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

drivesitfar · Jun 2, 2015

ALL: so some of us can't seem to pass up a nice old US or English made clamp and not bring it home. I have a few and as soon as i get my shop ORGANIZED i'll maybe have them in only a couple spots. for now i own most of the ones in the bin i'm posting and the 40 pound yellow one. i'd like to make a welding table and have a bunch of them hanging like this hydroplane fab designer has in the picture i'm posting.

post yours with any details such as brand size weight or any interesting facts about them. you can also post up projects showing how you use them so we can keep this thread going for years if we want to.

show one clamp or show 20 or 100.

the reason i named the thread Clamps 101 is because some of us would love to know that highest and best use of clamps and which ones. also just basic use since most of the public schools don't have shop class anymore.

thanks all

930dreamer · Jun 2, 2015

I buy all the USA made ones I find, and have few that need new screws.

Strouty · Jun 2, 2015

What do you use those for?

vintage nut · Jun 2, 2015

I'll post my collection tomorrow. Assortment of old usa clamps. My dad has a couple old canadian ones in his collection too

you can never have too many tools

drivesitfar · Jun 3, 2015

Strouty: those big clamps i bought from a 100 year old steel fabrication business where the owner was retiring. they used these to hold huge projects together to weld or so they could bolt them together. i'm sure i'll find a use for them even if it's to hold a few racks or shelves together. asi learn to weld i'll probably have more reasons to own them.

Like i mentioned it is hard for me to pass up a decent deal on an old very well made and old US or English made tool.

Vintage: post any and all clamps you would like to and if you want to show and maybe tell their uses by all means do.

930: Agreed and as i find all the boxes that have one or more clamps in them you'll see that i have a few. post up a few pictures of yours when you have some time and showing them in action or telling us about them would be great.

ALL: i think Vise grips and some of the other tools to hold things would count as a clamp and since we are in the vintage section let's try to eliminate the ones newer than 80's unless they are unique. thanks all

here's a pretty unique vise gripping tool where the bottom jaw moves. Whaler tool corp. made it and I've seen a few other tools made by them that were very well made too.

vintage nut · Jun 3, 2015

Are new modern clamps allowed? Thought I might post my favorite knifemaking clamps as well. The one plastic tool I really like, mainly because epoxy won't stick to them.

you can never have too many tools

vintage nut · Jun 3, 2015

Alright, here's my clamp collection, and some of my dad's clamps. I'm not going to bother getting pictures of all the woodworking clamps, just the few nicer ones.
First off, some 6" C clamps with the butterfly screw.

My two 8" clamps

you can never have too many tools

vintage nut · Jun 3, 2015

Some of my favorite clamps. Adjustable 14xx series. Made by the adjustable clamp company in Chicago, also the parent company of pony and jorgensen.
The gray one on the left is mine, the other 3 are ones my dad picked up that I'm going to restore for him. These are 4" ones.

Two 3" clamps. One is an adjustable 14xx, the other a slightly lighter pony.

A few more 3" clamps. Two craftsmans and a fuller. All identical and made in Japan. Actually very well made, and I'd actually say I prefer them to a lot of american clamps that size. Much more substantial screw on them.

Two no name American clamps. The smaller one has had a wingnut installed as a handle at some point.

And finally a couple no name chinese clamps. They work just fine, but they aren't really anything special.

you can never have too many tools

vintage nut · Jun 3, 2015

Now some woodworking stuff.
First up, my dad's favorite clamps. Some old German made gross stabil F clamps. By far the best clamps of their type out there.

The classic jorgensen fast acting clamps. Sorta the cabinet shop standard (also known as "jorgies")

Jorgensen handscrew

A very interesting old corner clamp system.

And finally my go to knifemaking clamps, the little irwin quick grips. Perfect for clamping on handles glued with epoxy as you can really control the clamping pressure, very fast and easy, and epoxy won't stick to them!

That's all for now, but I'll see about posting some of my dad's C clamps later on.

you can never have too many tools

CwazyWabbit · Jun 3, 2015

Thought I'd add a few corner clamps in to the mix.

Top 4 are Woden, then 2 Marples with saw guides, 2 Record and finally a couple more Woden.

