Right here, in the New Yuppie Workshop

[LarryG]

I've done business with Woodpeckers a number of times, and think they're a fine company with first-rate and, in some cases, truly innovative products in their line ... but, I'm sorry, this new offering is just tee-totally over-the-top silly ...

I mean, c'mon ... twenty-four bucks for something a penny's worth of MDF offcut will do???

[430752]

yuppie is operative word

I agree, but you did mention in the yuppie workshop. Hence, the ability of the blocks (by magnets) to hod to the clamp without dropping out every time you try to align, and thus cussing, together with the machined teutonic looks will attract the bmw crowd. or the volkswagen crowd. or whatever.

I mean, under that theory why drive bmw (or ****, even gm/ford) when you can drive kia/yugo/hyundai???

me? I just have my wife hold the pieces together overnight by hand!

curt j.

[thrytis]

But with their eclub special, they're only $20! If $20 is too much, then you can buy just the steel cup magnets for $10 and make your own! I saw that and it occured to me that i'm really not their target audience for their many of their products.

[Tequila]

I saw that in the mailer today and thought it was a bit outrageous too - especially since you could get a 40" Bessey recently for less than those magnetic blocks.

It's nice that they machine everything flat and parallel, but does it really make a difference when the clamp has a swivel pad?

Here's another innovation, in case you find positioning clamping supports too difficult:
http://www.woodpeck.com/polystrips.html

[crokett]

Hmm... I can get a magnet for less than 10 bucks and I know I have some MDF cutoffs in my shop somewhere. If I am too cheap to spring for the magnet, not too hard to jig up the MDF so it slips over the clamp bar and doesn't fall out.

Heck for 20 bucks I could probably get a lot of square tube or steel and make my own.

Cool idea though.

[final_t]

Package of 10 rare earth magnets (3/8" dia) will set you back $4.49+sh at Rockler, which is at the high end. Little bit of epoxy or liquid nail and you're in business.

[Hoyden]

Just like fishing, for every lure made some will bite and some won't. but those you catch make good eatn !

[Wood_workur]

Really, just take a magnet, and a warbed piece of wood, and there, you have an even better clamp pad. (inside curve of the wood on the inside, like a bowclamp)

[LCHIEN]

Just like fishing, for every lure made some will bite and some won't. but those you catch make good eatn !

Lures are not made to catch fish.
Lures are made to catch fisherman.
Every lure sold is 100% successful whether it ever catches a fish or not; it already caught the fisherman.

Same with tools. Not made to cut wood. Made to catch tool collectors.

[Knottscott]

I've done business with Woodpeckers a number of times, and think they're a fine company with first-rate and, in some cases, truly innovative products in their line ... but, I'm sorry, this new offering is just tee-totally over-the-top silly ...

I mean, c'mon ... twenty-four bucks for something a penny's worth of MDF offcut will do???

The expensive part is getting the magnets to stick to the wood.

[Denco]

I wonder if they take returns...

[Brian G]

I made a whole mess of these with a few mods.

I made them from some left over 2 x 6 stock, so the final thickness was 1-3/8". I figured I would have a little more surface that way. I also omitted the outriggers on a bunch. Those are a tremendous help with gluing panels. I skipped the cork pads. For some, I bored a hole to fit the clamp head, which helps hold the block to the clamp head. For others, I cut a slot to fit the clamp tail.

I didn't consider magnets, but holes are cheaper.

I'm glad I took the time to make a bunch. They are very helpful.