Replies

1. 
   joinerswork | Nov 16, 2006 05:13am | #1

   jp,

   No need for plans, really.  Make 'em to suit yourself.

   Having said that,I measured a couple old ones that I have. 

   One has jaws that are 12" long, x 1 7/8" square.  The threaded portion of the screws is about 12" as well, x about 7/8 dia.  Handles are one piece with the screws, of course, about 1 1/2dia, 4" long. 

   Another has jaws that measure 7" long x 1 1/8" square.  The threaded portion is 1/2" dia x 7" long, and handles are about 1 3/8 dia, x3" long.

   On both clamps, the holes for the screws are right in the middle of the length of the jaws, and near the rear end, about 3/4"- 1 1/4" from the end.

   One jaw has both holes threaded to accept the screws. The other jaw has a large enough central hole so the screw can easily pass through, til it is stopped by the shoulder of the handle.  The end-most hole in this jaw is blind (drilled only partway through) and is the same diameter as the root, or base, of the thread.  The end of this screw has its end-most threads turned away for 1/2" - 3/4" so as to fit into the blind hole without  binding.  The business ends of the jaws are tapered at about 45*, and the outside corners are lightly chamfered, 1/8- 3/16" or so.

   All that said, it is just as easy to make the jaws of a size, and with holes located to suit your needs; e.g. extra deep reach, extra tapered to reach into tight spots, etc, etc.

   Jaws are best made of a hard wood, like maple, beech, oak, apple, or dogwood.  Screws should be tough and springy.  Hickory is preferred, but white oak, or even ash will do.

   Regards,

   Ray Pine

1. 
   alanplanesaw | Nov 16, 2006 06:15am | #2

   Ray,

   How do you make threaded holes and threaded rods out of the wood?

   Alan - planesaw

1. 
   joinerswork | Nov 16, 2006 09:44pm | #4

   Plane,

   With a tap and die set made for wood.  Available as antiques, and new thru dealers such as Garrett Wade and Woodcraft Supply.  Easily made at home if you have a metal lathe, or forging skills.  Roy Underhill in one of his books devotes some space to the subject.  Someone offers a router attachment to cut threads, but the pics look like too fine a thread pitch to hold up under the stress of clamping pressure. No experience with the new-fangled router-cut threads personally though, so I might be wrong.

   Ray

2. 
   mufti | Nov 16, 2006 11:12pm | #5

              The Beal router gadgets are pretty good, the only hard bit is sizing stock for threading since it has to be accurate. Here one way to go is to get it just oversize and then pound it through a metal plate.

   I have tried hand chasing a number of times and am absolutely useless. Next attempt may be just pretty useless.

   Have fun, David

2. 
   jpadgett | Nov 16, 2006 06:22am | #3

   Thanks for the advice. I will get started!