I am going to buy my first pipe clamps and I can purchase hardware for 1/2″ or 3/4″ pipes. I think I would rather get the 1/2″ but was wondering if there is some type of advantage to getting 3/4″ other than possibly for larger jobs where I need more strength? I am a novice and I would be using them in the near-term for gluing up table tops…Thanks…
I was planning on buying the hardware from Rockler. Is this site recommended?
Regards,
Buzzsaw
Replies
Buzzsaw
I would highly recommend the 3/4" as they would be the answer to "where's the beef" you will be asking if you get the 1/2". Stay with one size as they can be switched to pipe of various lenghts till you have enough necessary to eliminate the "I came up short that length" problem.
I really like the Rockler clamps as they came out with the taller foot which allows the crank hanldle to clear the table without having to over-hang the table top. If you have a saw-horse glue-up set up, it wouldn't matter. But the taller feet have both tables and saw-horses covered and you can "flex your muscle". ha.. ha..
Hope this helps...
sarge..jt
Proud member of the : "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
Buzzsaw, I'll second the Sarge's opinion. The 3/4" size is the better way to go. You can use them for light duty applications...but when you need it, you'll have clamps that are capable of putting the screws to a tougher job.
Also, make sure to have the pipe threaded on both ends and buy some standard pipe couplings, so that you can join two pipes when you need the clamp to handle a wider span.
What lengths of pipe to get depends upon what kind of projects you build the most. I keep most of my clamps on 24" pipes. This length is long enough for the majority of situations I run into and yet light enough to conveniently handle. I also keep a few 12" and 36" pipes on hand. The 12" pieces allow me to occasionally use the clamps as back up C-clamps, while the 36" lengths are more convenient for edge gluing wider panels.
I haven't tried Rockler's footed pipe clamps, since I have my own homemade system for keeping the clamps alined...But I occasionally buy other items from Rockler and they're good people to deal with.
Edited 2/8/2004 11:43:38 AM ET by Jon Arno
I agree with Sarge on 3/4". Pre-cut and threaded black pipe is pretty cheap at the big box stores. And use black pipe. While your there buy a length of PVC pipe that just fits over the black pipe and go to the electrical department and pick-up 3/4 threaded conduit couplings. Cut the PVC into 2" lengths and put two on each clamp to keep the wood off the clamp.
John O'Connell - JKO Handcrafted Woodworking
Life is tough. It's tougher if you're stupid - John Wayne
I have about 10 of each size and still need more! I use each size about equally. I also have various lengths of 3/4" pipe, up to 5' long. Most of the 1/2" pipe is 2' long and some 3' long.
PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)
PlaneWood
In defense of 1/2" clamps:
They're a lot lighter to swing around.
When working on a bench, sometimes the crank handles on 3/4" bottom out on the bench whereas the 1/2" have a sliding handle that gets around this.
And if you need enough pressure to distort a 1/2" bar, you got bigger problems than which clamp to buy!
That said, I have some of each and use them equally. The slightly larger pad area on the 3/4" is nice.
Pipe distortion isn't as simple as you make it sound. If you are gluing something that is long, and pipe distorts much more easily ... length matters a great deal.
Let's assume that you need to glue up pieces of some sort of carcase that is 8 feet long. I can almost guarantee you that the 3/4 inch pipe will distort much less than 1/2 inch pipe.
That's basically why I only use 3/4 inch pipe clamps. And mine are threaded on both ends so that I can extend them.
One thing to consider is the pads that Jorgensen sells for the 3/4 clamps. I used to use pieces of wood but got tired of dimples in my wood (due to clamping pressure). I got the pads and now don't have any of those problems.
John
No question that 3/4 will distort less but your example of an 8' pipe is pretty extreme. Most assemblies that large, maybe an entertainment unit, would be built in sub-assemblies. 5' is about the longest pipe I've ever needed and 1/2" pipe has been sufficient in those cases. Not saying it's better than 3/4 but it will get the job done.
