Clamps 101 show your clamps tell stories if you wish about them especially if unique

vintage nut · Apr 24, 2017

Drives, I'd love to have one of those big cabinets, it's just a matter of finding the space. The beech still slides without too much effort, but I wouldn't want to try putting any more in it.

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drivesitfar · May 25, 2017

Dutch: thanks for the tutorial and I bet I have a few cause some of my huge clamps are not very stout, but since they are old they are made well enough probably to handle most any job.

Vintage: i'm sure if you wanted something and put your mind to it and had the space you'd own it.

ALL: i'm working on designing some clamp racks both for my steel benches and making sort of a wall for all my pipe clamps where there isn't a wall now behind a bench. here's what i had started, but i moved those flat files to the other side of my garage and now i'll have a bench in their place. so behind the bench i'm thinking of bolting a 4x8 piece of plywood and maybe having 2 or 3 2x4's to hang my big wood clamps from on the back side and on the other side attaching shelving to the 4x8 for my supplies above my bench.

anybody have some clamp storage or organization pictures to post please do.

thanks

drivesitfar · Dec 10, 2017

ALL: i'm needing more ideas for clamp storage so any of you want to show off yours please do?

i'll post up more of my clamps as I GET ORGANIZED, but would love to see your new or old ones and in use if you have any of those pictures.

cheers

Woodtick · Dec 10, 2017

Here's my collection of JH Williams Agrippa clamps. It's the full range that they offered, 4",5",6",8",10",12",15",& 18". It all started when I found the 6" in a local antique shop for $5. The 18" is a monster. I have duplicates on some of them and they are for display only......it was a fun quest to acquire them.
Rich

jimreed2160 · Dec 10, 2017

If you are into woodworking, you might have seen this cart in the ww thread. But it seems appropriate to repost some photos here.

drivesitfar · Dec 22, 2017

Woodtick: now that you've finished that collection what's next?

Jim: I know you've mentioned that you also have FSD (flat surface disease) like i have, but i think i see some bench top space and the top of the table saw is open so i think your clamp stand and ORGANIZATION are doing well.

ALL: one of these days i'll lay all my clamps out on the floor of my garage and snap a few pictures or maybe i'll have them ORGANIZED to take pictures of them sitting in drawers, hanging on benches and maybe making a stand for them too.

post up your clamps either as they are sitting or hanging or action shots are even better if you have time to.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!!

MushCreek · Dec 23, 2017

I just stumbled upon this thread- interesting!

I don't have much in the way of vintage clamps, other than a pair of 4' wooden ones. I do have a LOT of clamps, though. I have all of the sizes of Kant-Twist from 3/4" to 12"; two of each. They are about the only clamp strong enough to hold things for machining. I also have a lot of bar clamps, pipe clamps, and regular ol' C-clamps. Some of my first ones were bought in the 70's, so they are nearing vintage, even though I bought them brand new. I used to do a fair amount of boat building back then.

BMR24 · Dec 23, 2017

I had an idea for clamp storage, but I haven't taken the time to set it up yet. Install a piece of angle iron on the wall but put spacers behind it so that clamps that don't close all the way can be hung over the top of the angle, while clamps that close fully can simply be clamped onto the angle.

d.mcfarland · Dec 23, 2017

I've been really itching to find a big old clamp and do a complete restore in a wild color just for fun. Like Snap On orange maybe.

bubinga · Dec 23, 2017

Merry christmas

Provincial · Dec 24, 2017

Two big bar clamps. They open to 30" and have 6" jaws. I found them at a garage sale almost 30 years ago. The seller said they were used to build Llberty ships in WWII.

jimreed2160 · Dec 24, 2017

Drives--You win the long clamp award! Here is my advice on how to store them. First, pick out eight or ten of the ones you like the best. Next, declare the others surplus and trade them for different things that are easier to store.

My dad had only four or file of the long clamps and he kept his propped up in the corner. I moved my long Jorgies around in the shop until I carted them. The problem, as you are well aware, is that these clamps are HEAVY and unstable and can hurt you if they fall.

These large clamps can be stored like lumber and I think the safest storage is horizontal. If you have the wall space, you can make a lumber rack for them. All you need is two jutting studs--think saddle rack. Put them in a low traffic area about three feet apart with clamps on top. You could put in multiples in one foot layers and store many of them.

