clamping cauls

[larry]

Can anyone share thier preferences as to what sizes to make some clamping cauls? I know that length is adjustable but what about width and thickness? Are some sizes better than others? Also is 1/8"curve fron center to end enough? Thanks for all input. Larry

[bridgerfafc]

make 'em as you need them. size is determined by what you are clamping and curvature will depend on what they are made of and how much pressure you want to distribute.

so here's what you do.

select a stick of wood to make a caul from. it should be a little longer than the thing you are clamping, wide enough to not dent your workpiece and a little taller than you need, so that you have something to take away to get your curve. that piece of wood should also be a scrap from something else. it's a spiritual thing.

choose a work surface. it should be flat and substantially stronger than the stick you are making your caul from. get three scraps of something all the same thickness. put one under each end of the caul and position a clamp at the center of the caul, clamping it to your work surface. tighten the clamp the amount that you want to apply to your work when the caul is in service. now, if you are making a caul to spread force out from one clamp at the center, rather than from a clamp at each end towards the center, mark the top, using the work surface as a reference and something to space the pencil off of it as a guide. a combination square works well. if your caul will be of the

2 clamp variety, mark the bottom. your third shim block will be the right size.

now, when you release the caul from the clamp it will have a curved line on it that is just right for the curved face. use whatever method you like to shape the stick to that curve, smooth it, round the corners a bit, give it a coat of wax to keep the glue from sticking and you're in business.

[George]

No sense of spirit here. Pipe clamp cauls should be of bass or aspen, something which can take an asymmetrical load by deforming, not splitting. Don't use those pieces of SPF crap you have left over in the garage.

In the BB (Before Bessey) days I bored a hole through one end of the cauls and captured them on the pipe so I had them always at hand. Touch of the hot caulk to adhere them to the clamp faces themselves would do for a few knocks.