Wooden Hand Screw classic shopsmith mod

[reible]

Hi,

Been a while since I last posted here so I figured I come bearing a gift in the way of a project I just finished. Since I have not been around much it could be someone has already presented this.... In that case just think of this as a review.

One problem with using wooden hand clamps on the shopsmith is the webbing of the casting on the underside of the tables. The solution I'm going to show you has been around for a long time and can be used on drill presses, band saws, and the like. I'm sure the inventor has long since passed on, but hats off to who ever it was. It is a good and simple idea that works.

As in the past I have decided to post the pictures else where. I'll post the text here and you can open a second window/tab and view them there while reading here. This will get you to the page and you can follow in left to right, top to bottom order. Mouse over will give you the photo id and clicking them will enlarge them. The images are copyrighted but you have permission to use them for personal non-money use.
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/12199425@N02/sets/72157608493719437/
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Photos removed from flickr see below 12/26/08
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You will quickly see that these clamps are from Rockler, they are on sale for like $4.00 each in the Oct. catalog (page 134)(30075). I forgot what I paid but this sounds like a deal to me.

Like I said the idea is simple. You add a dowel to the clamp and now this fits between the web of the table. The first two images show you this.

The orginal one I made I just used a screw through the clamp and into the dowel. I'm sorry but the camera was a bit out of sorts when it took picture DSCF5400. This version worked but a few times it seemed the location of the clamp was being dictated web and the dowel and not by where I wanted to place the clamp. Hence version 1.1 was born.

I wanted to make a few changes to the design so that is what I will be mainly be dealing with in this post. *****403 shows a little trick some of the new people my want to take note of. The screw head needs to be able to move in the slot and the that means the hole I will be drilling needs to be larger then the screw head. A cheap drill bit gauge makes it easy to pick a bit larger then the head. With that out of the way we come to the set up. Again the out of focus pictures show a hand sketch on the clamp that gives the location of the updated screw location, side view. Again by hand I sketched the top view *****405.

Setting up to drill this could have been done several ways but it looked easy enough to do using the setup you see. The extension table is not designed for much side ways force so go slow and a little hand pressure helps out too. The fence keeps the clamp at 90 degrees to the bit, the backer board prevents the fence from getting drilled. Next you need to set the depth, followed by locating the bit on the clamp and keeping it square to the table.

Next you can eye ball the starting location by adjusting the height of the table. Using over lapping operations drill your way to the other end. Make sure you only move the vertical location and leave it at the last hole. You will need to change bits to make the slot for the screw. In my case I went with a 1/4" drill. The first hole should be in the center of the last drill so you will want go from that location to the center of the first hole you drilled. Also make sure you do not drill into your fence, the bit only needs to go though the clamp.

AT his point the clamp is almost done. It should look a lot like the photo *****416. Again this is not the only way to do this but just an example of how it might be done. Then over to the work top where you can clean out the holes. Note the wood clamped to the work top to protect it. This need not be fancy but do as you like. I just did the minimum to get by which is often what I do on projects like this.

Next I cut a section of dowel, drilled a hole in it to mount a threaded insert and mounted the insert. Using a 1/4-20 machine screw I attached the dowel. I should add that I was planning on using a carriage bolt but had none the size I needed so for now it is what it is. The idea being that you can turn the dowel to loosen and move the location. You can also just take the dowel off and use the clamp without it, but these clamps are so cheap I think I will just keep them for this use.

I think I covered most everything but if you have questions ask away.

Ed

[a1gutterman]

Hi Ed,

It is very good to hear from you again. I, for one, have missed your knowledge and input. I do hope that you decide in the affirmative, regarding your new signature.

That is a very good idea on your clamps. It does indeed solve an irritating situation. Thank you for sharing and for your usual picture descriptions.

[dusty]

As always, Ed, fantastic solution to an age old problem.

[kd6vpe]

Welcome back,
I also had been gone awhile and hope to start posting here again. Been kinda slow in my shop as winter is starting to set in and planning on moving the shop into a better building. I sure do like the clamp thing thank you so much for sharing.

[reible]

Photo's of the project:
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more photos in the next post

Ed

[reible]

More photo and more to come:
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Ed

[reible]

Yes more and more photo's
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Ed

[reible]

The last two!!!

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These had 60 views so maybe more people will see then now??

Ed

[grouser]

Hey thanks for the pics,,,great idea,,,Happy New Year:D