Picture frame clamping

[poolhound]

I have been making some picture frames and as I hadnt made any for a while I had forgotten what a pain clamping them is. For the first one which had quite a thick frame I used a web clamp, they are a bit of a pain but it worked. The second one has much thinner edges and I knew the web clamp would be really tought to use.

I noticed this from lee valley but wanted to glue up the frame today so made one. It was pretty simple and cost about $15 in parts. I bought 4 x 36" rods and 2 x 24" ones so can use it up to 60" x 24"

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=31162&cat=1,43293

As the rods are > $2 each I can always get other lengths in the future.

Building these frames did bring to mind one project that I really need to get done - an assembly table. Not having a perfectly flat surface is really noticeable when trying to glue up frames.

[Mr__Bill]

That's a great example of, build your own expensive tool on the cheap!

I have used a web clamp with corner blocks but it takes more hands than I have to do it well. I'll have to try this next time. Thanks for the idea and photo.

Bill

[Uncle Cracker]

I have had good luck with one of these, although I sometimes use a web clamp or K-body clamps.

Your solution looks like a good one, also.

[Alex Franke]

Cool -- I might have to try this one, too. Are you using regular nuts? I noticed they sell the "speed nuts" by themselves for $10 -- sounds like they would make the clamp easier to use.

Also, how did you attach the other end of the rod to the wood without crossing the path of the other rod?

[chopnhack]

Thats awesome, I had forgotten about that jig. I had wrote it down when I saw it with intention to make one of these days You did a good job on yours, share your details when you get a chance.

[chopnhack]

Here's another neat clamp idea.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2trWWHH9dg&feature=related

[Alex Franke]

Here's another neat clamp idea.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2trW...eature=related

Darn it, chopnhack -- now I'm going to be watching youtube all night again!

(Is that guy really doing his glue-ups with French's yellow mustard?!)

[Pappy]

I have a Bessy Vario web clamp that sees use mostly on multisided glueups. For 4 sided frames I prefer the Merle steel band clamp.

I also have a home made 'X' frame clamp and an old Craftsman frame clamp similar to what Jon made.

[poolhound]

I have used a web clamp with corner blocks but it takes more hands than I have to do it well.
Bill

Thats the same type I have and the reason I made this instead.

[poolhound]

I have had good luck with one of these, although I sometimes use a web clamp or K-body clamps.

Your solution looks like a good one, also.

I saw one of those in ROckler today, dont recall how much it was but I couldnt see how you could use it for bigger frames.

[poolhound]

Cool -- I might have to try this one, too. Are you using regular nuts? I noticed they sell the "speed nuts" by themselves for $10 -- sounds like they would make the clamp easier to use.

Also, how did you attach the other end of the rod to the wood without crossing the path of the other rod?

All threaded parts are 1/4" 20 I used these 3 star knobs that were on sale 2 for 1 at rockler today.

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=1574

The speed nuts look like a good idea, I may have to upgrade to those at some point.

One end of the rod is fixed into a threaded insert that only goes into the corner bracket approx 3/4" so it doesnt interfere with the through hole.

[poolhound]

Thats awesome, I had forgotten about that jig. I had wrote it down when I saw it with intention to make one of these days You did a good job on yours, share your details when you get a chance.

Its pretty much as it looks. COrners were made from some scrap walnut with one through hole (1/4") and a threaded insert in each. See my previous post for knobs and thread sizing.

If you need more info let me know.

[Uncle Cracker]

I saw one of those in ROckler today, dont recall how much it was but I couldnt see how you could use it for bigger frames.

I got a longer all-thread rod to pull it together on larger frames... works just like the center bolt does in a stock configuration.

[cgallery]

Nicely done. I've had one of the Rockler kids on my "must have" list. In the past they've gone on sale for as little as $10 (I think). But seeing this, I may just make one instead.

I, too, have used the web clamps. I have the nylon clamps, and now I have four of the steel clamps from MLCS. (MCLS?). Anyway, they work, but they can be unwieldy.

[poolhound]

I've had one of the Rockler kids on my "must have" list. In the past they've gone on sale for as little as $10 (I think).

Hmm, wooden children, for $10 thats a lot cheaper than the real thing. I should have thought of this 23 years ago