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
-- MAD F, the fanatical rhykenologist and vintage architect.
8 comments so far
Dave Polaschek
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10281 posts in 2040 days
#1 posted 01-19-2022 01:35 PM
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.
-- Dave - Santa Fe
doubleDD
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11288 posts in 3501 days
#2 posted 01-19-2022 02:00 PM
A motivational series Mads. I have a few clamps that need attention and these ideas are easy. Thanks for the tour. I like your Clamp leg table, still laughing.
-- Dave, Downers Grove, Il. -------- When you run out of ideas, start building your dreams.
McHammer
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11 posts in 125 days
#3 posted 01-19-2022 02:37 PM
What a fantastic idea, thank you
-- TotemPugs Woodworks, “Everything’s a hammer”
woodchucker1
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115 posts in 293 days
#4 posted 01-19-2022 02:39 PM
My clamps are fine just the way they are.
lew
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13533 posts in 5213 days
#5 posted 01-19-2022 05:19 PM
Thanks for the ideas, my Friend!
I need to uses this to make replacements for some of the lost pads on my clamp collection.
-- Lew- Time traveler. Purveyor of the Universe's finest custom rolling pins.
Jim Jakosh
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27701 posts in 4563 days
#6 posted 01-19-2022 05:24 PM
Good way to protect the pats being clamped. I like your table made with the long clamps. A person can make any size table in a hurry using that method …...........Cheers, JIm
-- Jim Jakosh.....Practical Wood Products...........Learn something new every day!! Variety is the Spice of Life!!
Doug
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1304 posts in 4219 days
#7 posted 01-19-2022 08:56 PM
Great idea for the C clamps. I don’t usually reach for my C clamps for woodworking. They were all I used when I was a machinist though. Thanks for sharing.
-- Doug
mafe
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13872 posts in 4547 days
#8 posted 01-20-2022 10:18 AM
Hi,
Dave P, I almost never use my C’s, this was why I gave them pads, to see if they will be useful then, otherwise they will go to my blacksmith stuff. I do use them on a few jigs though. I spend a good day upgrading all the clamps, think that it was a worth the time, at least I will get maximum use of what I have now. Thank you Dave.
doubleDD, I though also that table was worth a good laugh. I just got the clamps on a sale one day, for next to nothing and thought they looked like table legs, so I had to do it. Thanks really glad if it could be a motivation..
McHammer, Thank you MC, happy if it could be usefull.
woodchucker1, Laughs. Then I suggest you do nothing.
Lew, Thanks my so dear friend, wonderful if it can be useful. Hope life is good to you.
Jim J, I think it could make a really cool sofa table for a workshop, but I dont have a sofa here… Laughs. I think honestly the idea can be used for quick out feed tables and such, in many situations. Cheers dear Jim.
Doug, Time will tell if I get to use the C-clamps more now, at least I have given them a chance. Thanks Doug.
Best of my thoughts,
Mads
-- MAD F, the fanatical rhykenologist and vintage architect.
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