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10K views 54 replies 20 participants last post by  mafe 
#1 ·
Pipe clamps - making, pads and stands

Pipe clamps
making, pads and stands.

Pipe clamps has been on my wish list for years, didn't really need them, rarely do that big stuff, but when doing just that, I were always thinking; why don't I have a set of pipe clamps… and well yes I just always liked them.

Last year my old mother gave a pack of four clamp heads (they were on the wish list), so I had to do something about it, at some point at that was now.

As always I check prices and had a chock, when finding out that the pipes with precut thread, was four times the price of the pipe heads…
Hmmmmmmm.


This is how they ended up looking, but first we have to go back in time.


Bringing pipes home.


I am never paying too much for any thing, so I found my way around it.

The calculation:

I needed six 2 meter pipes and wanted four 1 meter extensions, so I could use these for short clamps and also be able to work in up to 2,8 lengths, for doors and so on.

If I should buy those pipes pre made, it would cost:
2 meters: 6×230 kr = 1380 kr and 2 meters: 4×130 kr = 520 kr
Total: 1900 kr / 290 usd / 255 euro.

2 full length 6 meters ¾ pipe is 510 kr / 78 usd / 68 euro.- crazy the threading can be that expensive!!! I have a set for threading, in the allotment, so I just have to cut them then.

But I need a way to cut them, as I can't drive with 6 meters on the roof of my wee car, so I bought a 18v grinder, for my Makita system, 540 kr on sale.

510 + 540 kr = 1050 kr, so I still saved 850 kr / 130 usd / 115 euro and got my self a grinder.


Got my self a cordless grinder now, actually wanted that for quite a while, so big smile here.


The threader set, a cheap one I got for nothing in a junk sale, a long time back and never used…


Hmmmmmmmm, the ¾ threader really sucks, cut's so badly, that it's destructive…


Even for my fingers…


Suddenly I have a plumbers workshop…
But I will have to get a new ¾ cutter, so a break for now.


Strange world…
It was cheaper to buy a full set, than just one, another 300 kr / 30 usd / 40 euro, still saved a big, so no problem and I need the threader in the allotment, so all is fine.


That was better, it cuts just fine.


Fair threads, for an amateur.


Finally!!!


First clamp made.


Now I just needed to cut another thirteen or more threads…
I took four a day, as I have chronic pain and this is a job for men with big muscles and dirty fingers, not retired Architects used to lifting pencils, laugs.


But the time could be used well, here cutting some cork.
Old flooring cork tiles I found in the trash a long time ago.


Sticking them on double sided tape.


Mounting on the pipe clamp heads.


The one half got a wee modification, in the form of two holes.


Tadaaaaa!
Just so we don't get marks on the wood clamped.


Next up some plywood were cut up, for more assesories.


Marking the centre of the pipe.


Drilling.


With the deep stop set, so I don't go through and get a blow out.


Just so deep that I can go from other side after, by using the point, that exactly sticks out.


But also use to mark the next.


We got raisers!
If I could redo, I would have made then a wee higher, but this was fine.
Some pipe clamps have raisers, so this will not be needed there.


Using one to drill into another…


Making a circle cut on the side.


This little circle cut, can be used like this, to rest the clamps on.


Now a rabbet, made on the table saw.


Use a back stop, to avoid blow out.


Now they can be used with some of my other clamp types, to rest the clamps on.


Never ending story…


You can never have to many clamps, here on my small stuff clamp wall.


And now also pipe clamps.

Hope it can be to some inspiration, just some pipe clamps or a good laugh.

Best thoughts,

MaFe
 
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#3 ·
Great clamps, Mads. I like you accessories for them too. I could have used them today on this big tray I'm gluing together,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Cheers, Jim
 
#6 ·
Pipe clamps can be some of the best ways to clamp a project. I have a few 3/4" pipe clamp. Because they are lighter and still provide good clamping pressure, I prefer to use my 1/2" pipe clamps. Lately, because I don't have access to my main shop, I find other solutions like wedges for clamping. This works fine because I'm not making any large projects right now. Enjoy the new clamps! :)
 
#10 ·
I got my pipes cut and threaded at Homee Deepot or Loweees for cheap many years ago. The job was done in a few minutes. I recently found another set of ends. Now you got me thinking that I should get a pipe set for it too. Maybe I will. Thanks for your videos. I love your shop and all those clamps. I am envious !
 
