clamp question

On Tue, 20 Apr 2004 13:41:22 GMT, "Mike in Mystic" <[email protected]> wrote:

>Personally, I can't see myself ever needing to have 1100 lbs per clamp of
>force. An article I read somewhere within the last year, maybe 6 months,
>estimated a panel clamp-up only needing 200 lbs per sq. inch of clamping
>pressure.
>
-snip-

Don't confuse "force" and "pressure". Glue up a 3/4" thick panel and 8" of bond line at 200 psi will exceed 1100 lbs of clamping
force.

Tom Veatch
Wichita, KS USA

Aw, the old clamp question...
After reading the entire string, several adages come to mind, as yet
unmentioned. Of course, a woodworker cannot have too many clamps, and
if they sit in the corner for a while, the old black plumbing pipe
will rust...only, that shining black finish is paint, and tends to
flake off onto the project, so I choose to buy galvanized pipe.
I cut the pipe into 16-inch dimensionals (16,32,48,64) and thread both
ends. With unions, I can make a pair of two-hundred foot clamps, if
need be.
On galvanized pipe, excess glue is easily cleaned off by sliding the
tail-piece up and down the pipe. A clean clamp is mandatory.
To keep the thread adjustment clean and free moving, I keep a slab of
canning wax in the drawer, and swipe that along the threads before
running the adjustment up and down...about twice a year. No problem
with rust.
Of course, the beauty of working wood is such variety of opinion.
Different clamps for different purposes is hard to argue, but the old
pipe clamps have served most purposes in my shop for more than
thirty-five years, and many of them are that old.
DAC

I have a bunch of K-Bodies and swear by them. The jaws will clamp parallel
to each other. Cabinetmaster's are similar. Both are good clamps. I have
heard of problems with the cabinetmasters. The K-Bodies have a smaller jaw.

I think you will probably be happy with either.

You might check out your local Home Depot. They just discontinued K-Bodies
in favor of the cabinetmasters. You might be able to find a good deal on
the K-Bodies.

Rob


"Mike S." <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:jB%[email protected]...
> Since I've gotten serious about woodworking about 1 1/2 yrs ago I've
> collected a decent collection of pipe clamps and a large amount of the
cheap
> f-type clamps like you get at those truckload tool sales. I've been
> thinking about starting to collect the cabinetmaster or k-body clamps, not
> sure which ones are better. Other then the deeper jaws over pipe clamps
what
> advantage would they have. Looks like they would be better for panel glue
> ups. I've been thinking about starting the collection with the 2 ft ones.
> Thanks, Mike
> --
> Mike S.
> [email protected]
> http://members.tripod.com/n0yii/woodworking.htm
>
>

Personally, I can't see myself ever needing to have 1100 lbs per clamp of
force. An article I read somewhere within the last year, maybe 6 months,
estimated a panel clamp-up only needing 200 lbs per sq. inch of clamping
pressure.

Nonetheless, the GS are great clamps, I agree. Still, I saved hundreds of
dollars over the allprotools sale prices when I bought my CMs from that
woodcraft sale.

I would like to get some 12" clamps, but allpro apparently doesn't find it
necessary to discount those. grrrrr

Mike

"John Crea" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Gross Stabil PC2 clamps are reversible to use as spreaders, and you
> can get them NOW on sale at www.allprotools.com
>
> Gross Stabil ARE the new clamps in the US, have bigger jaws and more
> total pressure than either the Bessy Kbodies or the Jorgy Cabinet
> masters
>
> John
>
>
> On Tue, 20 Apr 2004 02:40:04 GMT, "Leon"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >Both the K-Bodies and the Cabinet Master are great clamps.
> >The advantages of these type clamps are many over the regular pipe clamp.
> >My pipe clamps have cob webs on them these days... These clamps set
> >squarely on the work surface with out having to make sure the adjustable
end
> >is clocked squarely to the table. These clamps can be stood up and set
on
> >end off the work surface while the glue dries. As you have mentioned,
they
> >have a deeper reach and you do not have to put a scrap between your work
and
> >the clamp jaw. They are marginally lighter weight.
> >The Cabinet Masters being the newer clamp on the scene... have a few
more
> >advantages over the K-Bodies. The adjustable little foot on the end of
the
> >bar holds the clamp up on one end so that you can move the clamping end
> >freely with out having to lift the movable end off the work surface.
This
> >is a real plus over the K-Body or ANY clamp for that matter. The Cabinet
> >Master clamp can be reversed and used as a spreader. I have used that
> >function about 5 times in the last 8 weeks. While that may not to you
and
> >did not seem a selling point to me, I found that having the ability to do
so
> >increases the likely hood that you will use the clamp in this setup
instead
> >of using something else.
> >
> >
> >
>

