamps - but the price! I'm sure a nice homemade version in possile.... *ponders* Homemade version. YES! Looking at the basic way the set I picked up is made. A car jack came to mind(effecitvely all the parts would be there* short of a couple bars). I just slapped these together. I have some ideas on how I could mount them to a bench. I will still use wax paper to avoid sticking. I will also probably add cork to the top and back bars(protect softer woods). I will also place a long block at the sides for better pressure spread. Even as is though these would do solid bodies just fine, and can be adjusted down for necks or what have you. As far as steel over wood for the cross bars. I have steel that could be bolted up, but there just is no reason to use it unless I wanted to use 4-10'bars to span the clamps. I would probably still use cork on the bars to protect the wood. Peace,Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted October 21, 2006 Report Share Posted October 21, 2006 (edited) Arrgh!! My eyes, my beautiful eyes!! Damn my curiosity. Can you imagine a President (any one will do) in front of a nuclear weapons control desk , looking avidly at a big flashing red button which says ' Don't touch'. Hmm, what does this button do?...............Press...... Similar scenario I guess. I like your brand of humour, Prostheta. Thanks, it gets me into trouble more than my fingers however Rich, I think that just sticking with the greaseproof/cookie paper to stop cauls sticking to clamps puts pay to anything else as non-stick pads on the clamps. It's economical and simple. Cork DOES make it look "more technical" though, and buttered diamonds don't stick to ANYTHING. As far as steel cross-bracing for the side clamps, I think it's infinitely better than wood now I've considered it. I'd hazard a guess that using wood would be better if using three sets of clamps. Two sets with steel braces would be cheaper also :-D Edited October 21, 2006 by Prostheta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spazzyone Posted October 21, 2006 Report Share Posted October 21, 2006 I love the simplicity of those metal clamps - but the price! I'm sure a nice homemade version in possile.... *ponders* Homemade version. YES! Looking at the basic way the set I picked up is made. A car jack came to mind(effecitvely all the parts would be there* short of a couple bars). I just slapped these together. I have some ideas on how I could mount them to a bench. I will still use wax paper to avoid sticking. I will also probably add cork to the top and back bars(protect softer woods). I will also place a long block at the sides for better pressure spread. Even as is though these would do solid bodies just fine, and can be adjusted down for necks or what have you. As far as steel over wood for the cross bars. I have steel that could be bolted up, but there just is no reason to use it unless I wanted to use 4-10'bars to span the clamps. I would probably still use cork on the bars to protect the wood. Peace,Rich Cool i can clamp my tops and change my tires with the same tool what will they think of next Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jammy Posted October 21, 2006 Report Share Posted October 21, 2006 I love the simplicity of those metal clamps - but the price! I'm sure a nice homemade version in possile.... *ponders* Homemade version. YES! Looking at the basic way the set I picked up is made. A car jack came to mind(effecitvely all the parts would be there* short of a couple bars). I just slapped these together. I have some ideas on how I could mount them to a bench. I will still use wax paper to avoid sticking. I will also probably add cork to the top and back bars(protect softer woods). I will also place a long block at the sides for better pressure spread. Even as is though these would do solid bodies just fine, and can be adjusted down for necks or what have you. As far as steel over wood for the cross bars. I have steel that could be bolted up, but there just is no reason to use it unless I wanted to use 4-10'bars to span the clamps. I would probably still use cork on the bars to protect the wood. Peace,Rich Car jacks was the first thing that i thought of too! Great minds eh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fryovanni Posted October 21, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2006 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted October 21, 2006 Report Share Posted October 21, 2006 You've tempted me Rich. I don't have any project plans to glue any blanks up for in the near future, but you might have pushed me into it here :-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oz tradie Posted October 21, 2006 Report Share Posted October 21, 2006 This is impeccable timing on your behalf, Rich. There's a HUUUGE woodworking expo in Melbourne this weekend and I'm planning to go to it in a matter of hours. Once a year this thing rolls into town. I doubt that same brand of clamp will be on sale, though I'm sure I'll find something along the same lines as yours. And no, I'm not even contemplating the $399 steel version. Although it could be a useful tool in times when torture is called upon. Great for cracking bones. Stu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanb Posted October 21, 2006 Report Share Posted October 21, 2006 I've had a number of those clamps for years now. They aren't really new. Woodcraft