How to Use Pipe Clamps for Woodworking

When working with wood, you are bound to have a project that will require you to clamp together two very large or awkward pieces of wood. When this day comes, traditional c-clamps and tension clamps will not do the job. But an adjustable pipe clamp will be just what the doctor ordered! Pipe clamps are excellent tools that can be extended to the desired length for the project, provide excellent clamping force, and are easy to setup and take down. Here is how you use them.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pony 3/4" Pipe Clamps
• 3/4" black pipe
• Optional 1/2" black pipe and clamps also available.

1. 
   Here is a pipe clamp

   First let's identify the parts of a pipe clamp. Pipe clamps are composed of three parts consisting of 1) Screw, 2) tailpiece, 3) pipe. See picture for reference.

2. 
   Pipe Clamp Screw Piece

   Here is a picture of the Pipe Clamp Screw section(see picture). Generally just a threaded steel-screw with an adjustable pad.

3. 
   Pipe Clamp Tailpiece

   Here is a picture of the Pipe Clamp Tail Section (see picture). The tail section of the clamp is usually just a big clamp pad with spring-loaded clutch plates that are used to help you adjust the tailpiece on the pipe. The tail section is held in place by friction.

4. 
   Black Gas Pipe

   The third part of the pipe clamp is what makes it so adjustable and expandable, and that is a length of black gas pipe with threads - cut to whatever length you need. Normally the clamps use 3/4" or 1/2" ID pipe. Black (gas) pipe is what you use, and the schedule doesn't matter. Clean off the pipe with kerosene or mineral spirits before using them so that you do not get stains on your project.

5. 

   Here is a picture of another popular pipe clamp model.

6. Excellent! So now that you know what a pipe-clamp looks like and the components of a pipe-clamp. Lets learn how to use one. First take the screw clamp part of the pipe clamp and screw it onto the threads of the black gas pipe.

7. Take the tailpiece of the pipe clamp and slide it onto the back of the gas pipe section. Simply slide it up to the screw head part of the clamp by pushing the spring-loaded clutch plates forward. You can also slide the tailpiece back by moving the clutch plates. This is how you will ultimately open and close the gap you need for clamping down your project.

8. Put the clamps on a worktable or bench with the pipes running across the table and the fittings sitting so that the jaws are upright. If you have the pipe clamp model shown in the first steps, they have feet that you can mount to your work table.

9. Place the pieces of wood to be clamped on the pipes and position them so that when the jaws of the head piece of the pipe clamp are tightened the pieces will be held together tightly. Slide the tailpiece of the pipe clamp up to the edge of the wood.

10. Tighten the jaws on the head piece by screwing the steel screw slowly. together slowly.

11. Done. It is that simple! Now you know how to use a pipe clamp. Experiment with different lengths of black pipe and using a different number of clamps to help you achieve the greatest compression on your project.

[tachic]

on 4/13/2009 Good how to pipe clamps for woodmaking.