Gross Stabil PC2 clamps are reversible to use as spreaders, and you
can get them NOW on sale at www.allprotools.com

Gross Stabil ARE the new clamps in the US, have bigger jaws and more
total pressure than either the Bessy Kbodies or the Jorgy Cabinet
masters

John


On Tue, 20 Apr 2004 02:40:04 GMT, "Leon"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Both the K-Bodies and the Cabinet Master are great clamps.
>The advantages of these type clamps are many over the regular pipe clamp.
>My pipe clamps have cob webs on them these days... These clamps set
>squarely on the work surface with out having to make sure the adjustable end
>is clocked squarely to the table. These clamps can be stood up and set on
>end off the work surface while the glue dries. As you have mentioned, they
>have a deeper reach and you do not have to put a scrap between your work and
>the clamp jaw. They are marginally lighter weight.
>The Cabinet Masters being the newer clamp on the scene... have a few more
>advantages over the K-Bodies. The adjustable little foot on the end of the
>bar holds the clamp up on one end so that you can move the clamping end
>freely with out having to lift the movable end off the work surface. This
>is a real plus over the K-Body or ANY clamp for that matter. The Cabinet
>Master clamp can be reversed and used as a spreader. I have used that
>function about 5 times in the last 8 weeks. While that may not to you and
>did not seem a selling point to me, I found that having the ability to do so
>increases the likely hood that you will use the clamp in this setup instead
>of using something else.
>
>
>

Both the K-Bodies and the Cabinet Master are great clamps.
The advantages of these type clamps are many over the regular pipe clamp.
My pipe clamps have cob webs on them these days... These clamps set
squarely on the work surface with out having to make sure the adjustable end
is clocked squarely to the table. These clamps can be stood up and set on
end off the work surface while the glue dries. As you have mentioned, they
have a deeper reach and you do not have to put a scrap between your work and
the clamp jaw. They are marginally lighter weight.
The Cabinet Masters being the newer clamp on the scene... have a few more
advantages over the K-Bodies. The adjustable little foot on the end of the
bar holds the clamp up on one end so that you can move the clamping end
freely with out having to lift the movable end off the work surface. This
is a real plus over the K-Body or ANY clamp for that matter. The Cabinet
Master clamp can be reversed and used as a spreader. I have used that
function about 5 times in the last 8 weeks. While that may not to you and
did not seem a selling point to me, I found that having the ability to do so
increases the likely hood that you will use the clamp in this setup instead
of using something else.

Leon wrote:

> The Cabinet Master clamp can be reversed and used
> as a spreader.

New K-Bodies have this feature too.

-- Mark

In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] says...
> Gross Stabil PC2 clamps are reversible to use as spreaders, and you
> can get them NOW on sale at www.allprotools.com
>
> Gross Stabil ARE the new clamps in the US, have bigger jaws and more
> total pressure than either the Bessy Kbodies or the Jorgy Cabinet
> masters
>
> John
>
>
> On Tue, 20 Apr 2004 02:40:04 GMT, "Leon"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >Both the K-Bodies and the Cabinet Master are great clamps.
> >The advantages of these type clamps are many over the regular pipe clamp.
> >My pipe clamps have cob webs on them these days... These clamps set
> >squarely on the work surface with out having to make sure the adjustable end
> >is clocked squarely to the table. These clamps can be stood up and set on
> >end off the work surface while the glue dries. As you have mentioned, they
> >have a deeper reach and you do not have to put a scrap between your work and
> >the clamp jaw. They are marginally lighter weight.
> >The Cabinet Masters being the newer clamp on the scene... have a few more
> >advantages over the K-Bodies. The adjustable little foot on the end of the
> >bar holds the clamp up on one end so that you can move the clamping end
> >freely with out having to lift the movable end off the work surface. This
> >is a real plus over the K-Body or ANY clamp for that matter. The Cabinet
> >Master clamp can be reversed and used as a spreader. I have used that
> >function about 5 times in the last 8 weeks. While that may not to you and
> >did not seem a selling point to me, I found that having the ability to do so
> >increases the likely hood that you will use the clamp in this setup instead
> >of using something else.
> >
> >
> >
>
>
I ordered 8-24" and 8-32" GS clamps from AllProTools on Thursday of last
week. They showed up totally unexpectedly yesterday! These clamps are
in the same league with the K-Bodies, and at these sale prices, a
absolute steal IMO.
--
All the best,