The big clamps are 4" capacity and the small are 2"

EDIT: Adding a catalogue page for these cramps

trijeff · Jun 3, 2015

I don't have too many big quality clamps left after my storage unit was looted a few years back, they seem to be one of the last things to be getting replaced. I'm sure this thread will soon remedy that LOL :lol:

In the meantime, here is a photo of a canoe that a friend and I built and needed quite a few clamps to place the 14-foot white ash gunwales to the body. A finished shot of the boat is also included, along with a kayak (from a kit, the canoe was from scratch). The friend is pictured, I was always the photographer.

drivesitfar · Jun 3, 2015

Vintage: it's ok to post the newer Irwin clamps since you taught us what they are good for that our steel ones won't work as well doing that job. also ok to post newer clamps if you are posting remarks or comments sharing wisdom about some of the older ones or tricks to use the newer ones that might work better certain work.

CW: i know that is just the beginning of your little clamp kingdom so looking forward to future posts and maybe some catalog pages along with you sharing your knowledge of some of the English ones i (we) find. of course if you have time and wish to. thanks

TJ: sorry to hear the scumbags stole your old clamps, but i'm sure with your nose for big old steel you will have some more it no time if you want some. that is one of the coolest homemade boats I've seen. are you putting that in salt water? do you or your friend still own it or were you two building them to sell in your garage?

ALL: i'll post more as i'm getting organized and pulling my vises out of their hiding places.

CwazyWabbit · Jun 3, 2015

DIF:

I've added a catalogue page for the corner cramps to my earlier post. I'll try to add catalogue pages as I add clamp pictures.

drivesitfar · Jun 3, 2015

CW: AWESOME :bowdown:

CwazyWabbit · Jun 3, 2015

Here are some of my Record 121 range, these are the heaviest duty Cramps that Record have made.

Terminology wise different UK manufacturers use different names, so we have any combination of C or G and Clamp or Cramp. My Buck and Hickman catalogues list all combinations of the names which makes searching for details 'interesting'.

2 each of all the sizes they've made, including the rare 2" ones.

This picture shows the changes made over the life of these cramps, the oldest is on the left and newest on the right. Mostly it's just colour change except the last one where the screw diameter has been reduced. Looks like I need to make some new feet for a couple of these, they have come from a welders workshop where it's quite common to knock the feet off to fit them in smaller spaces.

Here's a catalogue page for the Record 121 range.

CwazyWabbit · Jun 3, 2015

These are the Carver rack clamps I own, they are lovely clamps to use and you can buy either half of them so you can turn the 6" one into a 12",18",24" etc. The clamping action doesn't cause any twisting like a standard clamp does and despite the small handle you can put quite a lot of pressure on with them.

They always command a high price 2nd hand on eBay so I only buy them when I find them elsewhere.

The moveable jaw can be removed and turned around which allows the clamp to be used as a spreader.
The small ones are T186/6 and T186/12, the big ones are T257/12

trijeff · Jun 3, 2015

drivesitfar said:
TJ: ... that is one of the coolest homemade boats I've seen.

Thanks for the kind words! I have always enjoyed the look of the handmade canoes, too.

are you putting that in salt water?

Yes sir ... the picture in the earlier post is over in Lu's neck of the woods, Tamales Bay, and I've also had it out in the open ocean, just outside of Bodega Bay. Oh yeah, and McCovey Cove where Barry Bond used to juice HRs into SF Bay - LOL!!! It has sealed compartments front/back that won't allow it to sink even when swamped. I just wash/rinse to get the salt off.

Bodega Bay

McCovey Cove

do you or your friend still own it or were you two building them to sell in your garage?

Still hanging in my garage, though I have had more than a few offers to buy it from me. The S.S. El Jefe will be staying with me until I can't paddle anymore. It is amazingly fast and nimble at about 28 lbs and the sound the water makes rippling past wood is something you just can't give up once experienced. :thumbup:

The book I used to make it is called The Canoe Shop by Chris Kulczycki and the model is the Sassafras 12 (though with some modifications, mainly the gunwales and the seat design/placement). It is made with 4mm thick marine-grade mahogany plywood and using a method called "lapstitch" which is like "lapstrake" but you don't have to build a fancy strongback/mold (which takes just as much time, if not more, than the boat itself).

OK, hijack over and the only reason I did so is because the thread author asked

drivesitfar · Jun 3, 2015

CW: i'll ask questions as i have some or others can and thanks again for posting your clamps with the catalog pages. keep them coming big guy because i know you have more.

