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Multitasking Bar Clamps

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Multitasking Bar Clamps

#1

Multitasking Bar Clamps

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

Bar clamps are primarily used for assembling panels. But they can also be used for assembling final product. Ideally, a multitasking clamp will serve both purposes.

Some bar clamps are heavy. The weight is little concern for panel assembly. But heavy bar clamps are not ideal for final assembly. At some point the heft of the clamps could distort that which is being clamped.

A case in point. These lightweight clamps are good for assembles such as this one, yet strong enough for most panel assembly. (assembly is upside down in PIC)

Re: Multitasking Bar Clamps

#2

Re: Multitasking Bar Clamps

Barry Irby

Those are excellent clamps. Thanks to you posting extolling their virtues, I bought a dozen. I highly second your recommendation. Never realized how heavy my old pipe clamps were.

Question: Where did you get the rubber pads? I did not see them when ordering my clamps.

Re: Multitasking Bar Clamps

#3

Pads.... a long story

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

When I started buying the clamps from Universal in CA I asked them about making pads. They never warmed to the idea. When they sold I asked the new owners about making pads. They never warmed. These pads are from Pony. They fit barely adequate but good enough that I used them regularly.

Re: Multitasking Bar Clamps

#4

Re: Pads.... a long story

Barry Irby

Sorry they don't fit well, I was excited for a minute.

I made pads for my pipe clamps out scraps of Baltic Birch plywood. Drilled a hole larger than the pipe and made the pieces about 2" by 6 or 7". That fixed it so the clamps would stand up on their own and could be installed from both sides of a panel. (Mine were so old they did not have the feet.) A tedious project but once over a very big improvement in the clamps.

Hmmm? Wonder if it would be worth while to do something similar to the aluminum clamps?

Re: Multitasking Bar Clamps

#5

On second thought.....

Barry Irby

I have a friend with a 3-d printer. Wonder if he could print some pads and wonder if they would hold up?

Re: Multitasking Bar Clamps

#6

Re: Multitasking Bar Clamps

Ray Newman

Are those Debuque clamps??

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