Replies

1. 
   johnhardy | Feb 15, 2003 01:33am | #1

   You could use pipe clamps attached to a 2-by on the wall with a support farther down the wall to give you a slight angle. The tops could be held by pipe flanges (I think that's what they're called ... the round pieces with 4 screw holes and a threaded piece in the middle that the pipe screws into) attached to the 2-by.

   Or, you could use a variation on this theme to hang a clamping structure from the ceiling.

   John

1. 
   Jeff | Feb 15, 2003 02:58am | #2

   John

   Saw something like that in a magazine for the wall and free standing.

   I might go with something like that.

   Just exploring possibilities and thoughts at the moment.

   I've taken the time this winter with the cold and all to rebuild

   my shop (like insulation), so have been making alot of upgrades at

   the same time.

   So far, this forum has provided alot of great ideas.

   Jeff

1. 
   johnhardy | Feb 15, 2003 03:17am | #3

   I've gotta be honest and say I've never used this solution. I have a nagging feeling that you couldn't get the same pressure on each clamp because the fixed ends would be to be in the exact same line before starting the glue-up for that to happen. But I just couldn't think of another solution.

   Let us know how it works if you decide to do this, and if you had to do anything special for the fixed ends of the pipe clamps.

   John

2. 
   LeeEschen | Feb 16, 2003 09:53am | #4

   Shopnotes magazine #62 (March 2002) had a great wall mounted panel clamp project. A single unit will clamp up to a 4 foot long panel and, of course, several could be mounted side-by-side along a wall for even longer panel glue-ups. Max panel width is about 3 feet.

   You might want to check into this one.

   --

   Lee in Cave Junction, Oregon

   On the Redwood Highway

1. 
   nospambob | Feb 16, 2003 08:05pm | #5

   I used the pipe clamps on alternating sides for many panels and used two flanges that allow the pipe to be vertical as a stand alone jig.  I find it to be a viable way for panel glueups.  Prior to the flanges I was struggling with quick methods of supprorting the pipes horizontally and trying to keep the panel away from wet glue joints and clamping without slipping the edges too badly out of alignment etc and the new way is much easier on the nerves.  Stronger joints are the benefit.

3. 
   mike4244 | Feb 16, 2003 09:28pm | #6

   Jeff, I made four clamping jigs that are similar to the Plano Press in design. It consists of L shape upright of 2x3's. Each jig has a 36" 2x3 vertically and connected to a 12" horizontal 2x3 with 1/4" plywood gussets. This gives you an L shape. 8x12" triangle gusset in front and on bottom keep it from tipping over.A 32 1/2" 2x3 vertical has 2 plywood gussets on the bottom of the sliding vertical .Bore holes thru both vertical 2x3's for carriage bolts or allthread.I bored the holes on 3" centers for 3/8" allthread.

   Place bottom bolts at needed height, Place boards on bolts and apply glue, place next board etc. I use a drill to run nuts up quickly to pull sliding 2x3 up snug.Add bar or pipe clamps vertically and then tighten allthread bolts.These fixtures keep boards in alignment and make clamping easier. Put some kind of finish on the jigs and wax them so glue does not stick.I made four of these , they're enough for 7 or 8  lineal feet of glue up. They store easily under lumber rack.These jigs are adjustable in height, width and depending on how many you make, in length.

1. 
   Jeff | Feb 17, 2003 03:06am | #7

   Mike

   This sound interesting.

   Anyway to send a photo or drawing?

   Jeff

4. 
   user-17340 | Feb 17, 2003 05:27pm | #8

   Here is another one that I'm gonna built soon. I was inspired by Lee Valley panel clamps. IT's basically a dowel with a threaded hole in the side, with the screw in the thread. You make two piece of wood with a row of holes to fit the dowel for each clamp. When you glue a panel, you lay on a table a piece of wood, you select a hole in wich you put a regular dowel, and you glue, put the screwinadowel assembly and you cover it with another piece of wood. Then you apply pressure. Your panel will end up flatter than if it was glued with pipe clamps, because the force of the screw is centered because of the top and bottom piece of wood.  But these clamps are 36$ CDN each, a lot more than I'm willing to pay. Here the poorman version. Make dowels of wood, 1 inch dia. by 8 inches long. Drill a 1/2 dia hole on the side (centered) Get yourself some threaded insert 1/2 outside and 5/16-18 inside. Now buy sokme adjustable legs for big armoire. It's a screw 4 inches long, with a loose leg of steel about 1 inch dia. (looks like the head of a pipe clamp...) Now screw the adjustable leg in the insert, and have someone with a soldering machine (is it the exact term i dont know) put a 1/2 nut at the end of the legs, the latter will be used to tightened the clamps. I simply use a battery drill with a ratchet head to tightened the clamp, and I finished with a ratchet... You can put your pierced pieces of wood (the clamp base) on a wall. And one more good news, you can use these clamps to help in assembly. You can even make a pair with two screws in a dowel, to assemble drawer...

   Robert in Sherbrooke, Province of Québec

   p.s. excuse my poor english, I'm french-canadian...

1. 
   Jeff | Feb 17, 2003 08:50pm | #9

   Bob

   Your english is fine.

   Thank you for the idea, any pictures or drawings would help.

   I'm gonna work up something soon with everyone's ideas.

   If it's really good, I'll post it for everyone to try.

   Thank you

   Jeff

5. 
   user-17340 | Feb 20, 2003 04:53pm | #10

   Hi

   It's Bob,  with a picture of what I now call the ``Poorman panel clamp``

   (and I found that a soldering machine is a welder.....I think.....)

   
1. 
   Jeff | Feb 20, 2003 11:34pm | #11

   Bob

   Thank you

   Not a bad idea

   I'll see if this can work for my needs.

   Jeff