ryandetzel Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 Wife says ghetto, I say clever! I needed a way to hold the ends on this bench top while they dried but I don't have any long clamps so I came up with this setup. What is the proper way to handle this situation? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mds2 Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 If it works it works. I think it is a creative solution to a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tombuhl Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 Some folks learn from their time in the Ghetto, others waste away, and some get wasted away. Use all your life experiences to enlighten the path of your life. I say, good use of clamps and your brain. What is the primary material of that surface made from? If solid wood, you'll have trouble with expansion opening ends, and/or pulling away from facing. If non-moving material, it looks great. Tell your wife she can buy a new dress with the money you saved from not buying LONG clamps. Fun times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chetzajac Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 Totally clever. I need to add this one to my bag of tricks. Great idea! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryandetzel Posted November 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 Some folks learn from their time in the Ghetto, others waste away, and some get wasted away. Use all your life experiences to enlighten the path of your life. I say, good use of clamps and your brain. What is the primary material of that surface made from? If solid wood, you'll have trouble with expansion opening ends, and/or pulling away from facing. If non-moving material, it looks great. Tell your wife she can buy a new dress with the money you saved from not buying LONG clamps. Fun times. The top is oak plywood, the sides are poplar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardnesd Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 Have you ever thought about ideas for tackling the national debt.....very clever. Ghetto's ok as long as you don't do the applebottom booty shake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryandetzel Posted November 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 So is there a "correct" way to do this? Do they sell clamps this long? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jfitz Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 Ryan - I say clever. There are many ways to 'extend' the reach of clamps, so that you dont' have to have a shop full of 10' clamps "just in case". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
areynoldsre Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 So is there a "correct" way to do this? Do they sell clamps this long? "correct" is a relative term. If it get the job done the it works. Looks like you got the job done so it's correct. There are clamps that long - pipe clamps. Basically you get a 10' (or whatever length) iron pipe (black pipe from the hardware store) and stick these clamps on them: http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=17397&filter=pipe%20clamp You can then make a clamp any length you want. The only down size is price compared to how often you use them. I've got a set of six six footers in my shop that I got for one project 10 years ago. I've used them maybe twice since then. There are times I am not sure having to store the things is worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwatson Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 ive seen people interlock clamps like that before, whatever gets the job done i'd say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CessnaPilotBarry Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 I say anything that works with what you have is clever! Personally, I might have used a few brads in this situation... Other "ghetto" clamps are truck tie-down ratchet straps, construction lumber and wedges, rope and wedges, tape... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric71m Posted November 17, 2011 Report Share Posted November 17, 2011 Sounds like you need to convince the wife you need more tools... LOL you did an excellent job on the creativity... what ever works I say... I have several pipe clamps on hand with some 10' sections of pipe also up in the rack, just for "those" occasions... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuilderBill Posted November 18, 2011 Report Share Posted November 18, 2011 Sometimes clever IS ghetto! Congrats! Next time you're in the BORG pick up a handful of these:http://www.homedepot.com/Tools-Hardware/Adjustable-Clamp/h_d1/N-5yc1vZarnkZ4b/R-202688752/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053 , they make stuff like that pretty easy. The stores around here sell the Husky version which has a T-handle on the center screw instead of a thumbscrew, you can get a bit more torque with it. HTH, Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nikbrown Posted November 19, 2011 Report Share Posted November 19, 2011 Been there... done that... I choose clever Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tim0625 Posted November 21, 2011 Report Share Posted November 21, 2011 Hey ghetto is relative! It worked didn't it? Just as an fyi...you could use a couple of pony clamps and have an extra section of pipe for each of them joined by a coupling. It quickly, temporarily, and inexpensively makes a 5' into a 10' clamp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Static_23 Posted November 21, 2011 Report Share Posted November 21, 2011 sounds like shes telling you to buy some more clamps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darnell Hagen Posted November 21, 2011 Report Share Posted November 21, 2011 Ghetto. Here's how the classy woodworker does it. Seriously though, you do what you gotta do, and what you did was a perfectly acceptable workaround. I've got four 8' Besseys, and they've saved my bacon quite a few times. I use them way more than my 12"ers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwacker Posted November 21, 2011 Report Share Posted November 21, 2011 That is not ghetto. Pushing it against the wall and backing your truck up against it is ghetto. I know a cabinet maker that doesn't own a single clamp never has never will. He use a piece of rope with little shop made blocks. The rope has a loop in it and he slips the rope over and twist the loop with a stick. Don 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Posted November 21, 2011 Report Share Posted November 21, 2011 Much of woodworking is simply problem solving. That's a good solution. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davestanton Posted November 27, 2011 Report Share Posted November 27, 2011 This post reminds me of a demonstration I saw at the last "Timber and working with wood" show I attended in Sydney. I was taken by how versatile it is. http://www.benchpro2000.com.au/Product-Demonstration-page.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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