Replies

1. 
   PeterDurand | Jan 28, 2008 05:11pm | #1

   This was a tip in another woodworking mag:

   Drill a hole in the end of the handle, screw in and epoxy a lag bolt. Now you can use a wrench on the bolt head.

   Cheers,

   Peter

    

   Better life through Zoodles and poutine...

1. 
   forestgirl | Jan 29, 2008 05:57am | #7

   Good heavens, how much clamping pressure are you guys trying to generate?!  Must have taking that much-maligned clamping pressure article much to heart!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

1. 
   sewerman | Jan 29, 2008 07:39am | #10

   Not at all, forestgirl.  It's just that my 80-something hands on my 50-something arms just aren't gettin' it done like they used to.

1. 
   Tinkerer3 | Jan 29, 2008 08:32am | #11

   Got a pipe wrench?

2. 
   forestgirl | Jan 29, 2008 09:33am | #12

   Actually, I can totally understand that!  Two surgeries for carpal tunnel, and a reallllly bad case of tendinitis back in 1993, my hands aren't near as strong as they used to be.  There's one thing guaranteed to mess up my right wrist, too, and that's when gluing up a frame or something, and reaching across to tighten a K-body, bending the wrist way over and turning the handle.  It tweaks somethin' really, really badly, hand can hurt for days!

   Sorry, wasn't tryin' to pick on you!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

1. 
   sewerman | Jan 29, 2008 08:18pm | #17

   No worries, Forestgirl.  I've got broad shoulders.

3. 
   Dave45 | Jan 29, 2008 05:39pm | #15

   I'm glad I read your post before I jumped in, Sewerman.  I hadn't thought of situations where a physical problem might create a need for a "persuader" to get good clamping pressure.

   I am, however, completely baffled by the philosophy that clamps need to be tightened two full turns past the "squeal". - lol  Maybe i should have gotten some formal training, but my clamping technique just uses enough glue to cover the joint surfaces, spreading the glue (with a roller or a finger) to evenly coat them, and clamping with just enough pressure to get a fairly even amount of squeeze out  along the joint.  IMHO, if I have to grind a clamp to get a joint to close up, I blew it on my joint preparation and need to fix that instead of beating it into submission.

   Maybe I've been doing it wrong all these years, but I've never had failure.

1. 
   saschafer | Jan 29, 2008 06:50pm | #16

   "Maybe I've been doing it wrong all these years, but I've never had failure."

   I think people are completely misinterpreting this whole clamping pressure thing. The FWW article was about optimal clamping pressure, the pressure required to achieve maximum glue line strength. Nowhere did it say that you had to use this pressure or all of your joints would fall apart. The truth is that the great majority of glue joints aren't stressed to anywhere even remotely near the point where suboptimal clamping pressure would cause the joint to fail. That is why you haven't had any failures.

   The article also started with the assumption that the joint is properly prepared. It had nothing to say about closing up ill-fitting joints. That's a completely separate issue and has nothing to do with pressure at the glue line.

   -Steve

2. 
   PeterDurand | Jan 30, 2008 06:03pm | #22

   Well, when one is getting on in age and/or suffering from some arthritis, every little bit helps.Cheers,Peter edit: oops, shoulda read through the posts before replying...apologies
   Better life through Zoodles and poutine...

   Edited 1/30/2008 10:06 am by PeterDurand

1. 
   forestgirl | Jan 30, 2008 07:45pm | #23

   "Well, when one is getting on in age..."  As I am, somewhat, and my hands and back are a couple decades older than the rest of me, LOL!

   "Better life through Zoodles and poutine..."  Is that your "signature" or was it some kind of code for me, which I'm not deciphering? ;-)forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

1. 
   PeterDurand | Jan 30, 2008 07:53pm | #24

   Its my tag line. I post mostly over at cooks talk and that is where it originated. I guess it follows me to all the other forums :-)Cheers, 

   Better life through Zoodles and poutine...

2. 
   Samson | Jan 28, 2008 06:19pm | #2

   I've found these to be decent:

   http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=16881

3. 
   Al from Unionville | Jan 28, 2008 06:59pm | #3

   I have not actually done this, but I have wondered whether I could drill a hole through the handle (not into the end but right through the side) and them use a metal rod for leverage. My fear was that I would structurally weaken the handle (has anyone tried this?)

   On the other hand, and notwithstanding FWW's recent article on the benefit of maximum clamping pressure, I have never had a glue joint fail and have come to accept that the amount of force I can generate with my aging hands is sufficient / Al

4. 
   Jimurock | Jan 28, 2008 09:17pm | #4

   Rout grooves lengthwise on the handle.  It gives you a grip similar to a Fuller screwdriver.

   Jim

1. 
   gspman | Jan 29, 2008 04:53am | #5

   I use Vetwrap - it's a sticky, clingy rubber sort-of ace bandage thing, used for binding wounds and wrapping up bandages.  It sticks to itself quite well - a few wraps around the shiny handles and you're in business.  Your vet will sell you a roll, or most pet supply catalogs/stores carry it.

    

   Steve

   Edited 1/28/2008 8:54 pm ET by gspman

   Edited 1/28/2008 8:54 pm ET by gspman

1. 
   forestgirl | Jan 29, 2008 05:57am | #8

   VetWrap is wonderful stuff, I was around when it first hit the horse medicine market, and man do we love it!  Stretch it a bit while applying though, that's when it works the best.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

2. 
   Al from Unionville | Jan 29, 2008 05:16pm | #14

   great idea Steve, thanks / Al

5. 
   ThreePuttJoe | Jan 29, 2008 05:20am | #6

   Just take a block plane or spokeshave and plane a flat on one or two (or even four) sides, and you will have all the leverage you should need. They don't have to be very wide flats, just something to give your palm a little purchase. I guess you could even do this with a belt or disc sander if you were in a hurry.

1. 
   Spalted | Jan 29, 2008 05:59am | #9

   I had seen it in a mag somewhere: Saw flats on two parallel faces from the outside end about and inch down the handle. Not very deep, just enough to give 2 reference surfaces for an appropriately sized wrench. Use one from the toolbox or make a dedicated one out of 3/4" hardwood with a mating oval hole. Make it T-style or star-style to suit your taste.

6. 
   BruceS | Jan 29, 2008 05:04pm | #13

   Remember Hockey 1, hockey2.     Friction and rubber tape.

   Work Safe,  Count to 10 when your done for the day !!

   Bruce S. 

    

7. 
   bd | Jan 30, 2008 02:12am | #18

   See if you can find an old bicycle inner tube -- either from a rider you know or a repair shop. Trim to length, then stretch over the handle.

8. 
   forestgirl | Jan 30, 2008 03:03am | #19

   I have another solution sir.  Get thee some Jet clamps instead!  Great handles, you could even make a handled "socket" to turn them with if you needed to.  I like them way better than the Besseys (even traded clamps with one of the Knots members awhile back).

   View Image

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 
   
1. 
   juglans | Jan 30, 2008 04:59am | #20

   The quickest and easiest solution is to blow into your hand as if it were cold and you were trying to warm it up. Then immediately tighten the clamp. You would be amazed at the increased grip from adding a bit of moisture to the equation. Try it.Dan
   http://www.dwsfinefurniture.com

1. 
   forestgirl | Jan 30, 2008 06:36am | #21

   "...as if it were cold and you were trying to warm it up."  It is cold!  It was 32 inside my shop a few days ago.  Point taken, though; hopefully the OP saw it too.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)