Hint For Clamping Large Item

fjimp · Post by **fjimp** » Sat Dec 07, 2013 6:15 pm

This holiday season my daughter has requested a window seat to replace a seat removed by a prior owner. She plans to paint the seat and made her desires very specific. The front section has been completed in a single panel 106" long. While assembling I encountered one of those hey wait a minute moments as my longest clamp is 51 inches long. Thus as noted in the picture I used a total of six clamps. Three each for top and bottom clamp rows. Jim

joedw00 · Post by **joedw00** » Sat Dec 07, 2013 6:28 pm

Thats using your head for something other than a hat rack.

Pretty clever, thanks for posting.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Sat Dec 07, 2013 7:39 pm

Much can be said for pipe clamps in similar situations.

fjimp · Post by **fjimp** » Sat Dec 07, 2013 8:46 pm

JPG40504 wrote:Much can be said for pipe clamps in similar situations.

I agree, in fact I reached for the pipe clamps first. When I was having fits attempting to extend the clamp length I looked at the clamp rack and decided the red ones would do the same job without requiring reconfiguring and then having to return them to original length. For me being a lazy sort it was a no brainer. Jim

reftech · Post by **reftech** » Sat Dec 07, 2013 11:05 pm

Looks like your clamps need to be in a different position. Clamps set across the work at the stiles and rails connection.

fjimp · Post by **fjimp** » Mon Dec 09, 2013 2:06 pm

I knew some sharp eyed woodyworker would pick up on that point thus I must now bore you with the second more complicated picture. Yes I did clamp both directions. The first picture was intended only for purpose of illustrating use of multiple clamps to span a long area. Then again I had intended that to be the purpose of the thread:D Jim

reftech · Post by **reftech** » Wed Dec 11, 2013 1:33 am

One can never have too many clamps.

Does that mean I do not have enough:D

skou · Post by **skou** » Wed Dec 11, 2013 3:21 am

reftech wrote:One can never have too many clamps. Does that mean I do not have enough:D

If you can walk around in your shop, you don't have enough.

However, if you do mostly lathe work, you only need a few. (Hundred.):eek:

steve

skou · Post by **skou** » Wed Dec 11, 2013 3:28 am

JPG40504 wrote:Much can be said for pipe clamps in similar situations.

I'm going to agree with Red here. Pipe clamps, while cumbersome to take apart, can be lengthened with some threaded couplings.

When I get my shop furnished, (if I EVER get it finished!) it will have a BUNCH of those slide style clamps. (The ones with the 1/8th by 3/8ths bar.) AND a bunch of 1/2 inch black-pipe Pony clamps, with the threaded couplings.

steve