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Charlie,21/11/2011 20:41:16
76 forum posts
1 photos

Hi Chaps,
Anyone out there know where i can buy ( Crab Clamps), I think
that is what they are called but i could be wrong,
ady22/11/2011 05:30:06
612 forum posts
50 photos
Are crab clamps like nutcrackers? Or mole grips?
 
is this one?
 

 

Edited By ady on 22/11/2011 05:34:56

Edited By ady on 22/11/2011 05:35:43

Eddie22/11/2011 06:01:48
avatar
56 forum posts
Hi
This clamp is manufactured by Kreg tools.
It is used with a pocket hole jig.
Try one of the hardwarestores where you can by spesialist tools.
Eddie
S.D.L.22/11/2011 10:18:14
236 forum posts
37 photos
Posted by charlie on 21/11/2011 20:41:16:

Hi Chaps,
Anyone out there know where i can buy ( Crab Clamps), I think
that is what they are called but i could be wrong,
I presume that you mean this style
 
 
I got one as a crab clamp off ebay last year but haven't found any since.
 
Steve Larner
Mike22/11/2011 10:23:10
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713 forum posts
6 photos
Beware of the plastic clamps of this type sold by some DIY outlets. They're all but useless!
JasonB22/11/2011 10:28:26
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25215 forum posts
3105 photos
1 articles
J&L sell ones liek SDL's link
 
macmarch22/11/2011 13:07:27
147 forum posts
1 photos
 
Try Machine Mart.
 
These should do the job. here
 
ray


Clive Foster22/11/2011 14:04:01
3630 forum posts
128 photos
I think Charlie is looking for the original green Crab Clamps designed by Mike Freeman(?) which appeared on the market in the early 1980's. Very similar to those shown in the link from S.D.L but deeper in the throat with the flat portion opposite the screw about twice as long. Have a suspicion that they may have been wider and the rotating 4 sided clamping pieces slightly differently configured.
 
Saw them demonstrated at an Exhibition around mid 1980's and was quite impressed but had more important demands on the wallet in those days. As I recall things they stood up on their own in quite a stable manner when rested on the straight edges of the arms opposite the screw. The edges running up to the pivoting clamp pieces were also straight and long enough to allow a work-piece held by two or three crab clamps to be set flat on a level surface, albeit a bit above.
 
By my memory rather better thought out than the J&L ones linked to by Jason and better proportioned for some purposes than those found by S.D.L. As I recall matters they went off the market in the late 1990's.
 
Google for  Crab Clamps Popular Science and open the link to the November 1985 issue which should come up with a good in use picture at the top of the page.  Can't insert the link 'cos its a monster being via Google books.
 
Clive

Edited By Clive Foster on 22/11/2011 14:12:40

macmarch22/11/2011 14:43:10
147 forum posts
1 photos
Ah! I see. Got the wrong idea.
Charlie, Do you want these for welding or for holding parts together for drilling?
ray
 
Richard Parsons22/11/2011 16:30:23
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645 forum posts
33 photos

Charile I have one ‘Crab clamp’ at the ME –Wembley- like you my wallet was very hollow so I only bought one. Within their limits (of size) they are very good. I wish I could get three, more.



Rdgs

Dick

 
Charlie,22/11/2011 20:29:45
76 forum posts
1 photos

Good evening chaps,
Yes clive you have hit the nail on the head, your description fits
exactly what im looking for, And yes richard i got one at a car
boot for a couple of quid, Now i want the other three,And i imagine
i will get struck by lightning long before that happens,Ray i dont
use em for welding cos i cant weld anyway, But over time i have
used them in a number of aplications to numerouse to list,I have to
say i am delighted at the response i have had to this post, And i
thank you all for your input,
Charlie,
 
Andrew Johnston22/11/2011 21:37:46
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7061 forum posts
719 photos
Like this?
 

I bought four in the late 80's. It must have been through an advert in ME, because I only received two clamps, and then spent the next year complaining to the ME advertising manager about the company. Eventually she got fed up with me ringing up and persuaded the company to supply the remaining two clamps.

Regards,

Andrew
Robert Dodds22/11/2011 22:12:49
324 forum posts
63 photos

Beware of the plastic clamps of this type sold by some DIY outlets. They're all but useless!
 
Some are not only useless but positively dangerous.
The plastic spring loaded ones with a torsion spring in them can get overstressed to breaking point if left with a thick load in the jaws and there's a lot of stored energy in them when they go so be sure to duck out of the way
. I think our Asiatic friends use recycled plastic in some of them
The alternate design with ratchet bar and trigger release are more friendly but none will do the job that the Crab will do
Bob
Charlie,22/11/2011 22:51:45
76 forum posts
1 photos
Hi Andrew
You must be a person of some considerable status to actualy own four of
them,Its a nice pic and is of course exatly like the one i have,And i
suspect like myself you would not part with them for a kings ransom,
Regards
Clive Foster22/11/2011 23:01:46
3630 forum posts
128 photos

Well if you really, really want some more it might be worth checking out what the laser cutting service folk would charge for a few sets of side arms. Everything else is dead simple to make if you have a lathe and mill. Heck could get a whole bunch of side-arm sets made and sell kits either just side arms or with material for the other bits to help defray the set-up charges.

 
J&L do the similar Kant-twist ones in sizes from 1" to 6" from approx. £10 to £30 plus VAT plus delivery each so for anything other than baby size costs are going to add up. £10 plus a bit of work for something in the 4" to 6" size range wouldn't be too shabby but not £100 to £150 from J&L just to avoid a bit of work .......
 
Thinking about it functional arms could be made by bandsawing three pieces from strip steel and welding together. Especially if your views of the relative importance of aesthetics and function when it comes to tooling follow mine!
 
Clive

Edited By Clive Foster on 22/11/2011 23:02:46

Styx23/11/2011 08:10:31
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34 forum posts
42 photos
Hi Charlie,
Try this.....http://www.cromwell.co.uk/KEN5588650K
 
Lots of different sizes.
 
Steve...
S.D.L.23/11/2011 10:10:03
236 forum posts
37 photos
For those who want to try them you can get the alternative i linked to in the USA from here in the UK
 
 
Steve Larner
The Merry Miller23/11/2011 14:48:21
avatar
484 forum posts
97 photos

It's worthwhile looking at the link below to see where it all started from.
 
 
Len. P.
 

john jennings 123/11/2011 16:48:31
69 forum posts
I have eight of these: four larger and four smaller.
 
This makes me Mr Big of the Crab Clamp world! Their great advantage is their capability to provide a stand for the clamped work.
 
They are not perfect as the removable plug in plastic pads slowly disintegrate (well over 20 years) The paint job could also adhere better at little adhesive induced rust leads to flaking off.
 
John
micky guido08/04/2012 19:48:08
1 forum posts

hi, just came across this after looking for 'crab clamps' and have had 2 hanging off a rafter for the last 18 months doing very little apart from the handle of 1 being used as a stop for my garage door so it jams it 2/3rds shut!!!

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