has been selling them for years. They are nice because they clamp both vertically and horizontally at the same time (good way to clamp up a maple top or similar), and you can make them up to any dimension you need. I was also thinking about the issue of glue sticking to them. Good old wax paper always works, but something more elegant would be nice. I am planning to use some 1/4" thick UHMW polyethelyne (the slick plastic stock sold for making saw fences, jigs etc., almost like Teflon) strips on the bottom of the wood. That would give a nice smooth, durable clamping surface that wouldn't be affected at all by the glue. I'm gonna get around to that project one of these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattia Posted October 21, 2006 Report Share Posted October 21, 2006 (edited) Other thing that's cheap and readily available and comes with a nice non-stick surface that hardly any glue sticks to: clear and/or brown packing tape. The stuff I have is even impervious to superglue. Melamine is also almost un-glue-able. Edited October 21, 2006 by Mattia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fryovanni Posted October 22, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 22, 2006 I've had a number of those clamps for years now. They aren't really new. Woodcraft has been selling them for years. They are nice because they clamp both vertically and horizontally at the same time (good way to clamp up a maple top or similar), and you can make them up to any dimension you need. I was also thinking about the issue of glue sticking to them. Good old wax paper always works, but something more elegant would be nice. I am planning to use some 1/4" thick UHMW polyethelyne (the slick plastic stock sold for making saw fences, jigs etc., almost like Teflon) strips on the bottom of the wood. That would give a nice smooth, durable clamping surface that wouldn't be affected at all by the glue. I'm gonna get around to that project one of these days. You know I have never seen these at my local Woodcraft, but your absolutely right. I found them in Woodcrafts on line catalog-Click. Same price. Very cool. Peace,Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdw3332 Posted October 22, 2006 Report Share Posted October 22, 2006 Rich, I may go up to the show tomorrow - anything else I should look out for? Those clamps look great. Marty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Posted October 22, 2006 Report Share Posted October 22, 2006 They look like great clamps. Would they be able to glue very thin pieces together, like say a bookmatched top? I plan on doing a really nice birdseye maple top soon and I'm trying to find a more precise method of gluing the two pieces together before I have a go at it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oz tradie Posted October 22, 2006 Report Share Posted October 22, 2006 I picked up a similar set today at a woodwork expo in Melbourne...... And I also bumped into a fellow member in 'myguitar'. For those who can't remember , myguitar posted pics of her acoustic guitar she built not too long ago. It looks even better in person. Have a look-see. LINK cheers, Stu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted October 22, 2006 Report Share Posted October 22, 2006 I've had a number of those clamps for years now. They aren't really new. Woodcraft has been selling them for years. They are nice because they clamp both vertically and horizontally at the same time (good way to clamp up a maple top or similar), and you can make them up to any dimension you need. I was also thinking about the issue of glue sticking to them. Good old wax paper always works, but something more elegant would be nice. I am planning to use some 1/4" thick UHMW polyethelyne (the slick plastic stock sold for making saw fences, jigs etc., almost like Teflon) strips on the bottom of the wood. That would give a nice smooth, durable clamping surface that wouldn't be affected at all by the glue. I'm gonna get around to that project one of these days. Noooo....!! Not the buttered diamonds effect :-D That said, good suggestion re: UHMW PET! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fryovanni Posted October 22, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 22, 2006 Rich, I may go up to the show tomorrow - anything else I should look out for? Those clamps look great. Marty What time do you think you will get there? I have Alyssa, but maybe we could meet up with U. Rockler had some Burled Yew veneer that looked spectacular. Like Burled yellow Birdsey(thick w/figure and great color.). If you need Cocobolo,Zircote,Bocote Cook has some nice wider stock(just watch he prices, they are a little high). They had some nice Quilted Bubinga, but again price(Gilmer will serve you a better deal quality/price). Peace,Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liquid_gabe Posted October 28, 2006 Report Share Posted October 28, 2006 I couldn't tell you the issue, but Shopnotes had an article on constructing a home-made version of these clamps a couple years back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJD Posted October 30, 2006 Report Share Posted October 30, 2006 For Prostheta and any other interested brits, we can get em here: http://www.axminster.co.uk/product.asp?pf_...e=1&jump=48 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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