Drill Press Clamp fabrication advice?

[Vegaman_Dan]

I've welded up a couple of clamps for my drill press that I could use for different purposes. I like the design, but there is an issue.

http://s1243.photobucket.com/user/flinters1/media/20130813_122243_zpsf7b7838e.jpg.html

Where the clamping bolt comes into contact with the work piece, it tends to cause either the clamp or the work piece to walk due to the rotating contact patch causing friction. My thoughts to solution are two approaches:

A) Round off the bolt at the contact patch to minimize the surface area- smaller surface area, less friction to try to grab.

B) Make a 'cup' with concave section to match a rounded off bolt like that you'd see on a C clamp. Problem is how to keep that cup with the shaft and still able to rotate.

C) Elminate the threaded bolt contact and replace with a toggle bolt setup to apply pressure- though that might be overcomplicating things.


Ideas? Thoughts? I love making my own tools and jigs.

 

[LXCam]

Preset your work piece clamp then tighten your fixture clamp, use a sharpie and outline your fixture so if it moves a little it doesn't screw you up.

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

Preset your work piece clamp then tighten your fixture clamp, use a sharpie and outline your fixture so if it moves a little it doesn't screw you up.

Yah, I can do that, but it is awkward.

 

[gorilla]

Buy a couple of garage sale c clamps, cut off the swivel foot and weld them to your clamp screws.

 

[rsanter]

The end of rolls threads is uneven and/not flat
First try to grind the end as square and flat as you can.
This will help
If you still need better then you need to go to a rotating cup like used on a C clamp

Bob

 

[454ragtop]

Mcmaster Carr sells those cups for C clamps.
HTH, Jim

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

I've considered just welding on the cup/screw from a cheap C clamp and I may just do that.

 

[larry_g]

You might try some of these reid swivel pad clamps, http://www.reidsupply.com/products/...swivel-pad-swivel-screw-bodies/?fl=4294956154

They also have them with knobs and other wonderful fixturing devises.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[EdT]

I have some good c-clamps and some cheap c clamps. The biggest failing of the cheap ones in ordinary use is that the swivel foot doesn't swivel properly. So, before you cut up some cheap clamps, be sure the swivel foot actually works or you'll end up with two things that don't work.

 

[Jere]

how about using some of those jagged washers? Or vise grip like clamps

 

[A_Pmech]

Toggle clamps are how I build my fixtures.

McMaster has a big selection.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#toggle-clamps/=o2f3pt

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

how about using some of those jagged washers? Or vise grip like clamps

It's too low vertically and too long horizontally for a drill press table effectively. I have one.

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

I went with cut down C clamps. Worked well enough for my needs. I have some ideas for other variations I can use later.

 

[PCO6]

I use various drill press table clamps but mostly the "machine" type clamp shown in the second photo below. Both photos show the fence that I made. The fence is secured to the table at one end by a simple 1/2" t-bolt that I welded up. The bolt acts as a pivot which allows me to swing the fence into position when measuring for the hole to be drilled. Bolting it down at one end is firm enough - it won't move. For repetitive holes I use the clamp stop shown in the first photo.

The dual trays underneath are very handy. The top tray holds various drill press clamps, tools, etc. I lift it out when drilling and the lower tray has kitty litter in it to catch the shavings and drippings.

 

[Dale1962]

these??? http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2005235/25026/WoodRiver-Quick-Set-Drill-Press-Hold-Down.aspx make some out of a cheap pipe clamp?