Project by kiefer | posted 01-23-2014 02:22 AM | 29704 views | 111 times favorited | 41 comments | ![]() |
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Here is my new bar clamp which is a spin off from my vise I am working on and a project I have had in mind for some time .
Here is a Pic of how I made the raster bars ,I cut a bunch of pieces and glued them onto 1/4” MDF backer aligning them with a straight piece of hardwood and checking for square as I went .
Next I trimmed the bottom off and followed by trimming the sides .
I made the raster bar to try out on the vise but it was not what I was looking for so I decided to take the time to build this bar clamp The new clamp has three screws to allow for initial tightening with the bottom screw in the head stock and two more screws for tilting the clamping pads for fifteen degree in either direction from ninety degree .
I can use this for bringing a box corner or mitre joint to square or bring a frame with odd angles into the proper angle alignment and also flatten out a panel made from several boards by manipulating the screws .
It will even hold my wife’s tablet or I Phone and is gentle enough to hold a ornament with the leather faced clamping pads .There are already other uses that I will explore when I have a set of these built .
The headstock has a foot that can swivel to give the clamp more stability and I also made some adaptor pad that slide onto the clamping pads which can be used to install other attachments .
The screw handles are wood wrapped with leather strips, good and soft grip and the screws are threaded and glued into the handle and counter locked with a brass fitting .
The raster mechanism is very simple and to close the clamp the tail stock slides making a clacking sound like a toy and to open it the little lever releases the lock and it slides open .
This is a proto type and I don’t think it will see any use in the shop but serve as a fun ornament but now that I have build it I will make myself a set of these as I find they work great and I also found that I can simplify the construction .
Total cost was very minimal as I used up stuff from around the shop plus some coins which are the brass pieces embedded in the sides .
A real fun and different project and no plan as usual .
-- Kiefer https://www.youtube.com/user/woodkiefer1/videos
41 comments so far
bushmaster
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4095 posts in 3252 days
#1 posted 01-23-2014 02:29 AM
Great idea and engineering, Thanks so much. a FAVORITE for sure make like to build one too, am using homemade clamps the are much superior to bar clamps, willo post them sometime too.
-- Brian - Hazelton, British Columbia
489tad
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#2 posted 01-23-2014 02:32 AM
That is an ingenious idea. Workmanship is outstanding. No plan. Well done.
-- Dan, Naperville IL, I.G.N.
doubleDD
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9992 posts in 3013 days
#3 posted 01-23-2014 02:46 AM
This is a super idea. Outstanding craftsmanship. Well done. Reminds me of the old car jacks.
-- Dave, Downers Grove, Il. -------- When you run out of ideas, start building your dreams.
woodshaver Tony C
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#4 posted 01-23-2014 02:51 AM
489tad said it all. I totally agree with every word! Outstanding Beautiful Workmanship! I’m so impressed with your work Mr Kiefer! And No plan! Nice idea using those coins! Love the entire project!
-- St Augustine FL, Experience is the sum of our mistakes!
shipwright
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#5 posted 01-23-2014 03:08 AM
Good one Klaus. I’m afraid I have strayed away from my vice ideas. I will leave that one to you. I have all the confidence in the world you will crack that nut. Too many challenges , too little time.
That is a great clamp. I love it.
-- Paul M ..............the early bird may get the worm but it’s the second mouse that gets the cheese! http://thecanadianschooloffrenchmarquetry.com/
swirt
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5856 posts in 3942 days
#6 posted 01-23-2014 03:50 AM
Wow, clever and beautiful. Excellent work and thank you for sharing.
-- Galootish log blog, http://www.timberframe-tools.com
DocSavage45
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9028 posts in 3812 days
#7 posted 01-23-2014 03:56 AM
Kiefer,
You put the FUN in “Fun”ctional! It’s got form and function, and its got nice design.
“Made it from things I had around my shop.” Like to see the stuff lying around your shop! :-)
-- Cau Haus Designs, Thomas J. Tieffenbacher
SuperCubber
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1162 posts in 3254 days
#8 posted 01-23-2014 04:11 AM
That is freakin awesome!
-- Joe | Spartanburg, SC | "To give anything less than your best is to sacrafice the gift." - Steve Prefontaine
hoss12992
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4178 posts in 2863 days
#9 posted 01-23-2014 04:27 AM
This is just flat our AWESOME! Very creative. I def need a few of these. Great job and thanks for sharing
-- The Old Rednek Workshop https://www.facebook.com/theoldrednekworkshoptn
tyvekboy
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#10 posted 01-23-2014 04:36 AM
Great idea. Looks like a very useful shop tool.
-- Tyvekboy -- Marietta, GA ………….. one can never be too organized
Woodwrecker
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#11 posted 01-23-2014 04:52 AM
Very nicely done my friend.
You ingenuity has no bounds.
vanzemaljac
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#12 posted 01-23-2014 08:36 AM
Great idea, a lot of hot pliers, beautifully designed and well-done job, thanks for sharing mate …
-- Lathe and my imagination will do everything to realize my dreams...Vanzemaljac
TonyWard
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748 posts in 5298 days
#13 posted 01-23-2014 09:25 AM
Great, very good for clamping unusual shapes, such as bandsawn boxes, which wont fit a conventional clamping device. Thank you for sharing your invention.
stefang
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#14 posted 01-23-2014 10:05 AM
A wonderful clamp Klaus and it has all the hallmarks of your usual tool projects, intricate, but also practical and easy to use. Great work once again!
-- Mike, an American living in Norway.
Roger
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21047 posts in 3774 days
#15 posted 01-23-2014 10:55 AM
Very classy clamp. Very universal clamping options.
-- Roger from KY. Work/Play/Travel Safe. Keep your dust collector fed. [email protected]
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