Pipe clamps for wood working

[Sage55]

I am working on a project, building a bed, and need some clamps.

I've been eyeing the Bessey 3/4" pipe clamps - would this be okay clamps or should I look at buying something else?

 

[gungatim]

pipe clamps are pipe clamps for the most part, I've got HF brand, Jorgy, Bessy, and craftsman as well as a bunch of no namers. they all work the same.

though they cost a lot more, you can't beat parallel jaw clamps, but pipe clamps have been doing the job for a long time...

like they say, you can't have too many clamps!

 

[mike93lx]

Pipe clamps are a cheap way to get long clamps. If parallel jaw clamps aren't in the budget, they are a good choice. Heavy ia the biggest downside.

If you use black pipe, clean it completely before using or you will have marks all over your project

 

[BD1]

I like those feet . I have all Pony 3/4'' that are 30 years old. Never ever any issues. I did have a couple of old Craftsman ones with a cam that would dig into the pipe. They were good too. The newer Craftsman say 15 years ago were aluminum. Ok for light stuff but not for heavy duty work.
Pretty hard to beat the Pony ones made in USA.

 

[Sage55]

Pipe clamps are a cheap way to get long clamps. If parallel jaw clamps aren't in the budget, they are a good choice. Heavy ia the biggest downside.

If you use black pipe, clean it completely before using or you will have marks all over your project

For this project I need to clamp pieces together that measure 61.5" wide. Do they make parallel jaw clamps that large?

 

[Sage55]

Holy moly I just found an 82" bessey parallel clamp... DANG that's a bit pricey!

 

[mike93lx]

For this project I need to clamp pieces together that measure 61.5" wide. Do they make parallel jaw clamps that large?

You can hook two f clamps together, which may be better if you don't have an ongoing need for clamps that big.

 

[Marctrees]

For this one time use, could you possibly get by w a ratchet tie down strap ?

Show or explain what you want to clamp.

Marc

 

[PelicanPines]

You can NEVER have too many clamps or styles of clamps... I have about 60 or so.

 

[Marctrees]

Otherwise, your least expensive solution is to get 3/4" pipe and use the Pony or old Craftsman clamps that go on the pipe.

Custom length, whatever you cut the pipe to.

They do bend more than quality bar clamps, but for an occasional use they are doable.

But ya, show us what you are trying to do.

Marc

 

[seber]

A note of caution. Do not use galvanized pipe for your clamps. The surface is soft and causes the lock to slip.

 

[rlitman]

For this one time use, could you possibly get by w a ratchet tie down strap ?

Show or explain what you want to clamp.

Marc

+1. Ratchet straps are easier than the old fashioned method of using a rope twisted with a stick (think tourniquet). The secret is in knowing how to make and use cauls.

 

[Ej63090]

+1. Ratchet straps are easier than the old fashioned method of using a rope twisted with a stick (think tourniquet). The secret is in knowing how to make and use cauls.

This. Ratchet + Cauls. You will rarely need 60"+ clamps and storing them is rather inconvenient.

I am guessing you are trying to join the headboard panels? If you are making a farmhouse style bed, I'd dado a groove between the rails and slide in the panels.

 

[MitchL]

Pipe clamps are cheap, very versatile, and provide enough pressure for most woodworking jobs. The bonus is if you need more length, you can just use a 3/4" union and another section of pipe to make the clamps as long as you need, and makes storage easy.

 

[redidbull]

If you use the pipe clamps don't tighten them too tight. Tighten them enough to see a little glue squeeze out and stop. Make sure what you are clamping stays flat with no bowing. Jim

 

[Marctrees]

Yup.

Equal tension from BOTH sides of glue up is easiest way to prevent bowing.

Like on top and from bottom alternating of a panel

Make SURE you check assembly w straightedge before you walk away.

Marc

 

[RKA]

Check your local craigslist. I would gamble you will find pipe clamps at any given time and you probably won't have to drive more than 30 minutes to get more than you wanted for pennies on the dollar.

If you don't have parallel jaw clamps and you have an ongoing need for clamps, I would recommend the Bessey parallel jaws mentioned above. Join smaller lengths (24-50") to get the longer length you're looking for if this is a one-time need.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

These are similar to the 4 I have. I’m on holidays so the pics are off the web. They were my Grandfather’s not sure where he got them. I think they are kind of cool.

 

[Milton Shaw]

Schedule 80 pipe instead of 40 will stay straight and not bow under pressure. I set up all my pipe clamps with schedule 80 for not a whole lot more money than schedule 40. The dual pipe clamps from pony are the best I have ever had to keeping work straight, they are expensive but worth it as they will last a lifetime.

 

[bdbecker]

I'd also toss out Rockler's pipe clamp as an option if you haven't seen them already:
https://www.rockler.com/sure-foot-plus-3-4-pipe-clamp

They made a couple of key improvements over the traditional pipe clamp design that do make using and storing them a bit easier.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I think all my 3/4" pipe clamps use rigid conduit. My 1/2" ones are using left over black pipe painted orange from my airline install. They match the Pony clamp fittings.

