Cam Clamp – Episode 1

Posted 26 February 2016

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In this episode, Paul walks us through the design, before cutting the bar to length. He then lays out the moving jaw, shapes it, and cuts the saw kerf which enable the tightening mechanism.

Previous: Cam Clamp – Project Info

40 Comments

  1. Suberb!!!
    One can never have enough clamps … or … he who dies with the most clamps wins!

    Seriously, I’ve often wanted some cam clamps but found prices for new ones too dear. Yes, I recognize they require a lot of work to make; thus the prices.

    THANKS for yet another fine tool making explanation!

  6. Hi Paul

    I looked at these to buy …..although very well made….beyond my pocket, I had in mind to make my own so your video is very handy

    I can buy aluminium bar from my local builders merchants

    Thanks John 2vices

  7. Perfect timing! I have been looking at various designs of cam clamps and have been trying to figure out how to go about it with hand tools only. I’m gonna make a bunch of these.

  14. Thanks Paul. I’m fascinated to see how you’ll cut those ultra-narrow mortices. It’s not something I would normally think of tackling, which is why in the past I’ve been contemplating the rather ingenious glue-up technique which Steve Maskery shows on youtube. Not hand-tools though.

  21. Hi Paul Thanks for the video instruction – it’s like being on the other side of the bench from you. By the time I’ve thought of a question to ask you, you’ve been one step ahead of me and given me the answer. Great to know the knowledge – all I have to do is practice the skills.

    Preston UK

  22. Hi Paul,

    I Enjoy your Craftsmanship and the videos are very helpful, I have started making the cam clamps And wonder if there are other episodes to follow ? Re: Cam clamps.

    Also can’t wait for the Book

    Thank You, Robert, Catskills N.Y.

  24. Hi Paul and team, I have bought my Flat Bar and have the Blanks ready. I know it will be explained in the up and coming Video, but any chance of a drawing / template for the cam.
    Your book is ordered, now a wait of a few weeks for shipping 🙂

  25. Love it!!! Just starting watching this little series and I see not only a batch of clamps for my own workshop but some Christmas presents family members for next year! Always a treat to see alternative ways of doing things (such as using chisel work for the relief cuts). Now on to the other 2 videos in this series. What a perfect way to cope with a rainy day in Missouri,USA!

  26. I’m thinking that walnut may not be the best choice of wood for these clamps. I have already split two blanks (after shaping and mortising them) when I hammered home the roll pins. The pins went in fine in a test piece of pine. Perhaps I need to try coiled pins rather than slotted pins? Or am I correct that walnut is a poor choice for this application?

    1. Good question, Joel. You got me thinking and my good old engineering kicked in so I did a search on the web on ‘walnut strength’ and found a good reference page from Nick Engler’s Workshop Companion web site:
      http://workshopcompanion.com/KnowHow/Design/Nature_of_Wood/3_Wood_Strength/3_Wood_Strength.htm

      It proved to be easy to copy the table and turn it into an Microsoft Office Excel spreadsheet which I will analyze some other time but, at a rough guess, Walnut is NOT a bad choice (based on bending strength and stiffness) – walnut is right up there with ash and a few others. Hickory is better (and probably the best of hardwoods) but not by an enormous amount. So I suggest walnut is ok, watch your grain and predrill a bit bigger!

    2. Sorry guys, just to jump in here. Walnut is quite brittle and prone to split too, so my choice would generally not be walnut. Hickory is quite different to walnut even though they are both nut trees. Ash will work, beech, Maple is fine too and maple is readily available. The softwoods are generally too soft because of the unevenness of the growth ring aspects of soft next to hard with early and late growth. Osage orange would really work well, you have so many native American woods to look at there. Wow!!!

      1. “Sorry guys”, that is the funniest thing I have read all day. It is your blog after all. I think most of us come here for your comments most of all. Thanks, keep up the great work. 🙂

      2. Thanks, Bob, for the link. I’ll check that out. Paul, thanks for the input.

        In a previous life, so to speak,, when I was in college, I made a dulcimer. I spent many hours carving a scroll on the head, which was walnut. Just before final assembly, I dropped it and watched grimly as it hit the concrete floor and shattered. I was amazed at how brittle it seemed to be.

        I might have thought of that _before_ I dimensioned all the walnut to make 4 clamps. They’ll make beautiful fountain pens, instead. I should have used the Osage orange I have lying about. And now I will.

        Goodness, this is already 4 weeks old and I am just now replying. What have I been up to? (Which reminds me of a truly wonderful movie: “The Sin of Harold Diddlebock.”)
        Joel

          1. Thanks Phillip for reply, I had some poplar scraps laying around. I’ll try to hit the lumberyard for a more suitable wood.

            Sean

  27. Which I had just walked into B&Q and picked up a steel bar. looked on the net and then there are options; mild steel, stainless steel, galvanised steel, bright steel. Its not commented on in the video but I assume its mild steel? Anyone know or does it not matter.

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