Strong and relatively cheap clamps for panel glue ups that you can make by yourself if you have a welding machine and some simple tools.
It can handle up to 120 cm in width, but you can make it shorter if needed. However, you can also make it shorter. It clamps up to 50 mm thick, but if you’re working with wood under 25 mm, you’ll need to put some strips of wood underneath.
Materials for ONE clamp (120 cm capacity):
– 3m 50x30mm steel tube – 3mm thick
– 1m 40x4mm flat steel bar
(I used stainless steel fasteners to make welding easier.)
– 25cm M12 threaded rod
– 4pcs M12 nuts
– 1pcs M12 coupling nut
– 1pcs M12 round coupling nut
– 5pcs M10 partially threaded bolt (at least 35mm without thread)
– some 2mm wire
It was around 65 usd material cost for the four clamps for me.
Don’t over tighten them, it will not work better! I suggest only 50Nm torque because that means 26kN horizontal force per clamp, which is much more than enough. (Stainless steel M12 bolts have around 70Nm max tightening capacity.)
Apply a coat of paint or use painter’s tape to prevent the glue from reacting with the bare steel and staining your workpiece.
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3 Comments
Ask anything about the clamps, I read it and I’m here to discuss and help!
Definitely a very robust design, congratulations for the contribution
Thank you! Have a great day