Mark J Posted September 23, 2016 Report Share Posted September 23, 2016 I have what I think is a goodly assortment of clamps ranging up to 4 feet in length, but no matter how long your clamps are there's bound to be a need for one that's longer. I had a 5 foot clamp job and was lamenting this fact to one of the guys at Woodcraft. He suggested that I make a yoke from plywood. The idea is probably not new, but I'll explain. Take say a 2 feet long piece of plywood. A few inches in from each end cut a rectangular hole big enough to accommodate the fixed jaw of a parallel clamp. Now "link" two clamps together with the yoke. Two 4 foot clamps can now span 9 feet, or more with a longer yoke. I got home, looked at my project and said "that's a great idea, but I don't want to stop now and build a yoke". So this is what I did: You're limited in the amount of pressure you can exert by the capabilities of the quick clamp, but this was adequate for my needs. The other trick that worked is seen at the bottom of the carcass. I used the vertical divider as an intermediate clamping point. Can't remember now why I used different clamping methods for the top and bottom, but I'm sure there was a very good reason -- just not a memorable one. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Llama Posted September 23, 2016 Popular Post Report Share Posted September 23, 2016 If you remove the jaw without the handle on one clamp, and reverse the jaws you can use the black piece on the clamps to connect them together. Like this: 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark J Posted September 23, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2016 32 minutes ago, Llama said: If you remove the jaw without the handle on one clamp, and reverse the jaws you can use the black piece on the clamps to connect them together. I didn't try that, but I saw that the plastic parts would go together that way. You are obviously using it to clamp something in your photo, so I gather it will it tolerate some pressure? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted September 23, 2016 Report Share Posted September 23, 2016 You could also just "hook" the 2 ends of the clamps together.. I've done that a bunch of times when I didn't have clamps long enough. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Llama Posted September 23, 2016 Report Share Posted September 23, 2016 10 minutes ago, Mark J said: tolerate some pressure No issue at all. I did put three of them on there, really so I could stand them up but I'm sure the added clamping pressure didn't hurt. If you clamp too hard on them, the plastic thing will start to move. Just don't put gorilla force on them and you'll be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted September 23, 2016 Report Share Posted September 23, 2016 Or if you have a project that requires very little pressure, just tie the two ends together with twine. Or for that matter, eliminate the clamps all together and double twine it. Seriously though OP, I like your idea! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chestnut Posted September 23, 2016 Report Share Posted September 23, 2016 Good idea Mark. @Llama I've been wondering how to use those plastic bits at the end for a long time. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted September 24, 2016 Report Share Posted September 24, 2016 I needed some serious pressure on clamping just over 8 ft long. They sell clamp extension couplings that fit the bar of several brands of parallel clamps. The bar slides into a heavy aluminum extrusion and a bolt goes through the hole on each clamp. A lot of my Bessey clamps predate the hole, drilling them is not fun, that bar is made f some tough steel. A few months later I had to clamp just over 12 ft. 8 ft & 4 ft plus 2- 6 ft did the trick. I had tried extending pipe clamps but the flex & twist was too much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mat60 Posted September 24, 2016 Report Share Posted September 24, 2016 I have a 66in top to clamp up with 48in pipe clamps soon. I hate the thought of spending the money right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
estesbubba Posted September 24, 2016 Report Share Posted September 24, 2016 I have the Bessey K-Body extenders which are really nice. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted September 24, 2016 Report Share Posted September 24, 2016 Off-topic but close enough... @K Cooper you were wondering about Bowclamps and when to use them... Here's where I use them most, when gluing panels together and you can't get enough pressure in the middle of the panel... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted September 24, 2016 Report Share Posted September 24, 2016 Unf*#^ing beleivable! Excuse my almost foul language. I had to look it up. That was back in Feb.. Good memory. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodger. Posted September 24, 2016 Report Share Posted September 24, 2016 If you have iron pipe for bar clamps, you can also use a coupler to thread two lengths together. I have 4 bar clamps with 7 foot bar length, but can have 2 14' clamps if needed! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted September 24, 2016 Report Share Posted September 24, 2016 Pipe flexes down or sideways if you crank on the pressure. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodger. Posted September 24, 2016 Report Share Posted September 24, 2016 8 minutes ago, wdwerker said: Pipe flexes down or sideways if you crank on the pressure. I have 3/4 pipe, and the 7 footers have never given me trouble. I'll post a test run if I ever need to couple them up. Thanks Steve! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted September 24, 2016 Report Share Posted September 24, 2016 12 ft on 3/4" pipe, one coupling. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JosephThomas Posted September 24, 2016 Report Share Posted September 24, 2016 Bow clamps are different than cauls? Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaneymack Posted September 24, 2016 Report Share Posted September 24, 2016 Bow clamps are different than cauls? Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk Bow clamps are a form of caul but they are bowed to apply pressure to the middle of a glue up. Cauls are clamping aids but not always bowed. Sent from my SM-N910W8 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark J Posted September 24, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2016 19 hours ago, Llama said: If you remove the jaw without the handle on one clamp, and reverse the jaws you can use the black piece on the clamps to connect them together. Like this: Interesting, I just noticed that while my Jorgensen clamps can be linked tail to tail, the plastic end bit on my Jet clamps are not so designed. Have to look for those Bessy connectors. 14 hours ago, Chestnut said: Good idea Mark. @Llama I've been wondering how to use those plastic bits at the end for a long time. I thought the prime purpose of the plastic end gizmos was to hold up the tail of the clamp when laid horizontally on a bench. Say for clamping up a table top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
estesbubba Posted September 24, 2016 Report Share Posted September 24, 2016 I've heard they'll fit the Jets but sure about the Jorgies. https://www.amazon.com/Bessey-KBX20-Body-Clamp-Extender/dp/B0014A44Y8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted September 24, 2016 Report Share Posted September 24, 2016 I have seen 3/4" pipe clamps extended with couplers to pull together a table top over 100' long. The pipe might flex, but it still applies a lot of force. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted September 24, 2016 Report Share Posted September 24, 2016 3 hours ago, wtnhighlander said: I have seen 3/4" pipe clamps extended with couplers to pull together a table top over 100' long. The pipe might flex, but it still applies a lot of force. Hundred foot long table? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mat60 Posted September 24, 2016 Report Share Posted September 24, 2016 16 minutes ago, C Shaffer said: Hundred foot long table? LOL..Thats a big one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JosephThomas Posted September 24, 2016 Report Share Posted September 24, 2016 Hundred foot long table? Lol. Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Llama Posted September 24, 2016 Report Share Posted September 24, 2016 6 hours ago, estesbubba said: I've heard they'll fit the Jets but sure about the Jorgies. https://www.amazon.com/Bessey-KBX20-Body-Clamp-Extender/dp/B0014A44Y8 They don't fit the Jorgs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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