#15 ·
Hi guys,

Ken90712, All well here thank you, hope all is well with you and the beautiful one. Never enough clamps!

Jim J, I could have used them when I made half doors for my allotment… next time. Thanks dear Jim, Cheers.

Dave P, Sadly I could not get that type here and if I should import, it would have been four times the price… Well I would not have had a good time then, smiles. Thank you Dave.

lew, Mulifunction multitasking multimafe… Laugh. Somehow it's just me MultiMaFe laughs. Thanks Les.

Eric, Smiles Eric. Never too many clamps! Tadaaaaaaa!!!!

doubleDD, Big laugh, yes perhaps I should try and smoke one… Thanks.

LittleBlackDuck, Did you see my car? I call it an old womans car.

Doug, Here I have only seen one size, but we are a small country of 6.5 million people, so that's normal. Yes wedges can solve most really, a few straight boards and some wedges, or even a rope and a stick, I have made a door like that years back. Thank you with a smile here, I love to be in my work shop.

woodchucker1, Not that option here, I could go to a plumber and would probably have payed 200usd for the threads, but right now they are so busy, due to boom in building, that they would most likely have just said piss off, laughs.

James E McIntyre, Just with carpet tape, it's really strong (There's a picture with the text: Sticking them on double sided tape.). Happy if it can be useful, then it's worth it. Big smile here. My old mother is not that old, she's only 77, so she was a young mother when she had me at 24. For your second comment…..laughs…..

Schwieb, good to see you here. Thank you, with a big smile.

Best thoughts to you all,
Mads
 
#18 ·
It has a nice soft glow. If it breaks you guys can always eat it or turn it into a salt lick.

Great work on the bird and design.

- James E McIntyre

Oops I posted here instead of on a project about a clock that was lit by a salt block.

JEMI, did you zig when you should ve zagged?.. or should I have started drinking earlier?

- LittleBlackDuck
Oops. I thought I was commenting on the pelican clock project with a salt light. Lol.
Bird Wood Beak Plant Art
 

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#19 ·
It has a nice soft glow. If it breaks you guys can always eat it or turn it into a salt lick.

Great work on the bird and design.

- James E McIntyre

JEMI, did you zig when you should ve zagged?.. or should I have started drinking earlier?

- LittleBlackDuck
Ops. I thought I was commenting on Swerts pelican clock lit by a hunk of salt. Lol
Bird Wood Beak Plant Art


Bird Wood Beak Art Ducks, geese and swans
 

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#22 ·
I must have missed the link on the post with the link to this page somehow! What a blog Mads! Love seeing how you got this done! I have a few pipe clamps just like yours. I'm always adding scrap wood to the clamps to stop from denting my work. Great idea thanks for sharing and love all the pictures too!
 
#24 ·
Pads for track saw clamps - Festool & Dewalt types

Pads for track saw clamps
Festool & Dewalt types.

Hi fellow wood nerds, big smile.

While I were in the clamp mood, I looked at my worktable clamp wall and wondered what I could improve.
Sometimes this is a fine way of thinking and learn or do new, not what do I need, but what can I improve.

I have often needed a few extra clamps and had to use the track saw clamps, when doing this, the sharp edge on the en end, makes them leave marks, if I don't put something in between.
So lets make something in between…


Here the Dewalt type.
Made some plywood pieces and stared making rabbets.


Rabbet in the width of the clamp end and also am extra slot.


Rare earth magnet glued into the middle of the rabbet.


Cutting some protection pieces, for the pads, from cork put on double sided tape.


Cork mounted on the pads and pads sanded to the shape of the Dewalt pad.


Pad against pad.


The magnet, holds the pad in place.
Job done.


Same process for my Festool clamps, a rabbet and a slot, to fit the width of these.