Depends. I've used my clamps also for deck building where I needed to hold very long pieces together so I could easily nail/screw them. The 3/4 work better even though they're heavier. My vote is for 3/4 clamps, threaded on both ends, so they can be extended easily. Most of mine are 48 inches, and I'm about to decide to get some 24 inch pipes for ease of use.
John
For 2 and 3' clamps I much prefer the 1/2". If you can't pull a joint together with the 1/2 " you need to make a better joint. For 4' and up I use the 3/4.Tom
Douglasville, GA
I like the positive comments on the 1/2" clamps. Makes a lot of sense. I have no extensive experence with 1/2"ers.
My only black pipe clamps were 2 old 48". I wanted to expand this into a collection and I went with 8 Rockler Sure Foots. The 30" pipes will give you 25" clamps and the 24" pipes will give you 19" clamps. Couplings at 98 cents are a steal.
Remember: 2 clamps of one type is an experiment, 8 or 10 of one type is the START of a collection. :o)
Enjoy, Roy
Wow,
You guys certainly know your clamps! Thanks for all the info. I borrowed 4 - 3/4" pipe clamps from my neighbor for a glue up for a coffee table top and I really like the 3/4" pipe clamps. I looked at the 1/2" clamps in HD today and they looked really chincy. I think there is a place for both types. I particularly like all the other suggestions that come from all you experienced woodworkers. It's a pleasure posting in this forum... Thanks again...
By the way, my first glue-up came out really well. Do I have to be really anal about getting rid of all the glue out before everything hardens or is it easy to get it rid of it after the fact? Regards,
Buzzsaw
>>" Do I have to be really anal about getting rid of all the glue out before everything hardens or is it easy to get it rid of it after the fact?"<<
Buzzsaw, once you've made the mistake of putting too much glue on a joint often enough, you'll develop a sense of what's just about the right amount...So, over time, this problem will mostly go away. You'll still get the occasional squeeze-out, but if it's small enough that it just beads up, it's usually easier to leave it alone until it dries...then knock it off with a scraper. If it gets to be a pretty serious squeeze-out and spreads on the surface, I usually wipe it off with a wet rag immediately...then make a mental note of where the spot is and make sure that I sand that area a little more thoroughly prior to applying a stain or finish.
...And as for clamps, buzzsaw...it's an undisputed axiom in woodworking that it is absolutely impossible to have too many of them.
Edited 2/8/2004 10:09:07 PM ET by Jon Arno
I let the squeeze out set till it's about half hard then cut it off with a straight edged razor blade in a handle, holding it at a low angle. That way you don't smuch it into the wood grain more.
PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)PlaneWood
Great discussion! Back when I got my first clamps I could only afford 1/2". They are on 5' pipe and aren't the best at that length. Now that I have a good collection of 3/4" (love the Rockler version!) I only use the 1/2 inchers as last resort.
Thanks to the good advice here I think I'll cut them in half, get some more 1/2" clamps and end up with a whole new set of useful short clamps - such a deal!
wrudiger
Great idea with cutting them in half and having twice as many. I have mostly 3/4" with some 1/2". I use the 1/2" on short lenghts as they are lighter. The draw-back is the face isn't usually quite as deep which is no problem with up to 1" or so stock.
I would start with 3/4" as I advised the original poster. Then you could add some shorter 1/2" down the road as money allowed. And eventually you will probably need some Jorgy Cabinet-Masters (or Bessie) as you en-counter some projects as my 3 1/2" thick bench-top. You need the depth and muscle if you do a lot of work-benches as I do.
And smaller quick-Grips are an asset also. On my last work-bench I had 51 clamps in the shop in action at once. How many did I need at that point? 52, of couse! ha.. ha...
