How to make do-it-yourself clamps?

Professionals know that when carrying out carpentry work in unequipped areas, a number of problems inevitably arise. This mainly concerns the preparation of workpieces, which cannot be processed if they are not fixed, as they move around the workbench. One of such units that are used for fixation is a clamp. You can make such a device yourself at home using available tools.

Clamp - undoubtedly a useful tool, often used in various areas of life. Its main task - to make high-quality fixation of elements on the working surface or any other supporting part. According to the drawing, such a tool must necessarily have at least two elements in the structure.

Dimensions (edit) a do-it-yourself unit depends on the needs of the user. In the arsenal of a professional master there is always small, long and big clamp. This small arsenal allows you to work with blanks that can be of various diameters and lengths.

In order for the sponge to move, lever or screw. They make it possible to increase the force applied during compression and prevent the element from moving backwards when machining the workpiece. From the side, the clamp is very much like a vise.

The tool has also found its application among carpenters. They use it there to fix two elements, between which the adhesive is applied. It does not always work out that the necessary tool is at hand at the right time. If you have a drawing and detailed instructions, you can make the tool yourself. Better do it made of wood or metal. Sometimes an old jack or brake pads are used.

If we consider in detail the design of the unit, then it always contains such elements as:

• lever arm;
• frame;
• clamp;
• movable sponge.

The advantage of such a unit is its durability, since the metal retains its properties for a long time. With the help of the tool, you can carry out a tight screed without worrying about the strength of the unit... If you compare it with an ordinary vise, then such a self-made clamp does not have much weight, so it is easy to carry it with you.

Metal structural elements ensure maximum grip of the workpiece. Due to this, there can be no question of any turn at the time of processing. The master is sure that even when working with an electric tool, the workpiece will not fall out or slip off. Manufacturing a structure according to modern drawings, it is possible to obtain universal toolthat can be used with parts made of different materials, including metal, plastic, wood.

The shape of the workpiece can be as follows flatand volumetric, this does not affect the quality of the fix in any way. Length can vary from several to tens of centimeters. Each type of instrument has its own peculiarities... For example, screw clamps are most common.They have become in demand due to their simplicity of design and low production cost.

Such aggregates have the form metal brace. The support part is located on one side, and the threaded eye on the other. The adjusting screw is located in the second part.

In the part of the screw, which is called the working one, is installed sponge. Handle installed from the outside. It is most effective to use the tool when machining large and heavy parts that do not have a complex shape. If we talk about universality, then in the work of the master, those are quick-clamping F-shaped units. The supporting part of such a clamp is fixed on a long rod. A working element with a sponge slides over it.

Fixation of the workpiece is carried out using auxiliary screw. On some models, instead of it you can find step-type pressure mechanism. To carry out high-quality fixation of large workpieces also helps pipe version of the tool.

There are two main parts in the design of such a unit: a sponge and a support platform with a clamp.When you need to combine the workpieces, and an angle of 90 degrees must be observed, you should use an angle tool. It has two supporting and working surfaces, thanks to which you can evenly glue two parts perpendicular to each other.

It is difficult to find a ready-made tool in the store that allows you to fasten elements together at an acute or obtuse angle. But such a unit can be made if desired. There is another type of clamps - tape... In its design there is one flexible element, that is, a rod along which several jaws move. When the user places the jaws in different places and adjusts the degree of tension, he creates a tool that can handle complex parts.

A clamp, where there are two hinge-connected parts and a spacer spring, is called tick-borne... Such a tool is used infrequently, because the quality of the joint is not reliable. However, there is also one of the significant advantages - the workpiece can be quickly installed or removed, which significantly saves time.

If we talk about making a tool at home, then most often they use drawings for the first three types described. With their help, you can solve most of the everyday tasks. At the same time, the tool is not too picky about the material.

Homemade clamps in their functionality are no different from those made in production. They can be used for gluing boards, assembling furniture, gluing panels. Various tools are used for carpentry, including clamping, F-shaped, table clamps. Depending on the purpose, it is worth choosing the right unit, taking into account its design features. For example, for frames and for an echo sounder, furniture and eccentric clamps will differ from each other. Each of them is designed to fulfill a corresponding task and is not a universal tool.

If you plan to fix large workpieces, then the best option would be pipe construction. Its advantage is that the length can be easily changed. However, such a unit has a complex operating mechanism. In carpentry, the angular version of the tool is often used. With its help, it is easy to bring together wooden blocks at right angles. Sometimes these clamps are used for laminate flooring. Also carpenters use tape tools.

In their appearance, the spring units resemble a hitch... With this type of clamping clamp, the force is generated by the installed spring. It is very easy to work with such a tool without using the other hand.The unit is used in the case when a large compression is not required, and on the contrary, this condition must be met, otherwise the workpiece may suffer, since it was made of a brittle material. There are clamps with a clip and an automatic type. It is difficult to make one yourself, but it is possible if you have the skills to work with electronics. This type is referred to as quick-clamping structures. The principle of operation of the unit is simple and straightforward.

It is very important for the guide bar with what force the compression is produced. Poorly made and inexpensive instruments have poor fixation. End models have found their application in the furniture industry. There they are used when working with overlays on tabletops. There is one more the budget version of the clamp is G-shaped. To work with such a unit, it will first need to be fixed on a tabletop or any other plane. The clamp will become an indispensable assistant when working on gluing, grinding or sharpening workpieces.

