What is it?

This one in from a friend in America.

Wood working tool used in construction?

Any ideas welcome as I'm struggling.

Handle is four inches long, vee shaped "jaws" are two inches long.

Looks a bit like a mitre clamp

I think it’s a log grabber. As you grasp the handle and twist the two jaws are pivoted about the central screw or bolt thus levering them into the bark allowing you to drag the log.

It's not a clamp or cramp, whatever the difference is.

I thought about carrying logs or wood, but it doesn't seem to self lock when applying lifting pressure.

Apparently it could be used for a number if jobs but is specifically designed for a given purpose.

Also could be used singly but really better with a pair.

Makes a frustrating job much easier.

Leaves tell tale Mark's in the wood it had been used on.

Good idea except what stops the clamp opening when the log is dragged?

I like Jason's idea - a mitre clamp. I reckon it's for quick rather than quality work, perhaps making the sort of simple inner frame used in art canvases. Normally hidden and fairly crude.

When the lever is operated the hooks gouge into the two bits of wood being jointed and pull them into the right angle, where the operator bangs in a few staples to hold them together. (The wood is cut at 45° across the ends.)

The pair of vices on each of my general purpose mitre clamps take time to set up plus a little manipulation at the four corners to make sure the glue is pressured while it sets. Good results from them and no damage to the frame but they're not quick. Automatic hooks would be much quicker but no good when the look of the frame matters.

Dave

For pulling siding ( cladding) into a corner?

This view may help a little.

The crook in the handle us designed to fit around the mechanism so it sits neatly.

Again for corner clamps a pair would work but surely a set would be four of them.

Thats going to be a small log of the Vee jaw is only 2" long, most log grips I have seen use a scissor action

My thoughts about a mitre or corner clamp are based on the common spring clamps that dig into the wood and pull the joint together or the Hartford that uses a similar over ctr lever and spikes.

Just thought I would have a look in my copy of this and I rest my case it's a "Boston Mitre Clamp" not a bad buy at 65cents

Edited By JasonB on 19/04/2020 10:30:14

Twenty 2020 dollars, remarkably similar to the price of one of these.

Brian G

Hi Jason, Nice Book, thanks for the link , will order one soonest, ideal for me!

Martin

Its a good read (well look at pictures more) and has all sorts in it from small screws to a complete steam engine and line shafting to run a factory and everything in between.

Jason. That's brilliantly friend, well done. None of the U S chaps nailed it at all.

Could you tell me if there are any written details on the opposite page of the book, what type of work it is good for, I.e. door casings or just general more joints.

Thanks a lot, Mick

Only bit of text is whats at the top of the right hand and column

Photo from the OP in america showing what he was taught these clamps were made for.

Corner clamps for architrave on door casings.

Simples

Hope he has got some filler for the holes in that frame

But that's basically it they hold a mitred joint together while glue sets, you back pin, drive a corrugated fastener, etc.

Edited By JasonB on 19/04/2020 20:45:17