How to Make a Clamp From Strapping

Use discarded metal straps to make strap clamps.

Metal strapping is 3/4-inch steel used on large units of lumber. A special tool known as a "come along" is used to tighten both ends of the strap. A metal clamp is then smashed onto both ends to secure the strap. Typically, metal straps are discarded after use. But they can be reused as a clamp if you have the metal brackets that are used to secure the strap. All you need is pliers and an assistant to help you smash the clamp tight.

Things You'll Need

• Metal lumber strap
• Metal clamp brackets
• 3 pair locking pliers
• Diagonal pliers

Instructions

1. Wrap the metal strap around the object that you wish to clamp. The strap must be long enough to overlap itself by 2 inches.

2. Place a metal clamp centered over the overlapped ends. Clamp a pair of locking pliers to each loose end.

3. Place the third pair of locking pliers over the metal clamp. Instruct your assistant to smash them together when you pull tight on the ends of the clamp.

4. Grab both pairs of pliers, one in each hand, and pull as tight as you can. Tell your assistant to smash the metal bracket closed when you have applied as much pressure to the clamps as possible.

5. Remove all three of the clamps. Cut off excessive loose ends of the strapping with diagonal pliers.

Tips & Warnings

• For the tightest clamping, if possible, put bar clamps across any object that you need to clamp tight. Tighten the bar clamps, put the strap on, tighten and then remove the bar clamps. You can purchase metal clamps at any lumber yard or home improvement store. You can also get discarded metal strapping for little or no cost at all.

• Metal strapping can stretch and bounce back like a rubber band if tightened too much. Be careful of sharp ends flying backward if the strap slips.