Shopsmith Forums

While checking out the TV show yesterday I got to see a bunch of tips. One was a repeat of one I had seen before but never tried. So today I stopped at the Walmart and got a bicycle inner tube which was the one part that I didn't have to make one of these band clamps. Not sure what I'm talking about, well keep reading and we will see if I can clear that up.

The inner tube I got was one labeled 27" and designed to fit tire widths of 1-1/8 to 1-1/4. It cost $4.64 and may or may not be the best one of the job.
I have several types of spring clamps but for today I looked at ones I got at Menard's in red and black from Harbor Freight. Current prices are $1.99 each for them both. They maybe 2" ones but I can't be sure but those are the ones I priced and they look about right. Anyway not all that expensive.
I sort of hated to do this but since I don't have any old used ones around anymore I had to....... Had to cut it up. I started near the valve stem sense that seemed like a logical place.
Then cut some 5" lengths.
As a guess I would say this inner tube can supply up to 16 segments, but maybe that is optimistic. For sure 15.....

Now you simply pull the inner tube over the ends of the clamp. It will end up looking like this:
Now you have a clamp that goes over the work piece and the band can be stretched tight providing clamping pressure. This could be for something like holding a part to the edge while you add some screws something like this:
Or to hold some trim while the glue dries like this:
So the clamp is $1.99 and the inner tube segment is $.31 (15 per) so a total of $2.30 each. Rockler's professional models go for lot more. And yes you could use larger clamps and figure perhaps larger inner tubes if that is what you need. This size will be fine for me.

Sometimes it pays to watch TV.

Ed

Great tip . Thanks for sharing.

Great idea. I love these tips. Would be nice if they had their own sticky.

In the canoe building forums, some builders use these, especially in stapleless building.

A small update. I was able to get 15 pieces of tube out of the inner tube. I also placed an order for dozen clamps which I will put the tubing on for an up coming project.

The clamps are just $18.99 for the dozen, or just over $1.58 each. If this interests you then check them out here:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MY ... UTF8&psc=1

This clamp was a recommendation from a fellow woodworker who I follow on youtube but if you would rather I gave them a review let me know. Should be here on Wed (Jan 23, 2019).

Ed

Ed:

Thanks for this. I had seen this tip somewhere brfore but your post with details has given me motivation to try it. I have both an old bicycle tube and clamps so really no cost to me.

John

The clamps will do just fine. I shot a couple more pictures as I got in to production mode to do the dozen.

Used a clamp to hold the clamp open and it serves as a holder as well as position-er.
I attached one end of the tubing like this:
Then rotate and put the other end on:
They could be stored with the tubing out but I think I like it better with it tucked in so a little flex before releasing the clamps to make that happen.
And now I have a stack of 12 of these clamps ready to go when I need them.
Ed