Regards...
sarge..jtProud member of the : "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
I have have as may 1/2" clamps as I do 3/4" clamps. All my 1/2" clamps are 30" long and the 3/4" are 4' to 5' in length. If you are gluing up small panels and other small panels 1/2 in is the way to go. It is much easier to move them around after the are clamped up and easier to setup. The 3/4" clamps are the answer for wide panels, cabinet work or going corner to corner on some glue ups to bring things back to square. No shop in my mind anyway should be without either size. Another idea is what ever pipe you go with get both ends treaded and get some pipe connectors. They come in hand a lot for me anyway.
Scott C. Frankland
Scott's WOODWORKING Website
"He who has the most tools may not win the race of life but he will sure make his wife look like a good catch when she goes to move on."
I enjoy both the 1/2" and 3/4" clamps I have. The 3/4" clamps are definitely more "beefy" and better made mechanisms and the cranks are easier to operate, but I sometimes reach for those ligher ones.
I've just recently discovered the use of pipe couplings in joining pipes together for long clamping applications. I've got clamps in various lengths from 2' to 6', and I think an 8 footer or two, but recently I had a requirement for several longer clamps and broke out the plumbing fitting box finding a few threaded couplings lying there waiting for their hayday. Saved me a trip to Home Depot, and some time and money, and storage space which is getting to be a problem in my shop.
jdg
Try Harbor frieght they have very good prices on that sort of item. (nope i don't work for them ). Just buy a few items from them.
Pete
I've always used half inch and never had any struggles because of it. But I don't think Rockler has that fancy clamp in a 1/2" size, do they? I've never seen them, and wished I could upgrade to Rocker's. But 1/2 pipe is cheaper, and the hardware's cheaper, too. It'll work if you want to go that route.
Charlie
I have about 10 sets of 3/4 inch pipes.
what I have found out is that the clamp hits the table I am working on, so I saw the new 3/4 clamps from rocker. I did not want to spend 13 bucks again so they have a plastic insert to lift off the table all my current clamps. I have reto fited all mine to this. in addition to the height I get a plastic protection against the wood.
as to the black pipe, I the precut black iron pipe is about times the cost of buying a 10 ' section at HD and they will cut it to length and put a thread on the end.
hope this helps
David
http://www.darbynwoods.com
send a email and let me know what you think
David,
Thanks for the info. I think the 3/4" clamps wins. And thanks for the tip on buying the 10' lengths.. Regards,
Buzzsaw
David
Both are excellent ideas and I'm guilty on both counts. We must have evolved from the same "cheapo" family tree.
: > )
sarge..jtProud member of the : "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
sarge
to add to the cost savings i use on clamps, mine are from harbor freight and i buy them only when they are 1/2 off. all the clamps are the same. the difference is the name and color.
David
Watch the pink and mauve ones. They function the same as the blue, red and orange ones but we guys have to draw a line in the sand somewhere. ha.. ha...
:>)
sarge..jtProud member of the : "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
sarge
what I do is take a different approach. I try to match the clamp to the wood. ie. purple for purple
red for paduck and bloodwood
orange for osage orange
black for walnut and ebony
pink for pink ivory
and so on.
that way when I leave a project on the glue table it all blends together.
have a good day
David
http://WWW.Darbynwoods.com
Use only the pink ones... No self repecting guy would go near them...
They're history if there's a woman on the crew....
Who ever invented work didn't know how to fish....
IMERC
My wife took all the pink and mauve for industrial strenght curtian rods. ha.. ha..
Regards...
sarge..jtProud member of the : "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
A woman at work has a set of Snap-on tools to work on the servers, and they are all in pink. Best tools in the shop, and she hasn't lost one yet!
Seriously. Skip Home Depot. Get your clamps from Harbor Freight. They sell a lot of low quality stuff there, but the clamps are just fine.
You can't beat $3.99 for 3/4 inch pipe clamps.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=31255
Thanks for the post. I just put in an order with Rockler for 4 pipe clamps at $11 a pop. I will always need more so I'll use Harborfreight. Thanks...Regards,
Buzzsaw
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