Cc

Chuck

20/11/2007 12:36 PM

Expensive Corner Clamps

I keep seeing these corner clamps on Rockler http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=10113
and similar ones elsewhere. They look like a great idea but I think
they are pretty pricey for what they are. I keep wondering if there is
a reason why people would pay for these rather than make their own. I
think it should be very easy to make 4 (really) square L shaped peices
of wood. Am I missing something?

Chuck


This topic has 23 replies

Dd

"DGDevin"

in reply to Chuck on 20/11/2007 12:36 PM

20/11/2007 1:22 PM

"Chuck" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

>I keep seeing these corner clamps on Rockler
>http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=10113
> and similar ones elsewhere. They look like a great idea but I think
> they are pretty pricey for what they are. I keep wondering if there is
> a reason why people would pay for these rather than make their own. I
> think it should be very easy to make 4 (really) square L shaped peices
> of wood. Am I missing something?
>
> Chuck

If you think those are overpriced then check out these babies, they're
triple the cost and they still don't come with clamps.

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&cat=1,43838,51101&p=51101

Dd

"DGDevin"

in reply to Chuck on 20/11/2007 12:36 PM

21/11/2007 8:49 AM

"J. Clarke" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

>> If you think those are overpriced then check out these babies,
>> they're
>> triple the cost and they still don't come with clamps.
>>
>> http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&cat=1,43838,51101&p=51101
>
> Only one and a half times the cost--the Rocklers are ten bucks a pop,
> the Veritas are 30 bucks a _pair_.

Aha, that explains why no matter how many times I measure the pieces of wood
I cut up never fit, it's a multiplicicational thing. ;^)

Dd

"DGDevin"

in reply to Chuck on 20/11/2007 12:36 PM

21/11/2007 8:57 AM

"Doug Miller" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

> Also, there are other sources for this item that are less expensive than
> LV.
> Finally, notice the advertised tolerance on these. Notice also that
> Rockler
> does not specify the tolerance on theirs -- with good reason, I might add
> (see
> my other post in this thread for details).

Good tip, thanks. I see Jevons is an exhibitor at the woodworking show,
I'll keep an eye open for a deal such as you got.

CF

Chris Friesen

in reply to Chuck on 20/11/2007 12:36 PM

22/11/2007 3:16 PM

Gordon Airporte wrote:
> Can anyone testify as to the effectiveness of the plastic ratcheting
> corner jigs from Lee Valley? "Right Angle Assembly Clamps"
>
> http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=53673&cat=1,43838

I have two pair and have used them a few times.

Don't rely on them to keep something at 90 degrees. They're more for
general positioning.

The aluminum ones are a better bet for accuracy.

Chris

RC

Robatoy

in reply to Chuck on 20/11/2007 12:36 PM

20/11/2007 9:12 PM

On Nov 20, 11:56 pm, "Swingman" <[email protected]> wrote:
> "J. Clarke" wrote
>
> > You could but having them hold up in use and stay square is more
> > problematical. You'd be forever knocking the cross-grain leg off for
> > example and wood changes its dimensions with humidity.
>
> Plywood ...
>
Corian....

Pn

Phisherman

in reply to Chuck on 20/11/2007 12:36 PM

21/11/2007 2:36 AM

On Tue, 20 Nov 2007 13:22:45 -0800, "DGDevin"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>"Chuck" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>
>>I keep seeing these corner clamps on Rockler
>>http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=10113
>> and similar ones elsewhere. They look like a great idea but I think
>> they are pretty pricey for what they are. I keep wondering if there is
>> a reason why people would pay for these rather than make their own. I
>> think it should be very easy to make 4 (really) square L shaped peices
>> of wood. Am I missing something?
>>
>> Chuck
>
>If you think those are overpriced then check out these babies, they're
>triple the cost and they still don't come with clamps.
>
>http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&cat=1,43838,51101&p=51101
>

Now these look a lot better. Outrageous cost, though.

Rr

ROYNEU

in reply to Chuck on 20/11/2007 12:36 PM

22/11/2007 4:31 PM

On Nov 20, 12:36 pm, Chuck <[email protected]> wrote:
> I keep seeing these corner clamps on Rocklerhttp://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=10113
> and similar ones elsewhere. They look like a great idea but I think
> they are pretty pricey for what they are. I keep wondering if there is
> a reason why people would pay for these rather than make their own. I
> think it should be very easy to make 4 (really) square L shaped peices
> of wood. Am I missing something?
>
> Chuck

I bought two of them years ago. Nice heavy duty gizmos. For them to
work halfway decent you have to have one on every corner. The clamping
pressure is very limited in area. They are not worth the money they
cost.