Mr Google found this:
https://www.sstack.com/product/Easy-up-4-Tier-Saddle-Rack-Black/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIhpn049Oi2AIVWJ7ACh0nMQr7EAYYAiABEgI0jfD_BwE

So good luck on solving your nice to have problem.

drivesitfar · Dec 24, 2017

Jim: i know eventually when i'm ORGANIZED and using my tools there will be some more thinning of the herd so to speak, but i do like my long clamps.

another place i've seen for storage that doesn't get used is the back of a door so once I build my woodshop or make my shed bigger i bet the back of one of those doors will have most of these long clamps hanging from them.

have you seen that method that might help you too cause i know there are some jobs where you can't own too many clamps to do it right and having a few extra at the ready can be very helpful?

Provi: i might have a couple of those clamps and didn't know that they made the LIBERTY SHIPS in WWII. I still own a couple of the old SHIP HATCHES and have one as a bench top in my shed currently. I bet you've got more than a cool old things hanging around your shop and if you've got more clamps feel free to post pics as you have time.

Bub: back at you!!

DMac: some of those old BRIDGE CLAMPS might show up if you hang around old steel companies or old steel fab shops cause a lot of those companies are closing their doors for one reason or another. the yellow one i own in the picture weighs close to 40 pounds.

ALL: MERRY CHRISTMAS and a few pictures of one of my favorite clamps that has a fair amount of HEFT and with the butterfly handle that is maybe 3 times as thick as a normal one it can squeeze together or maybe break almost anything.

jimreed2160 · Dec 24, 2017

Drives--How right you are! There is no substitute for a loooong clamp.

Back of the door is usually a great storage location. I have lots of wood piled around both sides of a never used door. The problem I have with the long 48" and greater clamps is that they are heavy and unstable. Now that I am pushing 70 I find that my body is much more delicate than it used to be. So shop safety has been moved to the top of my list. When they were on a 2x4 in back, the heavy clamps seemed to always want to fall off the wall. Maybe you can make an umbrella stand out of a sonotube and stand them up.

Outlawmws · Dec 24, 2017

I've posted this before, but this is how I store the long ones.

2X2 or 2x4 on the wall, and clamp them lightly on. I just slide them and done.

This sits behind a roller stack so no real wall space is lost. If done on a foundation wall of the typical garage, yo can't really get solid against the wall with much besides a bench anyway...

drivesitfar · Dec 24, 2017

Jim: life is like that isn't it. as we get MORE TIME and maybe a little more enthusiasm to do a few projects we get slower and older and maybe lose a few muscles too. i'm trying to avoid some of the muscle loss by eating a bit better and MOVING AROUND MORE. with all the posts you have on Woodworking 101 thread it looks like you are moving around just fine so keep up the good work. just keep moving and doing what you want to and can is what i'm trying to do too.

Outlaw: yep that 2x4 or maybe 2 2x4's bolted to a shop's door is what i had in mind. with the extra 2x4 on top of the other one it might allow for me to tighten the older style hand screw clamps to keep them in place. thanks for the picture and for posting up your method

ALL: Jim's other method of storing long clamps and maybe long lumber on either a couple rods coming out of the wall or a ceiling loft is another great idea.

lis2323 · Dec 24, 2017

I tend to have miscellaneous clamps scattered at various locations throughout the shop but here's a few of the (kinda ) organized areas.

First two pics are of each end of welding table.

Wall mounted pipe clamps on modified slat wall hooks:

Outlawmws · Dec 24, 2017

Alterantive temp storage for bar clamps:

I've completely wrecked my welding area while I reconstruct the welding bench on top of a "new" roller, and the bar clamps mostly landed on another bar clamp clamped to a piece of oak, leaning against my work room wall, and the "tail" is supported by a pipe clamp.

The rest of the bar clamps were just racked on the horizontal clamp...

This could be good for temp racking near a project also...

tarbellb · Dec 24, 2017

Never have enough imma right!

Here is my latest score, older gentleman selling off his retirement hobby collection. Was great talking to him, he was happy to see them going to somebody who would use them.

All Bessey made in Germany 1st gen parallel clamps, 37 in total, ranging from 26" to 50" capacities in excellent shape.
Built the rack, these things are heavy.