 

[Slednut]

If you use the ¾ Pony clamps it’s nice to cut 4 inch square pieces of ¼ inch ply board and put a hole in the center of them for the pipe.

You can just leave them on the clamps so they are always there for a buffer between the wood and the metal clamp.

 

[snickers muncher]

For a one time use, I'd look at getting some straight 2x4s or maybe screw some blocks to osb and use wedges. I've used wedges so many times that I keep a stash on the workbench shelf.

Ever since I bought some of the Harbor Freight aluminum bar clamps my pipe clamps just sit in the corner. They're not as strong, but they're so much lighter.

 

[atthebeach]

I have a mixture of galvanized and black iron, 1/2" and 3/4" pipe clamps that I've acquired over many years. I don't normally clamp anything longer than 9', but I have an assortment of various lengths of pipe ranging from 2' to 5' that can be connected with unions as needed to achieve the desired lengths. Black iron pipe is less expensive than galvanized, but I don't find any other differences. I find 1/2" plenty strong for woodworking projects, less expensive, and lighter in weight to maneuver. I now buy only 1/2" black iron pipe.

 

[derosa]

2 alternatives to offer you
https://www.toolsforworkingwood.com/store/dept/TL/item/MS-FFC.**
These are an interesting clamp for doing rail and stile work of any length without worry about if they're long enough and will store easily.

https://www.toolsforworkingwood.com/store/item/MS-ABAR.**/Universal_Bar_Clamps
The 72" are 82.00 for a pair. 2 pipe clamps without the pipes is half that, the pipes will bring you a lot closer and these are really easy to sling around. I've got the 6 footers and moving one with one hand is painless. Last crib I did I could set several on the bench and set the project on top without worrying about staining and could set ones on top to equalize front and back clamping pressure. One hand to hold a 6' clamp the other to turn the screw and no denting the wood with too heavy a clamp.

 

[homebuilt burner]

That is pretty much the same clamps I used when I built my son’s bed. I bought the clamps and went to the local plumber for the pipes. I think mine are @ 5 foot long. He has slept in the bed for 15 years, I guess they worked.

 

[rharman]

Pipe clamps are a cheap way to get long clamps. If parallel jaw clamps aren't in the budget, they are a good choice. Heavy ia the biggest downside.

If you use black pipe, clean it completely before using or you will have marks all over your project

I have 2-3 PVC connectors that I've slipped over each pipe to keep the project from contacting the pipe directly. That's after giving them a good acetone wash originally.

 

[Sage55]

Well I picked up 2 sets of the Bessey pipe clamps linked in the first post and ran over to Home Depot and picked up a couple 3/4 steel black pipe.

Love the new clamps and they worked perfectly. Probably won't be something I'll use all the often but it's nice to have them just in case. Plus as they say you can't have to many clamps right?!

 

[mike93lx]

Well I picked up 2 sets of the Bessey pipe clamps linked in the first post and ran over to Home Depot and picked up a couple 3/4 steel black pipe.

Love the new clamps and they worked perfectly. Probably won't be something I'll use all the often but it's nice to have them just in case. Plus as they say you can't have to many clamps right?!

The right number of clamps is N+1 with N representing the number of clamps you currently own.

I added 20 to my collection when i built my last project, which also happened to be a bed.

 

[derosa]

I've reached a point where I almost have enough but I still need one or two more. When I go to glue up my tabletop I'll be picking up 4 more of the 5' aluminum clamps but I haven't needed to buy any new ones in a year.

 

[Sage55]

The right number of clamps is N+1 with N representing the number of clamps you currently own.

I added 20 to my collection when i built my last project, which also happened to be a bed.

I'm finding this to be very much the case.

I have a number of 12" clamps and while working on this bed build I noticed I could use another 1-2. Which of course I had to buy, but I'm sure the next project I'll again be short another 1.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

My buddy doesn’t buy extra clamps, he just borrows them and when he returns them he brings a six pack.

 

[Sage55]

My buddy doesn’t buy extra clamps, he just borrows them and when he returns them he brings a six pack.

Sounds like a great idea, to bad Saskatchewan is just a tab bit of a drive for me.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

Maybe you can tweak a few more ponies out of the Vespa

 

[6PTsocket]

Many years ago there was a place selling furniture kits near where I worked. Some of the pieces were pretty large. I remember they had some one shot clamps made of plywood and wedges. My memory of exactly what they looked like is a little vague but for a one off project it might do. Anybody seen something like that?

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[anndel]

I'd also toss out Rockler's pipe clamp as an option if you haven't seen them already:
https://www.rockler.com/sure-foot-plus-3-4-pipe-clamp

They made a couple of key improvements over the traditional pipe clamp design that do make using and storing them a bit easier.

"Sent via morse code from..." thought I forgot my CW.

 

[jimreed2160]

If you use the ¾ Pony clamps it’s nice to cut 4 inch square pieces of ¼ inch ply board and put a hole in the center of them for the pipe.

You can just leave them on the clamps so they are always there for a buffer between the wood and the metal clamp.

Sled, great idea.

 

[bdbecker]

"Sent via morse code from..." thought I forgot my CW.

I've thought about changing it a few times, but every few years someone catches on to it.