When my pipe clamps aren’t working as clamps, they double as versatile shop stands. To create a broad, stable base, I glue up a stack of 12-in.-dia. disks of 3⁄4-in.-thick MDF and screw a 3⁄4-in. pipe flange to the top. I then remove the fixed jaw from the pipe and screw the end into the flange, with the sliding jaw facing upward. To make the cross arms, I drill a 11⁄8-in.-dia. hole through the middle of a board for the pipe, and a shallow 1-in. hole next to it for flush-mounting a 1-in.-dia. rare-earth magnet. This powerful magnet grabs the adjustable clamp jaw firmly, keeping the arm level. This setup lets me easily raise, lower, and pivot the cross arm to the optimum height for the job at hand. I use the stand to support the ends of long boards at my drill press or miter saw. I also use it to hold work lights, as well as a dust-collection hose at my lathe, drill press, and workbench. You can add more than one cross arm, so one stand can hold multiple items, which saves space in a small shop.

Bob Mitchell, Madison, WI

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