Improving Your Bar Clamp

[cabinetman]

This is a simple task to glue on blocks of wood to the clamping surface of your bar clamps. You can use plywood, hardwood, or softwood, of any thickness, and glue on with contact cement, gorilla glue, or epoxy. They are much easier to change when using contact cement. These will save your projects from metal marks and denting. There is always the tendency to overtighten with bar clamps. A tip for clamping, I keep a slight sanded surface on the bar. The clamps that have this type of end (as pictured) have a tendency to slip more easily than the multiple clutch type. When you're at the end of a clamp and it keeps slipping, can be aggravating. So, I keep it slightly rough for better friction. As for clamping pressure, you don't want to squeeze out all the glue, just excess. Overtightened joints can be glue starved.



"I'M NEVER WRONG - BUT I'M NOT ALWAYS RIGHT"

[Pappy]

"As for clamping pressure, you don't want to squeeze out all the glue, just excess. Overtightened joints can be glue starved."

Also, if it takes that much pressure to clamp a joint, the joint is cut wrong. Chances are it's going to fail.

[cabinetman]

Don

That's an excellent point. The "make it fit" mentality is not craftsmanship.



"I'M NEVER WRONG - BUT I'M NOT ALWAYS RIGHT"

[Bruce Cohen]

I use double sided tape, the 3M "outdoor" type. That the one that has a red backer, seems to hold best.

Bruce

[wardprobst]

I pad mine with woven felt that I get at work- piano felt. It works very well on even finished surfaces.
Question- are you using galvanized pipe in your clamps? If so that may be why they are slipping. Black iron pipe is rough enough that even my cheap clamps won't slip. YMMV.
DP

[Luckbox]

I have some scraps of cork that I use as padding.