Roy

Hg

Hoosierpopi

in reply to Chuck on 20/11/2007 12:36 PM

21/11/2007 7:00 AM

On Nov 20, 3:36 pm, Chuck <[email protected]> wrote:
> I keep seeing these corner clamps on Rocklerhttp://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=10113
> and similar ones elsewhere. They look like a great idea but I think
> they are pretty pricey for what they are. I keep wondering if there is
> a reason why people would pay for these rather than make their own. I
> think it should be very easy to make 4 (really) square L shaped peices
> of wood. Am I missing something?
>
> Chuck

I have an aluminum supplier/distributor in my area and they have
ARCHITECTURAL shapes (square corners) that work well for jigs and
such. Mine has a CUT OFFS box where I can buy scrap pieces by the
pound. Made a ROuter Tabke Fence out of one piece and a tenon jig out
of some two-ich square stuff.

PS, eve if they were "square" as promised, ten bucks is way too much,
way too much.

Uu

"Upscale"

in reply to Chuck on 20/11/2007 12:36 PM

22/11/2007 3:29 PM


"Gordon Airporte" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> Can anyone testify as to the effectiveness of the plastic ratcheting
> corner jigs from Lee Valley? "Right Angle Assembly Clamps"

I can't advise you on the use of these clamps, but I did consider them and
decided to go with the swivel mitre clamp.
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=31165&cat=1,43838
I figured I can only work on one corner of something at a time and if I
ever do need to partially assemble something before putting it together
permanently, the 90° assembly braces I bought will do what I need them to
do. http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=51101&cat=1,43838

sD

[email protected] (Doug Miller)

in reply to Chuck on 20/11/2007 12:36 PM

20/11/2007 10:42 PM

In article <[email protected]>, Chuck <[email protected]> wrote:
>I keep seeing these corner clamps on Rockler
> http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=10113
>and similar ones elsewhere. They look like a great idea but I think
>they are pretty pricey for what they are.

Especially considering that the ones from Rockler have only a passing
acquaintance with "square".

To anyone who is considering buying the Rockler "Clamp-It", I suggest visiting
a Rockler store. Take two of them out of their packages, and set them on the
flattest surface you can find, such as a jointer or table saw, butted against
each other like so _||_ and check for gaps. Typically, you'll see about 20
thousandths.

I once made the mistake of buying a set of four of these without checking them
out first. Once I got them into the shop and checked them, I was appalled.
They're advertised as "perfect 90 degree angles" but they're not even close.
Depending on how I paired them up, the gaps ranged from 0.020" to 0.035",
which means that they're inconsistent on top of being inaccurate. When I
returned them to the store, I took a set of feeler gauges along, and checked
about half a dozen others without finding any two that would produce a gap of
less than 0.015".

>I keep wondering if there is
>a reason why people would pay for these rather than make their own. I
>think it should be very easy to make 4 (really) square L shaped peices
>of wood. Am I missing something?

Yes, a couple of things:
- wood flexes (although this can be mitigated somewhat with triangular
gussets, solid joinery, and proper attention to grain direction)
- wood changes dimension, and therefore shape, with changes in humidity.

That said, if you have good tools properly set up, it shouldn't be too hard to
make your own out of wood that are at least as close to square as the junk
from Rockler.

Or you could get these
http://jevonstoolco.com/_wsn/page3.html
and not have to worry about square ever again.

I bought a set of four at a woodworking show for $39.99 a few years ago, and I
recommend them highly: stiff and rigid, and even more accurate than
the advertised tolerance of 0.002": set against each other as described above
on the bed of my table saw or against the blade of a Starrett rule, I am
unable either to fit a 0.002" feeler gauge between them at any point, or
indeed to see any gap between them at all.

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.

Sk

"Swingman"

in reply to Chuck on 20/11/2007 12:36 PM

20/11/2007 10:56 PM

"J. Clarke" wrote

> You could but having them hold up in use and stay square is more
> problematical. You'd be forever knocking the cross-grain leg off for
> example and wood changes its dimensions with humidity.

Plywood ...

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 11/16/07
KarlC@ (the obvious)

FH

Father Haskell

in reply to Chuck on 20/11/2007 12:36 PM

21/11/2007 1:42 PM

On Nov 20, 11:56 pm, "Swingman" <[email protected]> wrote:
> "J. Clarke" wrote
>
> > You could but having them hold up in use and stay square is more
> > problematical. You'd be forever knocking the cross-grain leg off for
> > example and wood changes its dimensions with humidity.
>
> Plywood ...

