Clamps

[Martin Shaw]

This seems about the nearest heading. I plan to start in the new year a laser cut plywood SAR brake van which will be glued together. Obviously some clamps will be necessary and when I looked on Amazon there were 400 pages of choices, many suspiciously the same. Could anyone kindly suggest a half decent choice, price is not necessarily the main factor but not cheap and cheerful either.
Regards
Martin

 

[Paul Tomlinson]

The name "Coffmann" sprang to my mind, and Branchlines certainly used to stock them, might be worth an email. Micro-Mark do something very similar (their photo below), but who stocks them in the UK? They look efficient but low-tech - you might be able to build some yourself? York Modelmaking do a different, magnetic sort of clamp.

 

[DavidB]

Also known as 'right angle clamps'. I think Paul is right that Branchlines stock them in the UK. I have two (medium and longer) and find them useful here and there.

Also around are magnetic clamps: Magnetic Clamps

 

[Martin Shaw]

Thank you both. There is nothing in the photo that I couldn't easily build myself and if I can source the knurled knobs at a reasonable price then I probably will. I could make them of course but they do all need to look the same otherwise my engineering sensitivities get offended. I would substitute solid bar for the "brass" rectangular tube but otherwise some doodling tomorrow and costings.
Thanks
Martin

 

[daifly]

if I can source the knurled knobs at a reasonable price then I probably will. I could make them of course but they do all need to look the same otherwise my engineering sensitivities get offended.

I thought I'd have a quick look at eBay just out of interest and discovered that they're referred to as 'thumb nuts'. Every day is a school day. Plenty of choices on there.
Dave

 

[DavidB]

One thing to note - the aluminium piece has cutouts, hidden in the picture above, which allows access to the inside of the joint with a soldering iron or glue. See: Splice Clamp

Another is that the pads are supposed to be heat-proof, or at least resistant. Nothing worse than them melting on to your work!

The image is taken from Micro Mart's site.

 

[Martin Shaw]

Dave & David
I'm grateful, nothing too untoward I feel.
M

 

[Martin Shaw]

Well six weeks on I have made something similar. I think the M4 bits could usefully be M5 although I'm probably overthinking it. I am going to line the "jaws" with some trackbed cork which should protect any items to be held, fortunately I don't need any heat resistance. It is 8" long, the centre cutout is just over 4" and the bits started out as 1.25" x 1/8" angle with 3/4" x 1/4" jaws. Thanks for the original pointers.
Martin

 

[michael mott]

Martin very nice rendition of the clamp, I might follow your lead. As they say you can never have enough clamps.

Michael