4” Parallel Clamps

Janderso

Janderso

Jeff Anderson
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Mar 26, 2018
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This was a fun project.
I love to make my own tools.
The material is annealed 4140. I did perform a ghetto hardening and temper job on the jaws. From now on I’ll order hardened from McMaster.
The 5/16 fine threaded rod is grade 8 and the knurled nuts are 4140. I tried to class up the project by soldering the nuts on with copper. I’m not to pleased with the outcome. (Edit: I just realized I forgot to drill the hole in the thumb screws, cool not done yet).
I think this is a common beginning machine shop class project.
I used my lathe, mill, drill press and surface grinder.
The clamps work to perfection
 

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Last edited:
The finish on those looks amazing. Very impressive!
 
Janderso said:
I think this is a common beginning machine shop class project.
Click to expand...
Yep, I still have mine. We did this project before the lesson on single-pointing and the die started crooked on one of the screws so the action is not very smooth. I actually used them recently.

Nice lookin' work. It's always cooler to make your own.
 
Having never gone to high school, I missed all the shop classes. Probably would have taken electrical anyway, more sit down time. The point is that I have a dozen or more store boughten clamps like that. And the uncounted (dozens?) that I have made in the field with a couple of pieces of key stock and a couple of 3/16 screws. They weren't pretty, the gripping ends ground down to fit the job. And usually "abandoned" on site, for the next fool mechanic. Been using them since a teenager. I saw the woodworker versions that Pop had and made some smaller to fit my models. The smallest had 4-40(?) screws, the largest 1/4-20.

.
 
The pair I made in high school were lost many moons ago............ :frown:
Thanks fer the inspiration to make another......;)
 
Those look fantastic Jeff.
Did you grind them to get that finish?
 
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