Same as I used. Made a set of 4 triangles from 3/4 birch ply scrap,
8 x 12" each. Drilled 1" holes along the bases and verticals to
take F-clamps. Notched the square corners to let glue run.
Wax finish was enough to pretty them up.

Surprisingly, they came out square enough that they themselves
can be used as squares.

RC

Robatoy

in reply to Chuck on 20/11/2007 12:36 PM

20/11/2007 9:11 PM

On Nov 20, 11:56 pm, "Swingman" <[email protected]> wrote:
> "J. Clarke" wrote
>
> > You could but having them hold up in use and stay square is more
> > problematical. You'd be forever knocking the cross-grain leg off for
> > example and wood changes its dimensions with humidity.
>
> Plywood ...
>
Corian....

Uu

"Upscale"

in reply to Chuck on 20/11/2007 12:36 PM

20/11/2007 10:22 PM


"Phisherman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> >http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&cat=1,43838,51101&p=51101
> Now these look a lot better. Outrageous cost, though.

Maybe, but I bought a pair of them anyway and don't regret it for a second.
They're pretty accurate within reason, thinner and much easier to use than
the Rockler bulky resin models and they measurably speed up assembly time on
any square construction project I happen to be building.

Hell, a case of beer, at least up here in the great white north costs more
than these clamps from Lee Valley. So, instead of literally peeing some my
money down the drain, I have a useful tool that I expect to remain useful
into the foreseeable future. Can't complain about that.

JC

"J. Clarke"

in reply to Chuck on 20/11/2007 12:36 PM

20/11/2007 4:21 PM

Chuck wrote:
> I keep seeing these corner clamps on Rockler
> http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=10113
> and similar ones elsewhere. They look like a great idea but I think
> they are pretty pricey for what they are. I keep wondering if there
> is
> a reason why people would pay for these rather than make their own.
> I
> think it should be very easy to make 4 (really) square L shaped
> peices
> of wood. Am I missing something?

You could but having them hold up in use and stay square is more
problematical. You'd be forever knocking the cross-grain leg off for
example and wood changes its dimensions with humidity.

--
--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

JC

"J. Clarke"

in reply to Chuck on 20/11/2007 12:36 PM

20/11/2007 5:30 PM

DGDevin wrote:
> "Chuck" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>> I keep seeing these corner clamps on Rockler
>> http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=10113
>> and similar ones elsewhere. They look like a great idea but I think
>> they are pretty pricey for what they are. I keep wondering if there
>> is a reason why people would pay for these rather than make their
>> own. I think it should be very easy to make 4 (really) square L
>> shaped peices of wood. Am I missing something?
>>
>> Chuck
>
> If you think those are overpriced then check out these babies,
> they're
> triple the cost and they still don't come with clamps.
>
> http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&cat=1,43838,51101&p=51101

Only one and a half times the cost--the Rocklers are ten bucks a pop,
the Veritas are 30 bucks a _pair_.

--
--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

dn

dpb

in reply to Chuck on 20/11/2007 12:36 PM

20/11/2007 4:39 PM

J. Clarke wrote:
> Chuck wrote:
>> I keep seeing these corner clamps on Rockler
>> http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=10113
>> and similar ones elsewhere. They look like a great idea but I think
>> they are pretty pricey for what they are. I keep wondering if there
>> is
>> a reason why people would pay for these rather than make their own.
>> I
>> think it should be very easy to make 4 (really) square L shaped
>> peices
>> of wood. Am I missing something?
>
> You could but having them hold up in use and stay square is more
> problematical. You'd be forever knocking the cross-grain leg off for
> example and wood changes its dimensions with humidity.

'Pends on how their made and of what. May not remain square to the mil,
but certainly can be done "good enough" for most any general woodworking.

I've got a few chunks of 3x3 angle also about that long that are close
enough for anything that doesn't have to be absolutely perfect. If that
doesn't suit, the welding angles are good as a reference and a little
shim makes them snug. Cheap 'n cheery... :)

--

dn

dpb

in reply to Chuck on 20/11/2007 12:36 PM

21/11/2007 9:16 AM

Hoosierpopi wrote:
> On Nov 20, 3:36 pm, Chuck <[email protected]> wrote:
>> I keep seeing these corner clamps on Rocklerhttp://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=10113
>> and similar ones elsewhere. They look like a great idea but I think
>> they are pretty pricey for what they are. I keep wondering if there is
>> a reason why people would pay for these rather than make their own. I
>> think it should be very easy to make 4 (really) square L shaped peices
>> of wood. Am I missing something?
>>
>> Chuck
>
> I have an aluminum supplier/distributor in my area and they have
> ARCHITECTURAL shapes (square corners) that work well for jigs and
> such. Mine has a CUT OFFS box where I can buy scrap pieces by the
> pound. Made a ROuter Tabke Fence out of one piece and a tenon jig out
> of some two-ich square stuff.
...