Michael Mastin
Curly Woods
1006-B North Tennessee
McKinney, Texas 75069
Toll-free:(866)679-6637 (866-Mr.Woods)
http://www.curlywoods.com

"Mike in Mystic" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Personally, I can't see myself ever needing to have 1100 lbs per clamp of
> force. An article I read somewhere within the last year, maybe 6 months,
> estimated a panel clamp-up only needing 200 lbs per sq. inch of clamping
> pressure.

If you're referring to an article that was in Fine Woodworking
recently, it wasn't entirely accurate. Read the follow-up in the
current FWW letters.

Basically, what the original aricle neglected is that "per sq. inch"
refers to the area of the glued surface. For example, if you're edge
gluing 1" thick boards, each inch of board length would require 200
lbs of clamping force (using the numbers you cited). That means one
clamp (that provides 1100 lbs of force) would be needed every 5.5".

In practice, well-fitted joints can be glued with much less than the
optiaml clamping force.

By Tue, 20 Apr 2004 02:07:11 GMT, "Mike S." <[email protected]>
decided to post "clamp question" to rec.woodworking:

>Since I've gotten serious about woodworking about 1 1/2 yrs ago I've
>collected a decent collection of pipe clamps and a large amount of the cheap
>f-type clamps like you get at those truckload tool sales. I've been
>thinking about starting to collect the cabinetmaster or k-body clamps, not
>sure which ones are better. Other then the deeper jaws over pipe clamps what
>advantage would they have. Looks like they would be better for panel glue
>ups. I've been thinking about starting the collection with the 2 ft ones.
>Thanks, Mike

I was at a woodworking show about 6mos. ago and was looking at a tub of
clamps offered by Rockler. I've never seen that type of clamp before and
was puzzling over how to use it -- it was too busy in the booth to ask. A
guy walks up and grabs about a dozen of them; they were pretty small, about
12" long. I asked him what they were used for, and he said, "I'm not
really sure, but it's a great price and I'm going to buy a bunch of them
anyway. I'm sure I'll find a good use for them, and even if I don't, 'He
who dies with the most clamps wins.' " He said this in all seriousness.

I took a pass on the offer. I'm up to about 2dozen F type clamps in
different makes, lengths and styles, Bessey Tradesmen, GrossStabil,
Jorgenson, cheap nonames, and 4 good K-body's, bought at a show on spec.
It took awhile before I used the K's but when I glued up some table frames
recently, they worked a treat. They're about a year old, but I don't think
they have the reversing feature -- to act as spreaders. Wish they did, I
can see how that would be very useful.


/ts

On Tue, 20 Apr 2004 13:41:22 GMT, "Mike in Mystic"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Personally, I can't see myself ever needing to have 1100 lbs per clamp of
>force. An article I read somewhere within the last year, maybe 6 months,
>estimated a panel clamp-up only needing 200 lbs per sq. inch of clamping
>pressure.

That would be the 1100 psi spread out over the face of a caul.

Barry

On Tue, 20 Apr 2004 02:07:11 GMT, "Mike S." <[email protected]>
wrote:

>Since I've gotten serious about woodworking about 1 1/2 yrs ago I've
>collected a decent collection of pipe clamps and a large amount of the cheap
>f-type clamps like you get at those truckload tool sales. I've been
>thinking about starting to collect the cabinetmaster or k-body clamps, not
>sure which ones are better. Other then the deeper jaws over pipe clamps what
>advantage would they have. Looks like they would be better for panel glue
>ups. I've been thinking about starting the collection with the 2 ft ones.
>Thanks, Mike
=============================
Mike:
Personally I have been using K-Bodies for years and now have close to
2 dozen...BUT honestly I "collected" them only as the need
arise....the same procedure I used for almost every tool in my
shop...(buy when needed..!)

Hard to imagine that I would NEED that many but I use every one ...

Bob Griffiths