Ok, time for a stupid question.
Pipe clamps are cheaper than bar clamps, more versatile (simply change the pipe to change the length), and available everywhere. But, the pipes are never included.
So where do I get the pipes? Are the cut to length and do the ends need to be threaded? Do I have to do that myself? If I have to do it, how? What tools do I need? Which is needed more commonly in WWing, 3/4" or 1/2"?
Should I just say "f*ck 'em" to the pipe clamps and get bar clamps?
codepath
What profession would you imagine might have a need for steel pipe? If you can answer this you might realize where to look. Hint: the pipe can also be found at very large "all-in-one" stores, sometimes with orange or blue signage.
Take at look at any hardware store or home center and go to the plumbing section. I preferred the 3/4" over the 1/2" pipes as they were much more rigid. Eventually you will graduate up to bar clamps. The pipe clamps are OK but tend to be very heavy and hard on your hands.
IIRC I saw some at our local Home Depot, but the easiest place to get them is a plumbing supply store (or your local plumber) - they're used for natural gas piping in homes. My wife happens to work at a water filter & pump company, so I get mine from her (it's cheaper that way, and they cut and thread to whatever specs I need :)
You want the 3/4" pipe, which is actually 1" outside diameter. Cut the pipes about 6" longer than the intended maximum clamp range. I.e. an 18" pipe makes a 12" clamp.
codepath asks:
Forget cutting the pipe yourself. Go to your local plumbing supply store, or to a borg if you don't want to do the plumbing supply dance, and you'll find all the black pipe you want. Mostly, it comes in 20' lengths, but for a small charge, the PS store will cut it to length and thread one end for you. You can go to Big Orange or Might Blue and find the stuff standing vertically on shelves in the plumbing supply area, in lengths from about 1" to whatever, in about 6" or 1' increments, depending on the store. Usually both ends are already threaded.
Bar clamps are great. You'll need some. Start with pipe clamps though. You're out less than 10 bucks for a top quality 8' pipe clamp. Check out a fairly good bar clamp price to note why pipe clamps remain popular.
Charlie Self "All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence, and then success is sure." Mark Twain
My 2 cents - Stay with Pony - I tried some cheap knock-offs a couple of years ago and ended up giving them away. The particular ones I had tried used a single locking bar gizmo instead of the nice spring loaded multi-plate setup the Ponies have. I personally use 3/4" only - but I'm not sure why - either someone more experienced once told me too or some other reason I can't remember. (man, that's a poor justification isn't it). I've keep threatening to try a few of those aluminum box shaped bar clamps just to see - but the people that make them are just to proud of them - too pricey IMHO.
jim bailey
There are two kinds of pipe clamp that I'm familiar with. One kind can be used both as a clamp and a spreader. This kind of clamp does not require the pipe to be threaded. Both end pieces of the clamp can be slid along the pipe to any desired position. The other, cheaper, kind of pipe clamp needs the pipe to be threaded on one end. The clamp piece with the tightening screw is threaded onto this end of the pipe.
Thanks for the quick response folks. (I rolled up the tips below)
Pipe Clamp Tips:
Thanks again,
codepath
Seems like a kind of silly design to require you to have to thread the end when they could just close the end of the clamp to fit over the pipe like a cap.
Of well.
Thanks,
codepath
For an 8 footer, that's for sure :-). But up to 30"-36" the cheap Pittsburgh ones from Harbor Freight work pretty good.
Codepath, if you're not aware of it, HF has them on "half price" sale several times a year. 6" for $1.99, 12" for $2.49, etc.. But make sure they're Pittsburgh. HF has another brand and they're junk.
I use both 1/2" and 3/4", work about the same to me.
also saw a guy once put two sets of pipe clamps on one pipe, one on each end. Used them to clamp up his cope and stick doors, when he stood them up in the corner they only took up half the space.
Pipe clamps come in handy for heavy duty clamping they also can be made to any length or, using a coupler, extended.
Any hardware store or plumber supply house should have black pipe which they will cut and tread for you. For a price of course. Both Lowes and HD carry it in set lengths.
Get some pipe clamps and bar clamps. You are not always going to need the clamping power of pipe clamps and they are heavy and awkward for doing, say, a jewelry box.
Get 3/4" pipe clamps. They come with a better tightening handle and 1/2 can be prone to bow if you really have to put the pressure on and the pipe is long.
Ditto.
I use the 1/2" onna 'count of they will perform good enough for wooddorking "and", the big "and" a glued up panel doesn't weigh near as much as a panel loaded up with 3/4" pipes.
A'yup. For the price of a single Bessy I can (I do) have three pipe clamps and I'm not limited to, or stuck with, a certain size.
UA100
Get both ends threaded (it doesn't cost more - at least not at the BORG), it does, however, allow the use of a pipe fitting to put two pipes together into a looong pipe clamp on those few occasions that you need one
Dave Hall
Hey Charlie, care to share where one can get an 8' pipe clamp for less than $10??
Jim
Good call. Thanks.
codepath
I ahve a pair of couplers for longer lengths (my longest single pipe is 8'). While building our shed I had a use for three lengths together (8-5-8). I forget why now, but that was a *heavy* clamp!
I just built a new workbench:
$60 for 8 good 60" clamps is a bargain any way you slice it.
Bruce
pipe? If you
James Kountz asks:
Don't tell me my fiscal memory is failing, too. I'd have sworn I paid something like 7 bucks for the clamp parts and 3 for the pipe. But, then again, that was probably 10-15 years ago. I see Amazonhas Jorgenson's for $10.99, which tends to blow the daylights out of my 10 buck statement. Oh well. Still, under 20, all in. A K Body 60" costs about $48.
Charlie Self "All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence, and then success is sure." Mark Twain
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