riedlj Posted July 27, 2012 Report Share Posted July 27, 2012 What is the best way to keep my Bessy clamps free of the glue that ends up on them? I make a lot of end grain cutting boards, so the clamps do get messy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodger. Posted July 27, 2012 Report Share Posted July 27, 2012 I usually just scrape the glue off. If you want to cover them, cheap pipe insulation works well (the foam kind). Painters tape would work, or masking tape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boatworks Today Posted July 27, 2012 Report Share Posted July 27, 2012 I unfortunately don't do it as much as I should, but I'll coat the bars with a thin coat of wax which usually allows the glue drops to be popped off. When that doesn't work I'll go at it with a dremmel tool with a stiff nylon brush head and that takes it off without damaging the metal teeth. Epoxy on the the other hand is a different story. I'll actually tape the bars once I know far the heads will be spread apart under pressure like Pug suggested.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike M Posted July 27, 2012 Report Share Posted July 27, 2012 Wax on the bars helps a lot. Also, a sheet of wax paper under the board will keep the glue off the bars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CessnaPilotBarry Posted July 27, 2012 Report Share Posted July 27, 2012 I spray them with Top or Dri Cote. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimV Posted July 27, 2012 Report Share Posted July 27, 2012 Reverse the clamps so the bar is above the workpiece. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulMarcel Posted July 27, 2012 Report Share Posted July 27, 2012 Reverse the clamps so the bar is above the workpiece. Well now that is just crazy talk... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CessnaPilotBarry Posted July 27, 2012 Report Share Posted July 27, 2012 Well now that is just crazy talk... That's funny... It's rare that I put all the clamps on one side in any glue-up. An interesting trick that my local woodworking school uses, one that I can never remember to do, is to keep edge planed 2x4 shorts handy for spacers. They lay the parts on the 2x's, tighten the clamps, then stand the assembly up and wipe off the 2x's. This leaves space between the bottom clamps and the work, which serves several functions: Far less glue gets on the clamps from the get-go. There is room to get a paper towel in to wipe the bars without removing them. Clamps can't stain the wood. I've even gone so far as to make up some supports and toss them into the bottom of my clamp rack, but I STILL forget to use them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulMarcel Posted July 27, 2012 Report Share Posted July 27, 2012 So more seriously, I have a stack of plastic sheeting (left over from a subfloor install; comes in huge cheap boxes). I put a sheet on the clamps before clamping if I think it'll be a big problem. Usually don't have much of a problem with it, though, and if some does dry on the bars, a quick shot with the heatgun melts it right off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CessnaPilotBarry Posted July 27, 2012 Report Share Posted July 27, 2012 PM, you just gave me an idea! I always have shrink wrap near my bench. It would be quick to cover the bars, and with the swipe of a knife, quick to take off... Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom850i Posted May 27, 2017 Report Share Posted May 27, 2017 I see that this is an old topic, but my question is related. When I first got my Bessey clamps I was not careful about getting glue on the teeth (I now always use painters tape to cover them). Does anyone have a good method of removing the old glue from my Bessey clamp teeth? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted May 27, 2017 Report Share Posted May 27, 2017 10 minutes ago, tom850i said: I see that this is an old topic, but my question is related. When I first got my Bessey clamps I was not careful about getting glue on the teeth (I now always use painters tape to cover them). Does anyone have a good method of removing the old glue from my Bessey clamp teeth? The best thing you can do, after you thoroughly clean your bars, is to wax them pretty heavily. This will help dried glue flake off so you don't have as much cleaning to do later. Once the dried glue is caked on so badly that you can't take it anymore, I use a chisel to scrape off as much as I can, then I use a heat gun to kind of soften the rest so it's easier to pick out. Cleaning clamps is a huge PITA, and I don't do it nearly as often as I should...I just kind of "deal with it," the sticky heads. A couple of my more oft-used clamps' bars are about 50% larger in diameter than when I bought them. LOL Exaggerating, but they're bad. Need a cleaning, but ain't nobody got time fa dat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom850i Posted May 27, 2017 Report Share Posted May 27, 2017 Anybody ever try De-Glue Goo? Or vinegar? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gee-dub Posted May 27, 2017 Report Share Posted May 27, 2017 I put painter's tape where the glue may hit the clamps . . . well, usually ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted May 27, 2017 Report Share Posted May 27, 2017 Propane torch, and stick. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted May 27, 2017 Report Share Posted May 27, 2017 Propane torch and a wire brush . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardA Posted May 29, 2017 Report Share Posted May 29, 2017 Wax the clamps first. Then the problem becomes moot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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