Shopsmith Forums

frank81 wrote:Forgive my ignorance but where did you get the clamps? I've got plenty of black iron piping, that stuff is really handy when you are doing things in the garage you shouldn't be doing. But I don't have plenty of clamps, especially long sturdy clamps. I could really use a set or two like you've made.

BuckeyeDennis wrote:Wow indeed! I really need some more clamps, but have been vascillating between expensive bar clamps and cheaper, but more pedestrian pipe clamps. Pipe clamps are looking real good now. What's the citrus paint stripper that you used on the pipes?

Ed in Tampa wrote:One thing no one mentioned is pipe clamps are heavy, very heavy compared to some other clamps avail.

This can be good and bad.

Good as heavy usually equals stable.

Bad as heavy to store, too many will pull most clamp storage systems down.
Bad as heavy to move a glued up project. If you have to move the project to make room for more clamping, pipe clamps can make this difficult if not impossible.

I had a ton of pipe clamps and they served me well but as I got more and more lighter clamps I used them less and less. Finally my Son in Law needed some clamps and I loaned him my pipe clamps. Being a young strong man he was, their weight never bothered him. I never asked for them back figuring I always knew where they were. I never had need for them again. Then he and my daughter parted ways and my pipe clamps are now gone.

I have thought about getting another few sets just to have them if and when I need them. The problem is now that if you get the really nice ones that allow you tighten them while the head is over your bench and have legs for stability their cost is high, add to that the cost of the pipe and you are very close to the price of a knock off of a good aluminum clamp, may be even an original.