Built this rack earlier, helps keep the random assortment of clamps (and some layout stuff) organized. Love my Bessey F-clamps, not even sure why people use C-clamps anymore but to each his own. Some Irwin quick-adjust, meh, they are ok for some stuff, couple of deep reach Grip-on vise grips, Milwaukee vise grips (pretty good!), and assorted.

drivesitfar · Dec 28, 2017

Jim: funny you mention Sonotubes for organizing cause i've got 4 4 footers sitting on a shelf currently waiting to pour a few footings for deck or fence. another good option might be big PVC pipe too and i'm wondering if hanging them off of ceiling joists might be better than taking up a wall?

Tarb: nice find on the old Bessey's and nice work making those rolling organizers for them. if i had more floor space that would be something i'd use.

LIS: yep i need to get my steel bench built so i can start welding and hanging my clamps off the end. your shop always looks amazing and do you have a rule that you put away everything before you leave so it's ready for any project when you need to use it? I usually have to spend 15 minutes (or more) looking for tools or cleaning off a bench before i start a TO DO or project and even though it might take about the same amount of time at the end of the project to clean up having it look good and organized might be the better option.

Outlaw: thanks for the ideas and i bet you are very ORGANIZED!!

Provincial · Dec 31, 2017

Here is an update of post #296. I took a close-up of the markings on my big bar clamps. They say "WETZLER CLAMP CO LONG ISLAND CITY NEW YORK U.S.A." and "STYLE 3000 HEAVY DUTY SHIPYARD CLAMP" which agrees with what the seller told me. A lot of Liberty and Victory ships were built in Portland OR and Vancouver WA during WWII, and I assume these clamps were surplussed off there.

skruft · Jan 1, 2018

I have a lot of clamps, most of which I have stored by attaching 2x4s to concrete block walls, with the 2x side against the wall. For the simple squeeze clamps I followed a tip in a magazine and hang them from wire racks made from coat hanger wires.

For woodworking, because I am usually alone, I find the Quick Grip and similar clamps that can be applied easily with one hand to be very useful for simple jobs. They are inferior in some ways such as applying less pressure than other types, and sometimes having to be repositioned, but the one handed operation is worth it.

drivesitfar · Jan 1, 2018

OMN: i've got a homemade weight plate holder that might double as a clamp holder so thanks for the idea and for posting your picture of your cool clamp stand.

SK: i agree that some of the newer clamps that aren't made with the quality work better for some applications.

Provi: i've got a couple of the Liberty WWII ship hatches so i'll have to see if i ended up with any of those clamps too. thanks for the history lesson.

All: keep posting up your clamps and pictures of them in use or stored would be great too!!

drivesitfar · Feb 5, 2018

ALL: i'm in need of some more clamp storage ideas. i've got more than a few 3 to 6 foot old wood clamps and currently just have them standing in a corner.

anybody have some clamp storage or in use pictures to post please do.

thanks

jimreed2160 · Feb 5, 2018

Drives--It may be time to thin the herd because those big clamps are hard to store. If you save six or eight to use, you can trade the others for more stuff.

I keep my Jorgie bar clamps in the rolling clamp bin. Before that I attached a 2x4 cleat at about a six foot level and clamped them to that. Whatever you do, make sure they are secure because those rascals will do damage when they jump down.

the gypsy · Feb 5, 2018

I don't know if has been mentioned before, but here is what I would like to add. I like pipe clamps, 3/4 preferred. Why? Well I can extend any pipe to any length I want just buy adding a union to the end of the clamp. So I can carry 3 foot clamps and 3 ft pipes with a union and I can make a 6 ft clamp. Or even a 2 ft clamp in a toolbox with a 2 ft pipe and I have a 4 ft clamp.

Outlawmws · Feb 5, 2018

Drives, I can't help you more than the examples I've already posted, but I did have a thought, and if anyone can scrounge some (if you don't already...) it's you....

Tall lockers!

Get them securely mounted
Invest in some full extension drawer slides
Space the slides so they clear the front edges.
Add a block to the slide.
Clamp the long clamps to the block
Slide it in and close the door!

You can do at least two slides to a locker, possibly three if you hang one so the clamps are in the middle...

Hmm; hang them so they face out from the door in one direction so you access then from one side...

