Paul Sellers Aluminimum Clamps
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- This topic has 6 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 6 months ago by STEVE MASSIE.
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8 September 2014 at 2:58 pm #68372
Hello,
I’m brand new to the trade and just getting some starter tools and things.
I am going to build the workbench in a little while and this post is about the clamps that Paul uses.
I have a Harbor Freight close by and I can pick some up, but as I have zero clamps right now.
So, keeping in mind that I’ll be doing the woodworking workbench that Paul has on the 11-video Youtube series, what length(s) should I get and how many?
I believe the most clamps I saw Paul use at one time was 12. But I’m not sure if they were all the same size or what size they were.
So questions:
1. What size and how many?
2. I’ve heard on these forums about needing to “bolster” them in some way. What is this and how do I do it?
3. Clamp pads.
a. I’m guessing cut to a 16th or 8th smaller than the surface of plywood and glue it on?
b. With standard PVA wood glue (I have Tightbond III around here somewhere, unless it’s expired)?Thanks as always.
8 September 2014 at 3:15 pm #68379OK I found the blog I think about this.
On #2 I see he put some kind of insert in there, I could probably figure that out.
#3b I see super glue is the way to go.
I’m curious about the cheapie Harbor Freight clamps vs Universal Clamp Co. clamps vs Jorgensen clamps. For me, it seems that 10 Universal from The Best Things and 10 Jorgenson from Amazon are about the same price. I can afford either I think depending on the answer to #1, and I won’t need to bolster them… on the other hand the HF clamps I can get locally. I’ve heard the heads can break off through use, though, and I want something that will last.
Thoughts?
8 September 2014 at 3:22 pm #68392I’ve been using the HF clamps pretty much exclusively when gluing. I just buy what I need for a project and go with it. I have not had any heads break off on me in over a year of use. I’d say go buy a couple and try them out. At HF prices, it’s hard to worry too much about them.
I also have some Irwin clamps, but I don’t tend to use those for actual glue-ups. More for work holding or clamping feather boards to my bandsaw table. They’re the grip handle and not screw-handle types, so I don’t get as much pressure from them.
8 September 2014 at 3:34 pm #68398I definitely want something that lasts. I found the blog on setting up the HF clamps. I think I can manage the steps regarding the pads and the inserts. I’m not sure what is meant about “waxing the head” “between the two heads and the bar”?
Any thoughts on what size to buy for a new woodworker? I need to get about 12 it seems to make the workbench.
9 September 2014 at 1:03 am #71162Just put some past wax on the bars to keep glue ect. From sticking. I only own about 20 clamps most are short. Less than 18″ you can use up a lot of short clamps on a normal project. But the key is what you like to build. Buy a few to start say ? 6 small 6 mid size and 4 to 6 long. If you go with pipe clamps you can buy short nips and add extents as needed. I make most of my longer clamps . I use a T bar with dogs set in and then wedge the stock this is a very old way of clamping but cheep and flexable I made 12 T bars from yellow pine over 20 years ago they set in a par of saw horses that are notched to hold the bars up and level the weges are oak. I have 120 grit sandpapper on the long edges to prevent slipage. There is a saying you never have enough clamps.
FrankjI used cyanoacrylate (super glue) to attach 1/4″ plywood pieces to the jaws of the HF clamps. Almost a year now and there have been no failures. To stiffen them up I used 1 x 2 pine tomato stakes. It was good planing practice to size them just right so they slip into the aluminum bar. By cutting around the knots I was able to get clear wood that was well seasoned having been used in the garden for a year.
Any Titebond will work for the bench. Be careful if it is old. If there is a thick cured layer on top, I would throw it away. It is a lot of work to build the bench and a few bucks worth of glue can make it all for naught.13 September 2014 at 4:47 pm #83255I bought some HF clamps last year as well when I built my “Paul Sellers” bench and modified them like Paul’s. I did use double face tape in lieu of super glue because I had it on hand but a couple have slipped so I will redo with super glue. I bought 5 – 24″ and 2 – 30″ to start and will probably get a few more. I do have some Bessie’s but I find them heavy and awkward to use on some of my projects due to the size.
Steve
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