I was thinking I should have noted the angle I use is Al which is
smoother surface than structural iron and generally more precise as well
as the weight advantage. As here, the ironmonger has scraps for
cheap...really short little cutoffs for stuff like this may be just
handouts out of the trash bin...

--

JC

"J. Clarke"

in reply to Chuck on 20/11/2007 12:36 PM

21/11/2007 10:46 AM

Robatoy wrote:
> On Nov 20, 11:56 pm, "Swingman" <[email protected]> wrote:
>> "J. Clarke" wrote
>>
>>> You could but having them hold up in use and stay square is more
>>> problematical. You'd be forever knocking the cross-grain leg off
>>> for example and wood changes its dimensions with humidity.
>>
>> Plywood ...
>>
> Corian....

Corian would be a possibility.

Baltic Birch might be another--with domestic Douglas Fir plywood one
would have trouble getting a decent degree of smoothness on the edges.

--
--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

Pn

Phisherman

in reply to Chuck on 20/11/2007 12:36 PM

21/11/2007 2:33 AM

On Tue, 20 Nov 2007 12:36:52 -0800 (PST), Chuck <[email protected]>
wrote:

>I keep seeing these corner clamps on Rockler http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=10113
>and similar ones elsewhere. They look like a great idea but I think
>they are pretty pricey for what they are. I keep wondering if there is
>a reason why people would pay for these rather than make their own. I
>think it should be very easy to make 4 (really) square L shaped peices
>of wood. Am I missing something?
>
>Chuck


I made a 90-degree block and keep with my clamps. It has been handy a
few times. Wax the block to repel glue. Metal 90-degree brackets
work well too. I think $10 is a little steep for a 90-degree corner
brace.

sD

[email protected] (Doug Miller)

in reply to Chuck on 20/11/2007 12:36 PM

21/11/2007 2:54 AM

In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] wrote:
>On Tue, 20 Nov 2007 13:22:45 -0800, "DGDevin"
><[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>"Chuck" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>>news:[email protected]...
>>
>>>I keep seeing these corner clamps on Rockler
>>>http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=10113
>>> and similar ones elsewhere. They look like a great idea but I think
>>> they are pretty pricey for what they are. I keep wondering if there is
>>> a reason why people would pay for these rather than make their own. I
>>> think it should be very easy to make 4 (really) square L shaped peices
>>> of wood. Am I missing something?
>>>
>>> Chuck
>>
>>If you think those are overpriced then check out these babies, they're
>>triple the cost and they still don't come with clamps.
>>
>>http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&cat=1,43838,51101&p=51101
>>
>
>Now these look a lot better. Outrageous cost, though.

As previously noted, that's for a *pair*, compared to price *each* at Rockler
-- and they're an order of magnitude closer to dead-on square.

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.

sD

[email protected] (Doug Miller)

in reply to Chuck on 20/11/2007 12:36 PM

20/11/2007 10:46 PM

In article <[email protected]>, "DGDevin" <[email protected]> wrote:
>"Chuck" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>
>>I keep seeing these corner clamps on Rockler
>>http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=10113
>> and similar ones elsewhere. They look like a great idea but I think
>> they are pretty pricey for what they are. I keep wondering if there is
>> a reason why people would pay for these rather than make their own. I
>> think it should be very easy to make 4 (really) square L shaped peices
>> of wood. Am I missing something?
>>
>> Chuck
>
>If you think those are overpriced then check out these babies, they're
>triple the cost and they still don't come with clamps.
>
>http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&cat=1,43838,51101&p=51101

It's not as bad as that. Look again: $29.50 for two vs. $9.99 for one.

Also, there are other sources for this item that are less expensive than LV.
Finally, notice the advertised tolerance on these. Notice also that Rockler
does not specify the tolerance on theirs -- with good reason, I might add (see
my other post in this thread for details).

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.

GA

Gordon Airporte

in reply to Chuck on 20/11/2007 12:36 PM

22/11/2007 3:14 AM

Can anyone testify as to the effectiveness of the plastic ratcheting
corner jigs from Lee Valley? "Right Angle Assembly Clamps"

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=53673&cat=1,43838


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