Here are some pic of my C clamps new home; the larger heavies in one of The 8 drawer card file drawers, the smaller in two of the ten drawer card file drawers.

BIG:

The smaller C-clamps:

And the aluminum and odd ball stuff, and room to grow:

I probably use the aluminum clamps more that the rest combined, unless I'm welding...

drivesitfar · Feb 5, 2018

Gypsy: sounds like a good clamping idea to put in the car or truck for the on the go jobs and probably for those like me with very little space might do well using that idea. unfortunately I like a LOT OF CLAMPS so i'm trying to find spots for them.

Jim: always trying to get me to SELL SOMETHING and I haven't mentioned to you to sell one of your PLANES YET. so how many PLANES DO YOU HAVE?

also you said and maybe another member said you CANNOT HAVE TOO MANY CLAMPS or did i mis quote you?

Outlaw: it's not that i didn't see the other methods and yours of storing clamps it's just that i'm trying to find spots for these in my tiny portion of our 2 car garage until I build a new shed and woodshop. I don't have any more room for cabinets (take a peek at my new garage gallery thread if you want to see what i'm working with as I post up more pictures) cause I get 9x15 portion of our 2 car garage. i'm vacating a 10x20 and a 20x20 soon cause i'm tired of paying storage fees on my STUFF now that the kids are all gone.

my smaller clamps maybe 8 inch and less will reside in one or two of my flat file drawers and the bigger clamps maybe on the ends of racks or benches.

ALL: so far the best ideas for my long clamps is to mount 2 by's to the garage and shed doors and hang them vertically. another way i'm pondering is to hang them from the ceiling joists horizontally and I can't say i've seen anybody do that. does anybody hang their long clamps on the ceiling?

454ragtop · Mar 3, 2018

As requested, here's a few pics of some interesting ones I have. Last 2 pics show a Grand pipe clamp, came with a pipe about 30" long, but like most pipe clamps, any length pipe could be substituted as needed.

va.grouseman · Mar 3, 2018

Here's a Qualgrip clamp.---Made by the same Co. that made the Quickcet vise.

454 has one just like it.

Outlawmws · Mar 3, 2018

With all the clamps I have, I can't believe I've never seen any of those in the wild...

Outlawmws · Mar 3, 2018

So a Philosophical Question for tonights entertainment:

Are Vise Grips a vise, A clamp, or pliers? :evil:

va.grouseman · Mar 3, 2018

CRSINMICH · Mar 3, 2018

It was suggested that I post these here. Colt's Eccentric Clamps.

va.grouseman · Mar 3, 2018

CAM ACTION, that's nice.---Nice find.

drivesitfar · Mar 4, 2018

454: thanks for posting your cool Grand clamps over here. :thumbup:

VA: if you might have other cool clamps to post here please do and any ACTION shots or how you store them would be even better. Thanks

CRS: I love how you post up some cool tool and also have the catalog page to post with it. :bowdown:

Outlaw: Fretters is busy i'm guessing, but he'd say they are MOLE GRIPS.

ALL: speaking of using a clamp sort of more like a vise I used one of my favorite clamps to hold this 10 foot long unistrut onto my sawhorse so i could cut it for shelving. speaking of which I think i might try to find a spot to hang some unistrut just to hold clamps so stay tuned.

CRSINMICH · Mar 4, 2018

drivesitfar said:
CRS: I love how you post up some cool tool and also have the catalog page to post with it.

I just happened to have a picture of that clamp as well as a catalog page. And I just happen to have a picture and catalog page for these hand screws (clamps). The photo shows before and after a gentle cleaning. No finish was removed - just grunge.

jimreed2160 · Mar 4, 2018

Woodscrews are great to have in the shop. I find them very handy.

CRSINMICH · Mar 4, 2018

CLAMPS IN ACTION
After I posted here for the first time I went back and looked at all of the pages. I noticed some posts about C-clamps like these. When I found this 1922 photo today I decided to post it.

Bryan Burns · Mar 4, 2018

CRSINMICH said:
It was suggested that I post these here. Colt's Eccentric Clamps.

I have a couple of these and I actually use them.

I've seen them on ebay described as gun maker's clamps, but it appears that the Colt Clamp Company has never had a connection to the Colt firearms manufacturing company.

Clamps 101 show your clamps tell stories if you wish about them especially if unique

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