Question on pipe clamps... *PIC*

[Mike in Ajax]

I use my pipe clamps as a last resort and I hate the fact that they always leave black and or rust marks against the work piece.

I guess wax would help. I am also thinking that maybe a coat of bluing like you do on gun barrels would work but I haven't done this since I gave up hunting 20 years ago so I am not sure how expensive this would be to do.

What do you guys do with yours?

http://www.photoloft.com/view/exportImage.asp?s=fshp&i=8231805&w=640&h=480

[Rob in Winnipeg]

I just use strips of cardboard or scraps of thin plywood to keep the pipes from contacting the piece being clamped.

[Bob Oswin]

I am bringing myself to dumping mine and replacing them with the aluminum ones witht the rubber feet that I saw at the wood show.
There were three booths selling them in the 7 thru 14.00 range depending on length.
I was going to get some at Lee Valley this weekend.
I believe the 5 footers were about 14.00

[Lee Brubaker in Edmonton]

[Mike from Milton]

I bought a Kreg jig about three years ago and rarely use my clamps now. Pocket screws are the answer. And fast too!

My $.02
Mike
PS When I get the time to get the Future Shop site figured out I will post pics of a table similar in design to yours that I completed last spring. Assembly was a breeze.

[Jimo]

Mike, What I used on my clamps was,paper tubes, left over from paper towel. Just slide them on. I always keep loosing the pads on all my clamps. So here I glued on pieces of leather. Maybe an old shoe? or an old belt. This stops the pipes rubbing on wood and feet digging into wood.

A penny worth.
JimO

[John H.]

Another solution is slipping small 2 or 3 inch pieces of PVC pipe over the clamp pipes to keep the black pipe away from the wood and glue squeeze-out. When these PVC pieces are positioned just right, it works beautifully. Good Luck.
John H.

[Don Kondra]

I cut 2"-3" pieces of bike tire tubes and leave them on all my pipes. This also keeps the clamps far enough away from the work to prevent leaving marks from the rough pipe...

[Storm]

I hate your pipe clamps too lol. I have some of those and they are the last ones I will pick up. I much prefer the pipe clamp with a spring as opposed to a cam.

Im with all the other postings in taking anything, some scrap 1/4" ply, plastic laminate, bycycle tire and placing it under the pipe. If I can I lift the pipe up a bit so I dont need anything at all especially when assembling something like your table. I would be more inclined to put a piece of thick cardboard or soft wood where the pressure points of your clamp meets the assembly.

The centre line of the clamp (course thread that tightens the clamp) should really be on the center line of panel being glued, otherwise you would be wise to alternate clamps having one up and one down.

Clamps..... you simply never have enough of the buggers.

[Dan Madill]

The best solution that has worked for me is to cut some scrap 3/4 material in 6" squares. Drill a 3/4 " hole in the middle, and install on the pipe clamps. This allows your pipes to be free standing when doing a major glue - up.

[Bryan Cowing,Pontiac, Mic]

loosend one clamp at a time and retighten with 3/8" space between the pipe and project. I even do this with the bessy k- body clamps.

[Gary in Niagara]

I spent a couple extra bucks for galvanized pipe and I don't get any rust.

[Gary M]

Mike I put a strip of duck tape on my clamps. I don't have any problems like you have

[Storm]

[Mike in Ajax]

Galvanized pipe.Hmmmmm

Of course I shouldn't complain as the pipe I got was free so I guess I got what I paid for!

And it is from the pipe itself. I always use a pad between the jaws and the workpiece..

And I have to admit that I dislike using pocket screws and prefer Mortise and Tenon construction..but I know that many many people use lots of pocket screws for attaching this type of table together, it would be a lot quicker, that is for sure...

Thanks all...

http://www.photoloft.com/view/exportImage.asp?s=fshp&i=8235083&w=398&h=343

[Gene Starchuk, Kitchener,]

I put a couple of coats of wipe on poly (or thinned poly) on mine. Now my hands (and whatever I'm gluing up) stay clean. I also put strips of masking tape on the pipe after I've adjusted them to length to catch any glue drips. When I'm done I peel off the tape and throw it away.

[Mike in Sarnia]

I use rigid aluminum conduit instead of black pipe or galvanized. Work great, no marks. Check local electrical contractors for short lengths. I have never had a problem with bowing or flexing when the clamps are tightened.

[susserj]

When I bought the bars for my bar clamps I debated with myself if I should just buy the standard black bars or I should buy these shiny stainless steal bars from Canadian Tire (sold in the clamp section not plumbing). Holding the black bars in the store for a few seconds in my hands convinced me not to buy them. The stainless steal ones are more expensive but well worth it. I bought some rubber pads from LV to put on the ends. Saves a little time from searching for blocks of wood while the glue is drying. I've seen the aluminum ones at LV. They look interesting but I don't know if they are strong enough. Who wants bent aluminum clamps lying around?

[Dennis in Orillia]

Hi all, could just be mine but I have a couple of cheap ½" clamps on galvanized pipe and they slip like crazy. Have a bunch of equally cheap 3/4 clamps on black pipe and they don't slip at all. Don't know if anybody else has had this problem but I won't use galvanized again.
Dennis

[Steve in Kemptville, On.]

It's likely the zinc coating on the galvanized pipe giving you slippage problems. Zinc based formulations are used as extreme pressure additive in greases and oils. The zinc particles are likely reducing the friction between the dogs in the clamp heads and the pipe.

[susserj]

Some of the bar clamp kits are more prone to slipping then others. I was told to get the ones with 3 strips of metal holding onto the bar. I bought the bar clamp kits at BusyBee on sale. I bought the stainless steal bars at Canadian Tire in the clamp section. Never had any slipping. The clamps grips so tight it scratches the bar.

[Gary in Niagara]

I don't really know how the quality compares but I bought 3/4" clamps from Sears (2/3 off). I have seen them slip slightly when they first snug up but they soon grip and I have never had to move them back up.