There are many options for what and how you can make a clamp yourself. Most often, the user takes the materials at hand. Good equipment comes from:

• profile pipe;
• thick plywood;
• old bearing;
• iron grinder;
• square pipes of various sections.

If you find everything necessary and study the drawing in detail, then at home you can make a good tool. A self-made metal clamp is a unit that is reliable. In this he will significantly inferior to the wooden unit... For manufacturing, you will need not only material, but also welding equipment, as well as some tools used in plumbing.

Many craftsmen prefer to make a clamp from a channel bar, reinforcement, from a corner or from a hairpin. All of these metal elements are perfect for this.

It is best to use a metal pipe. The result is a tubular structure. You can make a different type of instrument.

Additionally required metal rings in the amount of three pieces. Their inner diameter must necessarily coincide with the outer diameter of the pipe. It is allowed to use metal in the construction kernel instead of a pipe. To create the tool, use welding machine.

The work algorithm is as follows.

1. The support pads are welded to the two rings. They are made from a metal corner. Better if it is made of steel.
2. A nut is placed on the remaining ring, and it is welded to the end of the rod or pipe, whichever is used.
3. A handle is installed on the head of the pancake bolt used, and the bolt is screwed into the ring.
4. A hole is made at the free end where the fixing pins will be installed.

If fittings are at hand, they can be used to assemble the clamp. The process looks like this:

• at the first stage, the reinforcement will need to be cut;
• then a sliding part is made, a nut is installed, which is attached to the lever;
• at the third stage, a screw and a stand are prepared that will rotate;
• in the rod you will need to cut a thread, then make a shoulder;
• at the last stage, a handle and a panel are made on the jaw.

You can also make a clamp yourself from wood. This tool is most convenient for working with wooden blanks.It can be plywood, fiberboard or chipboard sheets, beams or boards, only they should be of small thickness. When making a wooden tool using this technology, you should adhere to the following sequence.

1. First, a template is created on the cardboard of future wooden blanks.
2. The templates are transferred to the wood according to the selected scale.
3. It is best not to use boards made from pine. The wood must be solid, then the unit will last a long time.
4. Each part of the future clamp is cut out with a jigsaw.
5. To make the shape clear, the edges are corrected with a file.
6. The surface must be sanded.
7. A hole for the bolt is first marked in the jaws, and then drilled. Its length for the axle bolt must be at least 1.5 times the bolt diameter.
8. A hole for the nut is also drilled in the part that will play the role of a handle.
9. The nut is mounted on glue. It can be epoxy or cyanoacrylic.
10. Now you can assemble the tool. The axle bolt is fixed with adhesive. The rear hinge is fitted with screws.
11. The upper jaw is installed, after which the washer is placed and the handle is placed.

Wood can be made and quick-clamping version of the clamp. The only drawback of this technology is that it takes more time, but at the time the work is done, it can be saved. The process is as follows.

1. First, the layout of the future parts is transferred to the lumber, then the elements of the future clamp are cut out of the boards.
2. A jigsaw is used to make slots for the axle plate. They are needed in the movable jaw.
3. In the next step, a chisel is used. A groove is made for the cam lever.
4. Holes are drilled to install the pins.
5. The outer and inner surfaces must be processed first with a file to remove rough projections, and then with sandpaper.
6. The center plate is cut out of metal. It will also need to be sanded with high quality, and then drilled holes where the pins need to be installed.
7. At the last stage, the tool is assembled.

It so happens that the old jack has ceased to be useful, but it is a pity to throw it out. You can make a good tool out of it. The result is a reliable unit that will last for a very long time. The grip width of such a tool will be about 15.5 cm, so it can be used when working with a large-diameter profile pipe. First, the jack is disassembled, then unnecessary parts are removed with a grinder. When the two main elements are fitted, they are welded together.

Studs are made in the amount of four pieces. They are also cut out with a grinder, observing the dimensions according to the drawing. After that, you will need to weld them to the clamping parts. The entire structure is cleaned, removing traces of welding. You can cover it with paint, so the metal will be protected from the negative effects of moisture longer. Spray paint is suitable for this. The screw that was installed in the jack structure needs to be cut to length. Then proceed to the final stage: install the handle. A good handle is obtained from reinforcement or a piece of steel rod. For convenience, nuts are welded along the edges. Hexagons are perfect.

Brake pads are also used to manually assemble the clamp. First, they need to be connected so that from the side the structure resembles a sickle or a young month. You will need to have on hand a welding machine with which two elements are welded together. It will be possible to clean the seams only with a grinder. To do this, a petal circle is installed on it.Additionally, two nuts of the M12 type and a hairpin, the diameter of which is 1.2 cm, and the length according to the drawing, should be at hand. The nuts are screwed onto the stud and welded from the edges.

The nut with a press washer is fixed and reamed, increasing the diameter to the required one. An M6 screw is inserted into the hole, a simple washer is installed on top. Everything is scalded together. At the next stage, a hole is made from one end of the stud, then a thread is cut. It should fit under the M6. A small section of the stud will need to be cut off with a grinder, then a nut should be welded to it. When all the elements are ready, you can start assembling.

A clamp, like any other tool, should lie in the designated place... You can use a shelf in your garage or a toolbox for this. If you don't have time to make an instrument, then you can use your own ingenuity. Simply fix the round workpiece on the rings, which are pre-stuffed onto the frame. The simplest clamp looks like a pair of sticks wrapped in duct tape. In such a tool, you can clamp a pipe or a metal rod.

For information on how to make quick-clamping clamps with your own hands, see the next video.