Toolmaker's Clamps

Just aquick note to say how useful toolmaker's clamps are. How to make them has been described many times, I have a few home made ones, scorched and battered and used on an almost daily basis.

Neil

I have made quite a few sets over the years but I simplify mine. Instead of the groove in the head and a  screw to hold the clip I make the screw three diameters, head, the bit that fits in the clamp and the thread.

Assemble the whole lot up and drill thru the clamp with a small hole, usually 1/16" so it just breaks thru and cuts part of the second diameter away.

This is then returned to the lathe and a full circular groove put in. Then assemble the clamps and screws and fit a 1/16" roll pin in the hole to locate the screw.

Looks neater, no screws and clips to loose and quicker to make.

John S.

Edited By John Stevenson on 04/03/2012 19:07:00

Yes I still use the one I made at school just over 30yrs ago but must confess to buying a few as well

I can still remember the sound mine made when the teacher threw it to the end wall of the workshop.

I had drilled the clearance hole in the wrong half! However, he was good enough to give me his one - which I still have 40 years later!

Steve W

John

I think I follow your description but could you put a diagram up to make sure I understand you please? Are you saying you leave an unthreaded portion 3 diameters long which protrudes through the "top" jaw?

Also I made some "one sided" tool makers and they are invaluable for standing things level whilst you drill things etc on the drill table. That idea justified MEW for me!

Regards Ian

My favourite market stall that sells s/h tools is my usual source - I must have getting on for 20 or so. Regularly used to clamp work to angle plate for milling - I always used to think the main application for them was as an exercise for apprentice metalworkers but actually they are some of the most useful tools I have - along with the angle plate that came from the same source.

Hi John S,

Great idea, I would never have thought of that, I've always followed the traditional method. I'll be in the shop tomorrow to try it out I need some new ones to replace the ones I lost in the fire. I did though manage to save the small press tool/drilling jig (for use in the vice) which I made to bend the clip in one operation and drill the holes while clip still in the jig. It's redundant now and can RIP.

By the way, these clamps were one of the most popular projects with the kids in my after school engineering metalwork class which I ran to replace the lost opportunities by the introduction of the National Curriculum. It's amazing how many youg people afterwards came to tell me how much more inspiring that sort of work was rather than the dry theoretical stuff in the N C. in fact quite a few went on to get proper engineering apprenticeships and are now competent engineers. I also get the odd glass of the foaming brown stuff when I meet them in the local in gratitude.

Best regards and thanks,

Terry

Just been out into the shop and pulled one to pieces.

Groove and pin easily visiblethe second diameter which can be anything is as long as the clamp is thick. Couple of smaller ones of the same build up as completed items.

The smaller ones are not three diameters but actually a length of studding loctited into a knurled boss for the head, the groove is machined into the thread.

Simplifies the making as these are to be used as opposed to learning different operations as you had to as an apprentice.

If you had access to a length of knurled bar these could be made with hand tools and a drill, no lathe required.

John S.

EDIT for some reason it's not locking the aspect ratio of the picture, this has to be the crappiest web software I have come across

Edited By John Stevenson on 04/03/2012 23:08:43

I still use all of mine made 58 years ago as a Student Appentice, cyanide hardened and as good as new.

I still have the clamp I made at school 32 years ago, complete with blackedised(?) screws. It's outlasted the school which has now been demolished.

I'm encouraged to make a few variants - the uspide down one sound good. I'm also tempted by one for sheet with a thin, flat jaw of plate, just to see if it works.

Neil

John

Have just made one with a captive pin like yours but one sided and works well. Might have to give a bit more play around the "fixed" screw head but I am using it as the base for holding integral hardened filing buttons. So I can file things to a radius without having to drill a hole near the edge.

I was a bit keen on the hole through for the head to give lots of metal for the pin to hit ( 8mm through a 12mm bar . Next time I'll be a bit "leaner" on the portion for the pin. I'll also grind up a narrow parting tool for doing the groove. Can't find the one I ground down last year anywhere !

Still only a few weeks to Harrogate and "investment opportunities" or" potential savings" depending on who you're talking to¬!

Ian

And since you mention Harrogate: I am coming over to visit friends and take in Harrogate (and the National Vintage Communications Fair on the same weekend).

Anyone else going? It would be great to put faces to some of the names that I see here.

Of course, I will only be there on Saturday because I have to get to Leamington Spa for the Sunday (dashed inconvenient).

Jim

Jim

what's wrong with Friday? It's the busiest day but then again the traders have lots of stock..

See you there

Ian

Yes, we are going to try for Friday as well but we only have two days in the area, need to catch up with 4beeches and visit the National Rail Museum so we will be emulating the one-armed paperhanger.

But I hope see you

Jim

Hi Guys
I have made a pair with one side square all the way along so they sit square on the drill table when holding a job for drilling
Nobby

I've recently found them excellent for holding sheet and angle in place for soldering and riveting

Neil

When it comes to tool makers clamps, size is not everytrhing.

I made some from 3/16" square bar and about an inch and a bit long. 6BA threads if I remember correctly.

I bet mine are not the smallest though.

Nigel

How about these I made at school about 50 odd years ago.still used today but not in braising hearth.

They have lasted well. Some of the things we make age better then we do.

Jim