Bessey 3/4" pipe clamp

[zippy1981]

I had 10' of 3/4" pipe lying around so I bought this pipe clamp.

Then I realized that black pipe is heavy, an the taps are expensive.

PVC and black pipe has the same exterior diameter accordind to the internet, could that handle being the clamp bar? If I did go that route, I'll need to thread PVC. Is there a cheaper option than this ($24) this die. Do I need fluid when cutting PVC?

 

[WWheeler]

I have a dozen or more of those clamps in various lengths of pipe. I might even buy more because I sometimes find myself using all of them on a project. I bought them in piecemeal fashion, two or three at a time, and always bought the threaded pipe to go with it.

In hindsight I probably could have saved some coin to buy a pipe threader, but not just for one of them.

They put considerable force on the object being clamped. I'm going to venture that no way in hell would PVC be up to the task.

 

[jimreed2160]

Those are pretty good pipe clamps and should work well with steel. But PVC is out unless you have a special purpose in mind. If used for woodworking, the PVC will deflect too much to be effective. I suggest you find some black pipe that is already threaded on one end (the other end is floating and does not need to be threaded). If used for woodworking, 48" is about the max length you need.

Good luck with your clamps. Be sure to look over in the Woodworking 101 thread for some ww tips and ideas.

 

[crewchief888]

the HD sell black pipe in 10ft lengths already threaded on both ends.

 

[bob15]

MSC also sells black and galvanized pipe (MSC calls them *******) in various lengths (up to 72") with them threaded on both ends as well.

http://www.mscdirect.com/browse/tn/Hose-Tube-Fittings-Valves/Fittings-Couplings/Plumbing-Pipe-Fittings/Pipe-*******/Black-Pipe-*******-Pipe?navid=12105047#navid=12105047+4288231546

 

[bob15]

Forgot to add....I would skip the PVC idea. I see it not working out very well.

How long of a clamp were you making?

 

[Squ1d]

The HD by me has a pipe threader in the store, probably just for those that buy pipe from them.

 

[acer66]

The HD by me has a pipe threader in the store, probably just for those that buy pipe from them.

Almost every Hd/Lowe's here has a pipe threader.
I did a project with included a bunch of custom length pipes so I gave them a list when I went in
and by the time I was done with my other shopping they were done.

I needed to recut some and went back in there and they did not ask for receipts etc..

 

[creativecars]

You can use the good pvc air line for pipe clamps, both look good until you put pressure on them...

Just in case you could not tell, I am Joking!!!

 

[southalabama]

Only use pipe clamps on big projects. Projects 36" and over. Any thing smaller can use bar clamps.

When I was a kid working in shop with dad and his friend they were building something and the statement was made "you can never have enough clamps". I took that to heart. I add to the collection every year. Maybe it's the Noah ancestry in me but I only buy them in pairs.

 

[Richard Cranium]

I buy them in yard sales when I find them already made up, Most of the time I can get them for a buck apiece.

 

[The Cobbler]

my thoughts.
no to PVC
try to find a local hardware or place that will thread pipe for you
and, galvanized is not the best option for pipe clamps as they tend to slide on the galv.

 

[zippy1981]

I buy them in yard sales when I find them already made up, Most of the time I can get them for a buck apiece.

Yard sales **** for tools by me. I'll look at estate sales where I have better luck in general.

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[zippy1981]

my thoughts.
no to PVC
try to find a local hardware or place that will thread pipe for you
and, galvanized is not the best option for pipe clamps as they tend to slide on the galv.

If not galvanized then what am I looking for?

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[The Cobbler]

If not galvanized then what am I looking for?

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Black pipe is fine, another poster mentioned galvanized, thus my comment.

 

[zippy1981]

Only use pipe clamps on big projects. Projects 36" and over. Any thing smaller can use bar clamps.

When I was a kid working in shop with dad and his friend they were building something and the statement was made "you can never have enough clamps". I took that to heart. I add to the collection every year. Maybe it's the Noah ancestry in me but I only buy them in pairs.

Yeah I think I should just buy a parallel clamp and some bar clamps. I think I have enough 4" C-clamps and locking pliers. It's the bigger ones I need.

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[Tinner]

Lowe's, HD, etc. sell lengths of pipe threaded on one or both ends. If you get TBE, you can cut them in two. That's what I did a while back when I made up a set of pipe clamps. Wasn't worth my time to drag pipe to work and thread it.

