- Joined
- Dec 17, 2012
- Messages
- 630
Well I finally finished the clamps I have been working on. I started out with 1/2 in square and 1/2 in round 12L14. I cut the angles on the jaws at 10 degrees. I started at 20 degrees but it looked too steep at this size.
Then I started working on the screws. These are 1/4-20 with a bit of knurling on the top for grip. I got them roughed out first to get them all the same size while I had all the measurements fresh in my mind.
Last night I finished up the screws and tonight I started working on the jaws. Of course when I drilled the jaws, I knew to be careful and make sure to get the correct sides tapped and the other side drilled for clearance. What did I do? Of course I drilled a clearance hole on the side that was supposed to be tapped. While I had all the stops set up on the vise, I grabbed another piece of 1/2 in square to make a new jaw. This time I got it right. Then I swapped out the drill chuck for an end mill to create a pocket for the retainer E-clip on both jaws. As I put things together, I realized I had put the pocket on both jaws of one clamp instead of one for each. Oh well. I just have a bit more clearance on that clamp.
Once I had them together, I marked the retained screw to turn a notch in the screws for the E-clip. Then with the one screw holding the halves together, I trimmed the jaws front and back to make them flush. A little light file work to deburr but I left them fairly plain. These will be used and I will have to file them every once in a while as the 12L14 will dent a bit as it is soft. This was by design. I don't want them scratching up stuff that is clamped together.
The finished clamps:
A close up of the retainer clip:
I was really glad I picked up one of the 300 piece assortments of E-clips up at Harbor Freight. It was too good of a bargain at $3.00 to pass up.
I thought about cross drilling the knobs for a crossbar but I decided that if I needed to clamp something that tight, I would be better off using a different kind of clamp.
Then I started working on the screws. These are 1/4-20 with a bit of knurling on the top for grip. I got them roughed out first to get them all the same size while I had all the measurements fresh in my mind.
Last night I finished up the screws and tonight I started working on the jaws. Of course when I drilled the jaws, I knew to be careful and make sure to get the correct sides tapped and the other side drilled for clearance. What did I do? Of course I drilled a clearance hole on the side that was supposed to be tapped. While I had all the stops set up on the vise, I grabbed another piece of 1/2 in square to make a new jaw. This time I got it right. Then I swapped out the drill chuck for an end mill to create a pocket for the retainer E-clip on both jaws. As I put things together, I realized I had put the pocket on both jaws of one clamp instead of one for each. Oh well. I just have a bit more clearance on that clamp.
Once I had them together, I marked the retained screw to turn a notch in the screws for the E-clip. Then with the one screw holding the halves together, I trimmed the jaws front and back to make them flush. A little light file work to deburr but I left them fairly plain. These will be used and I will have to file them every once in a while as the 12L14 will dent a bit as it is soft. This was by design. I don't want them scratching up stuff that is clamped together. The finished clamps:
A close up of the retainer clip:
I was really glad I picked up one of the 300 piece assortments of E-clips up at Harbor Freight. It was too good of a bargain at $3.00 to pass up.
I thought about cross drilling the knobs for a crossbar but I decided that if I needed to clamp something that tight, I would be better off using a different kind of clamp.
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