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Re: Wood Clamps. My Design.

Posted: Mon Jul 29, 2013 7:01 pm
by 4DThinker
Those long rabbet clamps are a great idea, Karen. Thanks for posting photos. I made a simple L shaped bracket for the college Shark, to use when students had several of the same sized boards to cut. Your clamps have the added advantage of holding down across an entire edge. I'm going to be stealing that idea as we often encounter boards that won't lay flat but need to be held flat to CNC.

Re: Wood Clamps. My Design.

Posted: Mon Jul 29, 2013 9:10 pm
by KarenW
Steal all you want... just don't include an *ouch*.
:mrgreen:

Re: Wood Clamps. My Design.

Posted: Wed Jul 31, 2013 5:14 pm
by maxxxpower1000
I have to say, both sets of clamps came out nice and both sets of clamps are a good idea. I just put up a post in the set up section looking to replace my rockler clamps. These will do nicely!

Re: Wood Clamps. My Design.

Posted: Wed Jul 31, 2013 5:48 pm
by 4DThinker
Glad I could help, Max. I have a feeling Karen feels the same. If you make your own, post a photo here. Also, feel free to improve on my design as you see fit.

Re: Wood Clamps. My Design.

Posted: Wed Jul 31, 2013 9:17 pm
by KarenW
Absolutely!
I've gleaned so many good ideas and solutions here that I'm glad someone finds something of mine useful.
Ouches and all. :mrgreen:

Re: Wood Clamps. My Design.

Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2013 11:45 am
by Keith Hodges
4d, curious. What is the hole in the end of the clamp for? Wood dowel for more glue surface, glue pocket, or what? Love the design and cutting them as I type. Keith

Re: Wood Clamps. My Design.

Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2013 2:46 pm
by 4DThinker
Keith Hodges wrote:4d, curious. What is the hole in the end of the clamp for? Wood dowel for more glue surface, glue pocket, or what? Love the design and cutting them as I type. Keith
Good question. I put that hole there so I could insert a 3/8" dowel to help align the halves when gluing them up. First one I made without the hole/dowel slipped in the clamps and I didn't notice until the glue was dry.

4D

Re: Wood Clamps. My Design.

Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2013 4:23 pm
by Keith Hodges
OK, thanks. Was kinda thinking along those lines, just failed to add it to my questions. Anyway, they turned out nice. Gotta get some more T bolts and knobs, and I'll have all the clamps I need. The again, you can never have enough clamps, so may need to make some more. Anyway, thanks. Keith

Re: Wood Clamps. My Design.

Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2013 7:23 pm
by milo30
Karen, I like your clamps. I need to make me something along those lines. I have been using screws but last week I replaced my spoil board on the pro and then added more to it to stiffen it up. I put a couple of aluminum tracks down in it to start using some clamps again but soon found out that I got carried away and the carriage wouldn't clear the back clamps at their new height. Something along the lines of what you are using should work out good for my needs.

Re: Wood Clamps. My Design.

Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2014 5:17 pm
by 4DThinker
Just thought I'd mention that Rocker's track also work with 1/4" hex bolts, and if the plastic handles and 5/16" toilet bolt are too high for for a job then a shorter hex bolt using a 1/4" nut and washer are easy to find and cheaper than the toilet bolts are. I had plenty in my nuts and bolts collection, as well as a simple spare wrench to keep near the CNC for tightening them down.

The clamps work as is, or you can make a version with the slot just a little over 1/4" wide when glued together. 1/4" t-track is also pretty common, and if you have any more of it in use in your shop these clamps will come in handy there as well.