Clamping Blocks for Uneven Pairs

[gee-dub]

For a previous project I made some custom clamping cauls for some irregular shaped legs.




Custom cauls are great and are often the answer. While preparing for a similar clamping challenge I had a thought . . . I cut some half-circles from some thick scrap on the bandsaw and shellacked them.

I attached some self-stick anti-slip rubber mat.

I will use these for gentle irregularities where opposing surfaces are not parallel.

I doubt they will tolerate severe angles; there are other methods for that. They seem to work well for surfaces that are somewhat out of plane.

[Von]

Great idea.

One of my challenges with such things is having the foresight to make such things before I need them. Otherwise it triggers another challenge for me, which is having the patience in the middle of a project to take the time make them. Do you handle a similar dilemma? 

[gee-dub]

On 1/5/2024 at 12:40 PM, Von said:

Do you handle a similar dilemma? 

Absolutely.  Over the years though I have developed an earlier trigger as in this case.  I will probably need these tomorrow so I made them this morning.

[roughsawn]

Another great idea. I can see where I can use those for clamping handles straight, onto the shafts of the walking canes I make, after epoxying them together.

 

[Mark J]

Ya know, @gee-dub, looking at your semi-circle clamping blocks it occurs to me that if you had a concave surface you were trying to seat a clamp on, you could turn the block around and apply the curved surface of the block to the workpiece and the flat of block to the clamp.  The self adhesive mat you use might need some "encouragement" to stick to the curved side of the block. 

[gee-dub]

Brilliant.  That is what I love about the forums; we have a bunch of clever folks here.  Reversing the blocks for concave use is totally a "why didn't I think of that?" moment.

[roughsawn]

That was my point. I had trouble clamping at the curved top, until I took a cutoff from one of the curves, and used it as a clamping block. But, I can see a couple 1/2 curves could be used in lots of different situations.