DerbyDad03 wrote: | OK, so I don't really have too many clamps, but I definitely don't | have enough hands. | | I'm looking for some tips on clamping up projects. Between the | cauls, pads, parts, angles, etc. it seems I'm always dropping | something, missing my mark or just basically having a hard time | lining everything up. | | Most of my clamps are steel f-clamps with a few wooden Jorgensens | and a couple of QuickGrips. | | Any tips to share?
It's always good to have a few C-clamps handy.
I glue up a lot of right angle stuff. The aluminum face frame clamps (they come in two types) are fantastic for this kind of clamping. I have a photo of both types (along with a few C-clamps) in use in the photos at the top of
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try to keep a supply of allthread (threaded rod stock) and threaded knobs in the shop for making special-purpose clamps. There's a photo of one example at
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've also tried to keep track of sources of clamp parts for building clamps that aren't available off-the-shelf. There's a picture of a clamp I use for splicing sheet goods at the top of
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've built a few cam-type clamps out of 2x stock and aluminum angle, screw type clamps that attach to t-track, vacuum clamps (for use with a recycled refrigerator compressor as the vacuum pump), and a pile of clamp extenders (which extend the "reach" of small clamps to hold work bigger than the clamp). Don't be afraid to roll your own.
HTH
-- Morris Dovey DeSoto Solar DeSoto, Iowa USA
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