TJ: i bet I'm not the only one that like the pictures and stories of items we can build with our clamps and other tools so no need to apologize for HiJacking. just another question if you are driving that boat alone and have a cooler full of great IPA beer how was the drive home with that Barry Bond's home run ball?

thanks for posting as always and post up more clamps or more stories or comments as you have time for. i'm surprised your arms are still able to type after restoring your 300 and 200 pound vises last week.

ALL: so i have a few of these old smaller really stout clamps and as i pull them out of boxes and clean them up i'll post more pictures. I've seen these little guys hold a 2 ton steel plate in the air off a bridge crane's chain so they are nothing but built tough.

drivesitfar · Jun 3, 2015

All: sorry for the crummy pictures, but i didn't have time to pull all these cool big clamps out of these two boxes. i will, but thought i'd throw out a teaser pic or two.

KZ1000J · Jun 3, 2015

Drives,

I believe you just started another 100K plus views thread again and here's my contribution. Although not vintage, these little squeeze clamps were perfect for a laminate job a year ago.

topop101 · Jun 3, 2015

drivesitfar said:
CW: i'll ask questions as i have some or others can and thanks again for posting your clamps with the catalog pages. keep them coming big guy because i know you have more.

TJ: i bet I'm not the only one that like the pictures and stories of items we can build with our clamps and other tools so no need to apologize for HiJacking. just another question if you are driving that boat alone and have a cooler full of great IPA beer how was the drive home with that Barry Bond's home run ball?

thanks for posting as always and post up more clamps or more stories or comments as you have time for. i'm surprised your arms are still able to type after restoring your 300 and 200 pound vises last week.

ALL: so i have a few of these old smaller really stout clamps and as i pull them out of boxes and clean them up i'll post more pictures. I've seen these little guys hold a 2 ton steel plate in the air off a bridge crane's chain so they are nothing but built tough.

Drive I've hoisted lots of decking for iron workers using those clamps. They are called by many names . Stiff back, heavy service, extreme service and bridge clamps is the most common in my neck of the woods. You have a nice pile of them . I can't seems to hold on to mine long enough.

Some of the makers of these are Wilton , Armstrong, Billings and Williams come to mind at the moment. I'm sure there are a few more US makers.

drivesitfar · Jun 3, 2015

KZ: thanks for you post and for your optimism about this thread lasting for a year or more. nice work on the counter top. I've done a few of those in the distant past before i learned to do tile and my wife likes tile better. installing formica with contact cement is a smelly job, but heckuva clean surface for a workbench if steel isn't an option.

TOP: thanks for the 411 about some of my clamps. are you like me if there is a clamp sitting near a vise or other tool i'm buying that it might have to be bought and in the car for the ride home?

post some of yours when you get a chance and as you pick a few up.

Alan Douglas · Jun 4, 2015

I bought these three- and four-foot clamps at a garage sale decades ago. I've been known to use them if I run out of pipe clamps.

CwazyWabbit · Jun 4, 2015

They are neat, do you think they are home or factory made?

drivesitfar · Jun 4, 2015

Alan; very nice wood ones. i think i have one or two of those myself and if i remember correctly they look factory made. are there any maker's name on yours or do you think they were hand made?

topop101 · Jun 4, 2015

Here's my oldest pair of clamps. They are 1925-27 ish. The Cincinnati Tool co. changed it's name in 1925 to Hargrave co. . The pat. was applied for in 1925 . Issued in 1927. The date 1927 is on the clamps but so is the name Cincinnati Tool. So I'm guessing these are very early models. The company is now part of the Tenex capital management group or the Wilton group.

Another old or early pair of clamps I have is what we call "duck bills" pat. applied for Petersen Dewitt

woody 73 · Jun 4, 2015

To be honest with you guys I have a lot of clamps but I did not post any pictures because 99% of them are not older then 1965; Most of them are not very old. Funny thing I never even stopped to consider older vintage clamps would garner much excitement.

topop101 · Jun 4, 2015

woody 73 said:
To be honest with you guys I have a lot of clamps but I did not post any pictures because 99% of them are not older then 1965; Most of them are not very old. Funny thing I never even stopped to consider older vintage clamps would garner much excitement.

Some times ....or most of the time it's not so much the tool but the tool maker and it's history. The tool is a maker in time of the companies history.

