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This is a project that my wife's uncle started over 20 years ago and never finished. They are clamps that clamp in all 4 directions…. keeping your glue-ups nice and flat. I think he got the idea from Shopsmith…. but improved on it…. they have a similar bar clamp. He made the metal parts in a tool & die shop and then never got around to making the wood bars. If you look closely the metal parts of the clamps could be easily made from flat and round stock you could get at any local hardware. The wood is hard maple 1 5/8" by 3 1/2" by 36". I have been using them now for about 2 months and I love them…. they are easy to use and it comes out flat every time.

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5,279 Posts
Nice job Rick. I actually have a couple of sets of the ShopSmith ones and they are absolutely the best for flat panel glueing. Yours look a little heavier duty but very similar.
 

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1,833 Posts
Great work, I so need to make some of these. Would save so much time and produce great results.
 

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73 Posts
Making them would be less expensive than purchasing them. Looked at them on online and it was $70 for one clamp, which is 1/2 of the minimum that you need. I am impressed with the design and potential.
 

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296 Posts
I have been using clamps like this that I made for the last 10 years. also in combination with bar clamps. There are allot of great clamps.. out there now but I would not want to trade mine for them. Nice part about them is, once you have the wood clamped you can stand it on end of clamps out of the way. The set i have the back clamp is not adjustable, just a block of wood, makes it simpler for anyone making them. just need more notches. jA great set and well made.
 

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1,243 Posts
Great job Rick.
I really like the built-in clamping caul feature.
Some of these might have to be added to "the list"...
Thanks for sharing.
 

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8,779 Posts
great looking set of clamps…. can you post a better view of the schematic? Maybe a screen shot?
 

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I have some hardware and am getting ready to make some of these. I also have the Shopsmith ones. I've heard it's best that the wood beams have a slight bow to them so the middle contacts first and pressure is evenly distributed as you really clamp down on the ends. Easy to taper on the jointer about 1/16.
 

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264 Posts
Those look great. They are def going on my to do list. Great job
 

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5 Posts
Good idea, good work, a lot of practical wooden clamp …
 

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The Shopsmith ones do have a bow in them….. but they are thinner and made of a softer wood. Mine are flat and much thicker. I have tried to flex them….. but that hard maple just won't move.
 

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Great, I think i will have to make some for me, I do not know how, but I need them. Great job. Thanks for sharing it.
Isra
 
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