This time I make some small backing pieces, instead of magnets, as the backs are not flat.


Gluing the backings on.


Clamping, while glue dries.
Here with Japanese brass clamps.


Cork mounted on the pads and pad shaped on the disc sander.
Now my Festool clamps can be used as regular clamps too.

Hope it can be to some inspiration, or to get more use of your clamps.

Best thoughts,

MaFe
 
#30 ·
Pads for Japanese clamps and a black dog...

Pads for Japanese clamps
and a black dog…

Hi,

This is a short one.

Of course my big size Japanese clamps also needed some pads, now I were in the padding mood, smiles.


For the extra long version with thick bar.
A piece of ash wood, a slit that fits the clamp and a rare earth magnet.


I think that they make these beautiful clamps look even better.


For the medium size with square bar, I the same type, but no magnets (for now).
They can be used as stands also.


Less is plenty.


Stored with a rubberband.


For the small brass clamps (two sizes also), I just have a bunch of fitting cork pieces, wrapped in rubber band, as they are not usually tightened very hard, but on delicate projects, it's nice to have the option.


A friend of mine, noticed that there were a picture on my workbench in the first blog here, a scary one.


I call it the black dog.
Tried some weeks back to illustrate, the black dog that was there, when I had a deep depression ten years back and that I can still sometimes hear breathing, or running behind me, when I cycle to the workshop.
Guess that once you have tried to be that low in your life, you never fully recover, if you make it, you come out as a new person, but with the knowing that that place exists and therefore and open eye and mind, when you start to feel heavy or the dog is barking, at your back door.
I thought I would share this, as I think it's important we share these taboos, now that someone noticed.
I had a couple of mild depressions, during the last ten years, but were lucky to not be eaten by the dog again.
If someone wonder, then I'm fine now, don't worry, not even a light winter depression, but really tired of the Covid solitude as every one else - the painting were just made for self therapy, smiles.
For that reason, I made the dog look a little like a bat also.

Special thoughts to those, who went through a depression, are going through one, or were close to someone, my best advice is to talk openly, it was that for a big part this, that me able to get out of mine and with the help of medicine.

Hope it can be to some inspiration, a talk about clamps or depression.

Best thoughts,

MaFe
 
#47 ·
Replacement pads & C clamp pads

Replacement pads & C clamp pads
and me rampling as usual.

Hi again,

This is the final part in this round, had a good time making clamps and upgrading or fixing my existing clamps.

Fist we replace some missing pads on standard clamps.


You can never have too many clamps…
Clamp bar - not bar clamps.


You need some of these, plastic spacers, that you can buy cheap and use for house building.


Pick favourite color and thickness.


Mark centre and drill a couple of holes.


Cut out between holes, then cut open in the middle, at the end.


Then you can slide it in over the clamp bar.


You now have protection, that can slide up and down and will not fall of.


Works for top and bottom or both if needed.


That's it for these.


I have a small box with loose pads for clamping.
But also some C clamps a rarely use, as they always leaves marks…


Let's fix that.
Size matters…


Again plastic spacer.
Made a quick jig, to make the drilling safe.
Drilling 2/3 way through.


For the base of the C's I also had to drill here.


Then cut out, for the arm.


Screw end type.


I wanted them to stay on the clamps, but to be able to get off easy, so I went for tack it.


That's it for the C clamps.


Always make a few extras while you are at it, just in case…


Other ways of clamping, bicycle tubes are quite handy, when cut into long stips.


I will wrap it up here, with the clamp wall next to my work table.
Now they are all ready to be gapped in a hurry and be fully functional, when clamping, we are often in a hurry, most often due to bad planning, laughs.

Hope it can be to some inspiration, or useful clamp or two.

Best thoughts,

MaFe
 
#48 ·
I have a set of C-clamps I rarely use, and I don't think they'll get pads, since I use them almost exclusively for clamping cauls across two boards that I'm gluing into a wider panel, and then the cauls get the dents from the c-clamps. And then next time, the cauls and clamps fit together like an old couple.

A very nice series, though. Great upgrade to your clamps, and not too much time spent on the effort.
 
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