Springs on the Shopsmith Double Bar Clamp

Lodgepole · Post by **Lodgepole** » Wed Apr 13, 2022 5:35 pm

This past weekend I picked up 3 of the old style 24" Shopsmith Double Bar Clamps. I am guessing these date back to the early 1990s. I have 2 questions:

1. Are there only 2 springs for each clamp? Or, should there be 4 springs? I ask this since each side of the metal brackets has a pivoting round bar with a slot in it. There are also hooks on each side of the metal bracket. So, 4 springs would appear to fit.

2. Where can I purchase replacement springs? I have a feeling that even if 4 springs aren't needed I will end up bumping, or dropping the clamp. Then 1 or more springs will go flying to somewhere unknown in my shop.

Also any photos would be greatly appreciated. Especially closeups of both the metal brackets.

Thanks for any help anyone can provide.

wa2crk · Post by **wa2crk** » Wed Apr 13, 2022 6:17 pm

Ace hardware store usually has a good selection of springs. If you can not get a perfect match consider replacing all of them. I don't think that the spring tension is very critical but it may be better to have them all the same tension.
Bill V

Lodgepole · Post by **Lodgepole** » Wed Apr 13, 2022 6:53 pm

Bill,

Thanks for the idea. I don't have an Ace Hardware. I guess I'll check my local True Value Store!

Lodgepole · Post by **Lodgepole** » Fri Apr 15, 2022 6:28 pm

I went to the local True Value and an Ace Hardware about 30 miles up the road. Unfortunately neither of them carry a spring that is even remotely similar to the Shopsmith Double Bar Clamp springs. Again, if anyone has any other suggestions I would appreciate hearing about them.

edma194 · Post by **edma194** » Fri Apr 15, 2022 6:35 pm

First of all, do the springs do anything except keep the bars conveniently apart while setting them up?

Secondly, did you ask them to look at their catalogs for such a spring? It's not surprising those aren't carried in the standard assortment.

Tertiarily, those are torsion springs and you can make your own. In theory you could, I never tried it.

Finally you can see if any torsion springs from Amazon or other companies will work. It is likely a standard size. The legs are often re-bent to specific shapes for mounting so the video above will be helpful with that.

Lodgepole · Post by **Lodgepole** » Mon Apr 18, 2022 9:47 am

Thanks for the ideas!

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Fri Oct 28, 2022 9:45 pm

Stand by!

jsburger · Post by **jsburger** » Fri Oct 28, 2022 9:53 pm

JPG wrote: ↑Fri Oct 28, 2022 9:45 pmStand by!

No need to stand by, it is already there. One of those links you can't see until you open the post in the editor.

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