 

[zippy1981]

How long of a clamp were you making?

I was going to start out with the length of my workbench plus a few inches (around 30" I think) and then make bigger or smaller lengths as needed. 5', 7' etc. Upon reflection of the advice here, I'm just going to cut my 10' bar into a 3' and 7' length with a hack saw and buy individual pipes as needed

Since I could get pipe threaded for free at home depot, there is no point in investing in the pipe dies, which are of limited use to me as a hobbyist.

 

[Strouty]

Poor PVC, it gets beat down by this forum more than anything else I have ever seen.

 

[Zeke]

Schedule 80 PVC would be OK for real short lengths but the sliding part of the clamp will dig in and mar the plastic to the point of aggravation in short time. Get steel pipes. Buy threaded pipes in long lengths with threaded ends and cut them in 2 as you don't need a threaded end at the sliding end unless you plan on ganging the clamps to make real long ones (which I do frequently when working on doors or long cabinets. You can't do that with beam clamps.

Yes, they are heavy and cumbersome to handle by yourself. Use small clamps to hold resting blocks to place your long, heavy pipe clamp on while positioning and tightening.

 

[Milton Shaw]

I used schedule 80 black pipe for my pipe clamps, no deflection at all at max pressure. Which is a lot different from regular black pipe. PVC would be alright for clamping something made out of card board but for any thing stronger they are a really bad idea.

 

[LeeG]

I get 10' sections of black pipe cut into 2 4' and 1 2' piece and threaded at each end. Use all three as clamps, and get a couple 3/4" threaded couplers. Then when you need a longer clamp, just thread the pieces together as needed.

 

[tymbo]

you only need threads on one end. cut the 10' in half and you have 2-5' clamps.(assuming each end is threaded already)

 

[KEH]

I used to have good luck picking up scrap pieces of 3/4 pipe. If no threads or beat up threads I would buy a short 6 inch pipe ******, saw it in two, and weld the pieces on the scrap pipes, giving me two threaded ends to fasten the clamps to. I would of course grind the welded joint down smooth. Oh, yeah, forget the PVC.

KEH

 

[zippy1981]

I used to have good luck picking up scrap pieces of 3/4 pipe. If no threads or beat up threads I would buy a short 6 inch pipe ******, saw it in two, and weld the pieces on the scrap pipes, giving me two threaded ends to fasten the clamps to. I would of course grind the welded joint down smooth. Oh, yeah, forget the PVC.

KEH

Yeah I don't weld. I could learn but that's at least $100 investment and I probably should find someone to teach me.

It seems like the best bet to do this absolute cheapest is 1/2" pipe clamps. At that size I could get pipe dies that will go in a tap wrench for machine screw threads. However, I think I'll wait until I have an actual project. This was a "my biggest clamps open up 4 inches" purchase

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[Hornman]

Yeah I don't weld. It seems like the best bet to do this absolute cheapest is 1/2" pipe clamps. At that size I could get pipe dies that will go in a tap wrench for machine screw threads. However, I think I'll wait until I have an actual project. This was a "my biggest clamps open up 4 inches" purchase

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Maybe not. The first pipe clamps I bought were two 1/2" five footers. Used them right away on a project. The are light weight and easy to handle and are absolutely worthless for serious clamping. Those two 1/2" pipe clamps have been hanging on my clamp rack for thirty years to remind me to only buy useful tools.

 

[Roberts210]

Call around the plumbers in your area and ask if you can bring a piece of 3/4 pipe that needs to be threaded. I bet for a few bucks somebody will do it.

 

[boomer12831]

I bought a 10 ft piece of pipe at HD and the guy wasn't very busy so he cut the piece in 5 pieces and threaded the 3 that didn't have threads on them. The pipe cost somewhere around $12.00 and I have 5 - 2ft pipe clamps plus the cost of the clamps.

 

[southalabama]

Somebody mentioned galvanized.

Dad has a few. Not your best option. The locking mechanism digs into the galvanized coating and sometimes you have to bump them to get them lose. Dad is cheap. Had the scrap pipe. If your doing it from scratch just get the black iron to begin with.

 

[zippy1981]

. Those two 1/2" pipe clamps have been hanging on my clamp rack for thirty years to remind me to only buy useful tools.

I've been burned not having larger clamps before. Always after 10pm when home Depot closed. I do absolutely need a bar clamp or pipe clamp.

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