Don't get me wrong ,the tool must be well made and useable. Usable even today. But hey this is just my thoughts... The industrial revolution is my thing :rocker:

nickelTwin · Jun 4, 2015

These are my favorite clamps for welding. They are Kant Twist brand. The jaws swivel and rotate. One of the faces of the jaws has a v in it for gripping round objects. I like these alot.

These are a couple I grabbed for the picture. I have a bunch more in different sizes and other styles of clamps. I take some other pictures when I can pull them out.

nickelTwin · Jun 4, 2015

Here is a picture of the swivel jaws.

topop101 · Jun 4, 2015

nickelTwin said:
Here is a picture of the swivel jaws.

Cool. I like how the screw is back out of the work area.

CwazyWabbit · Jun 4, 2015

nickelTwin said:
These are my favorite clamps for welding. They are Kant Twist brand. The jaws swivel and rotate. One of the faces of the jaws has a v in it for gripping round objects. I like these alot.

These are a couple I grabbed for the picture. I have a bunch more in different sizes and other styles of clamps. I take some other pictures when I can pull them out.

They are cool as due to the design of the clamp you can clamp clamps to each other to allow you to clamp up complex pieces

Waterlooboy2hp · Jun 4, 2015

I have a bunch of clamps, but this one is my go-to favorite, when it will fit the job. Mainly because it belonged to my Grandfather (born in 1878). The patent date on the clamp is Dec. 10, 1867. The makers name is not readable.

I love the quick release on the screw. You can fully open, close on the work and tighten the clamp, using just one hand.---- John

topop101 · Jun 4, 2015

Waterlooboy2hp said:
I have a bunch of clamps, but this one is my go-to favorite, when it will fit the job. Mainly because it belonged to my Grandfather (born in 1878). The patent date on the clamp is Dec. 10, 1867. The makers name is not readable.

I love the quick release on the screw. You can fully open, close on the work and tighten the clamp, using just one hand.---- John

Incredible ! That is one beautiful piece of work. Makes one wonder why they don't use that style today.

drivesitfar · Jun 4, 2015

Top: i bet i have a drawer of those vise grip Peterson clamps and several of them came from welders with customized holders bigger than the duckbills. I also have several of the clamps with the wood handles and i'll post them up. i think some of mine are 7 or 8 foot long.

Woody: not sure why you wouldn't like old clamps because you love old wood tool boxes and old hand tools. once you get a couple of the old ones in your hands you might change your mind.

WB: that is maybe the coolest clamp I've seen with the full threaded screw and the quick release. also a cool story that it was you grand dad's. have you ever seen another one because i haven't and once you see how many clamps i have you'll know I've seen a few. thanks for posting and do you have any way to post bigger pictures or PM me with your email and maybe you can email them to me so i can blow them up and maybe we can help you with the brand name. :bowdown:

NT: one of the reasons I've been rounding up so many clamps is i'm going to learn to weld and also do more wood projects. those Kant twist ones look awesome and i hear they work well to and I've yet to find any used ones. do they sell those new still and which company?

nickelTwin · Jun 4, 2015

Drivesitfar, They do sell them new. I think enco and other places. I've never bought a new one. I've bought all mine at garage sales. I actually bought one today for a quarter.
I Don't think I paid over $3.00 for one. They are really nice.

drivesitfar · Jun 4, 2015

NT: if you can keep buying them and have a surplus maybe you might like to swap for a few of mine and make a USPS flat rate box swap some day. Also i'm not one to tell you that you overpaid for the clamp today. DAMN only a quarter??

nickelTwin · Jun 4, 2015

If I get to the point where I have too many, I would like to do that. I think that when you get into welding, you might find that too many clamps are not enough sometimes.

woody 73 · Jun 4, 2015

drivesitfar I love old tools but somehow the thought of old clamps never got my blood flowing if you know what I mean.

I will take a few pictures of two old bar clamps when I get a break , nothing exciting for me but maybe you guys need a clamp fix...

drivesitfar · Jun 5, 2015

Woody; post if you like or just watch and learn because i might own 200 clamps and i just saw Waterlooboy2hp's quick release clamps and i would really like to find some. i also knew about the Kant twist ones and even if i have to pay more than $.25 or $3 i think i need a few for jobs.

ALL: even if you already see your clamps feel free to post yours and maybe show them in action and tell us more about the company that made them or how you use them. we can all learn something and pictures and a few words always make it easier.

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

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