Don't have clamps big enough...

I just put two clamps together to make one long one.

tjwatson1ATcomcastDOTnet (real email)

Can you attach multiple pipe clamps together end to end with $.99 couplers?

Barry

If you are using old style pipe clamps, you can turn the ends 90 degrees to clamp both ends like you suggest, with no problems. Otherwise, you could try using scrap boards (2x4's or whatever) with cleats on each end. Between the cleats and the breadboard, tap in wedges to tighten everything up until the glue dries. I've used both methods before, and they seem to work equally well.

Good luck, Rob

"breadboard"

difference?

I believe you can also buy just the heads and feet of a sash clamp and then provide your own shaft of suitable length to make any length clamp you want.

FoggyTown

Pipe clamps.

Pipe clamps, and a bunch of three- and four-foot pipes (that's a good handy size). And a few pipe couplers so you can combine sections to make seven- or eight-foot clamps.

It's cheaper (a LOT cheaper) to buy ten-foot sections of pipe at a home center, than to buy two four-foot sections. And they'll cut and thread them at no charge, too. I'd suggest buying five, ten-foot pieces. Have one of them cut 5 & 5, two cut 6 & 4, and two cut 4, 3 & 3. This will give you four each of 3- and 4-foot clamps, and two each of 5- and 6-foot clamps. With appropriate couplers, you can build clamps of almost any size you want.

-- Regards, Doug Miller (alphageek-at-milmac-dot-com)

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Or you could just get a longer pipe.

-- Regards, Doug Miller (alphageek-at-milmac-dot-com)

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"breadboard"

.... provided that that they can also thread all those pipe ends for you too, or you have the faculties to do it yourself.

Dave

I recently made a table with breadboard ends and didn't even need clamps. I put three pins (1/4" dowels) in each end. What I did was drill the holes for pins in the end-cap piece first, then slightly offset (1/64" - 1/32") the holes in the tenon. That way when you pound in the pins, it will draw the two pieces together. When I did it the joint was very tight and simply didn't need any clamps.

Didja see the part where I said that the home centers would cut *and* thread the pipes at no charge? It's certainly true at Lowe's and Home Depot, anyway. I've had it done both places. Matter of fact, I have *never* encountered any hardware store, home center, or plumbing supply house that would cut pipe to length but *not* thread it. Some won't thread it for *free*, but IME every place that cuts it will also thread it.

-- Regards, Doug Miller (alphageek-at-milmac-dot-com)

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not sure if you can justify the cost for a couple of these, but you might and they would do the job very well:

Build an inexpensive clamp. A cheap 2x4 stud with cleats 80" apart and a pair of wedges is effective, inexpensive, quick, and re-usable.

Want something fancier? Use a cleat on one end and a Lee Valley "Wonder Pup" or "Panel Clamp" on the other.

A longer board, cleats on both ends, and a couple of wedges. Why do you have to *buy* clamps when you can *make* them?

Use the cheapest clamp ever. Get a length of rope, tie it in a loop and wrap it around your table. Tighten it by laying a stick across it and twist until you have the clamp pressure you need. Total cost? I need to make a 76" table top, 16" wide out of plywood, with "breadboard"

That's more than enough justification for most of us.

We're talking about $3.50 for a pipe clamp, and $12 for an 8 foot pipe. It will cost you more if you trying to rig something together that pops loose

Kevin in Bakersfield

hmm.. hard to explain and my ass-key sucks, but here goes:

you can throw together a few plywood or other scrap extenders...

the simple ones are a 5 or 6" wide piece of ply with a cleat running along the two sides, one cleat on "top", the other on the other end, opposite side, or "bottom".. sort of like '-------, that?? make the bottom cleat to fit the breadboard, the top one to fit the type of clamp you're using.. Sometimes these work best if you just use one at the end of the clamp that's too short, most times, I like one at each end for equal clamping angle.. YMMV

mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

Pipe clamps are cheap and with a little scrounging you can get the pipe for free.

I have five-foot pipe clamps (actually 66", owing to the vaguaries of standard pipe lengths), plus a few nipple/coupling combinations I've built up as the need arose.

Though all my projects lately have been rather large, making me think that perhaps some 90-inchers are due me after my next big lottery win.