- Joined
- Jan 4, 2021
- Messages
- 1,810
As @GeneT45 recommends, buy them as you need them (or if you see a really good deal).
My inventory (built up over probably 20 years):
Having four clamps allows you toads a second pair before removing the assembly from the vise to maintain the relative position when you flip it over and need to remove the original pair to clamp that edge in the vise.
I also have a handful of machinists' parallel clamps, which while more difficult to use at times, do allow for some interesting setups:
Not recommended for heavy cuts, but worked perfectly for accurately drilling these "impossible" holes. I didn't get a side view of this setup, but here's the part being bent (hole locations were determined after bending):
My inventory (built up over probably 20 years):
- 4-1/2" – 2
- 3" – 2
- 2-1/2" – 4
- 2" – 5 (Grainger's last one in inventory was on clearance, so I had to get it)
- 1" – 4
Having four clamps allows you toads a second pair before removing the assembly from the vise to maintain the relative position when you flip it over and need to remove the original pair to clamp that edge in the vise.
I also have a handful of machinists' parallel clamps, which while more difficult to use at times, do allow for some interesting setups:
Not recommended for heavy cuts, but worked perfectly for accurately drilling these "impossible" holes. I didn't get a side view of this setup, but here's the part being bent (hole locations were determined after bending):