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Tip
#115
Make Your Own Cam Clamps
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If
you're like most woodworkers, sometimes, you just never seem
to have enough clamps. And the clamps you do have take forever
to unscrew and tighten down again. Here's one possible solution
for your problem: cam clamps. They're simple and inexpensive
to build - you can make a dozen of them in an evening - and
they're even simpler to use. Just one flick of the wrist and
you can exert 200-300 pounds of pressure.
Plan
of Procedure
1. Cut all stock to size. Take special care to cut the
bar stock accurately. Cut out the cam with your Bandsaw
or Scroll
Saw and carefully sand the flat spot shown in the drawing,
using your Disc Sander.
2.
Drill all holes, except for those in the bar. Clamp jaws together
and cut the recess by making a series of 3/8" holes. Use the
same technique to cut the bar slots. Use a rasp or file to
smooth the inside of the recess and the slots.
3.
Use your Dado
set-up to cut the dado for the cam in the sliding jaw...then
switch to a regular saw blade to cut the long saw kerf. This
kerf allows the cam to open and close the jaw, exerting pressure
on the pieces being clamped. Assemble the cam to the jaw,
using a 3/8" diameter dowel pin as a pivot. IMPORTANT:
Do not apply glue to the full length of the dowel pin, as
it has to rotate in the clamp body in order for the cam to
move and do its job.
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4.
Round the edge of the bar with a shaper or plane. A Radi-Plane
is the ideal tool for this job. Assemble the stationary jaw
to the bar, drill holes in the bar (using jaw holes as guides),
and insert dowel pins.
5.
Assemble the sliding jaw to the bar, drill a hole in the end
of the bar opposite the stationary jaw, and insert a dowel
pin as a stop peg.
6. Glue cork onto the jaw faces. To use, simply slide
the jaw to the desired opening, place the piece to be clamped
in between the jaw faces and flip the cam lever.
Bill
of Materials (in inches)
Use Rock Maple, Beech, Ash or Oak |
| A. |
Jaws(2) |
1-1/4
x 1-1/4 x 7 |
| B. |
Cam |
1-1/4
x 4-1/4 x 3/8 |
| C. |
Bar |
1-1/4
x 3/8 x 40(or shorter) |
| D. |
Pegs
(4) |
1-1/4
x 3/8 dia. |
| E. |
Cork
(2) |
1-1/4
x 1-1/4 x 1/16 |
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