Official Luthiers Forum!
http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/

Kerfing Clamps
http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=22043		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  Bill Hodge [ Mon Apr 20, 2009 3:13 pm ]
Post subject:  Kerfing Clamps
If you're looking for some kerfing clamps, I just got a slew of these at my local area Harbor Freight (HF). I don't generally buy
tools from HF but these are good little spring clamps and are the perfect size and strength for gluing up the kerfing. I got
15 cards of them with 6 per card at .99 cents per. That's only .165 cents each. Such a deal. :) The online sale price is $1.99
per card but if you have a local HF you can go to they are on a "Blue Tag" special in the stores for the .99 cent price. :D

Here's a link so you can see the dimensions but to get the best price, go to the store.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=46190

Happy shopping ;)
Author:  Fred Tellier [ Mon Apr 20, 2009 3:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Kerfing Clamps
I have been using these style of clamps bought at a dollar store over here in Canada for the last 4 guitars and they work real well. The interesting part is the spring tension on some is much stronger than others so I sorted them out so I had stronger ones for the waist and cutaway areas. They do break easily but are so cheap it doesn't matter I seem to throw away 3 or 4 with each build.

Fred
Author:  cyrguitars [ Mon Apr 20, 2009 6:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Kerfing Clamps
Todd Stock wrote:
Woodcraft also sells tubes of those clamps


I bought six tubes of those clamps at Woodcraft for $4.99 per tube a couple of years ago. They work great as kerfed lining clamps for me, and since I use LMI's white glue heat is not an issue.

--Steve
Author:  Bill Hodge [ Tue Apr 21, 2009 8:49 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Kerfing Clamps
Yeah these are great little clamps for the price. Before I ran across these I was contemplating the mini Pony clamps but
at .99 cents each I wasn't able to make myself spend the money. With the HF clamps I got 90 clamps for just under $15.
Now that's a bargain anyway you turn it. I've been using their larger version of these for several years now and have only
had maybe about 4 of them break. Typically it was when I had them clamped at max jaw capacity for longer than
a few hours. At the price, no big deal considering 98% of them continue to hold up till this day. :D

HF also has the Toggle clamps of various sizes in the $4-$5 range and I've used these for some time now too. Never had one distort
or break on me. When you consider that Woodcraft and the like, sell them for $12 and up, you can't beat the deal. When HF
gets them on the shelf in the stores they go fast. I just bought 8 more yesterday for some new jigs (4 ea. of two sizes).

Say Woodcraft or Rockler and you can compare the pricing to parts for Airplanes, Boats, and Motorcycles.
Author:  B Potter [ Tue Apr 21, 2009 2:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Kerfing Clamps
aren't they lining clamps?? laughing6-hehe
BobP
Author:  Bill Hodge [ Tue Apr 21, 2009 2:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Kerfing Clamps
They are whatever makes you feel the best. :lol: Eat Drink
Author:  Michael Dale Payne [ Tue Apr 21, 2009 3:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Kerfing Clamps
I hate the plastic things. You never know when the little buggers are going to break from plastic fatigue. And I mean really!!! Like what fatigue do they really see. And when they snap they leave a nice little crush dent in the lining because it is the right behind the swivel pad that they break and the spring arm goes right into the lining. I use 1" and 3/4" steel spring clamps

When I first started I used these too. After having gone through replacing a tube or two I said no more and went out and bought 30-1” and 50-¾” steel spring clamps and in the past seven years I have never lost one due to metal fatigue.

Yes paid a lot more for them and for what I paid I could have bought 30 or 40 tubes of the plastic ones but I just got tired of clamping them on something and ping!!!! There goes another.

JMPO of the plastic ones, plus they have very little clamping force and I have had lining move after being clamped with them.

And besides who wants to hold kerfing dust togather anyway beehive laughing6-hehe laughing6-hehe
Author:  Bill Hodge [ Tue Apr 21, 2009 4:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Kerfing Clamps
Why I totally agree with your thinking there Michael. :mrgreen: But in the startup phase
my CFO (that would be my lovely Bride :) ) hasn't approved a budget for the spring steel
units. Sure I could make a command decision and go with them anyway but here on the plains
of Colorado, it's still a bit too cold at night to sleep outside with the horses. I suppose the barn
cats might be willing to share the hay barn though. :D

I think in west Texas you'ld have more problems with the dust storms than with kerf dust. laughing6-hehe
Author:  Michael Dale Payne [ Tue Apr 21, 2009 4:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Kerfing Clamps
Bill Hodge wrote:
Why I totally agree with your thinking there Michael. :mrgreen: But in the startup phase
my CFO (that would be my lovely Bride :) ) hasn't approved a budget for the spring steel
units. Sure I could make a command decision and go with them anyway but here on the plains
of Colorado, it's still a bit too cold at night to sleep outside with the horses. I suppose the barn
cats might be willing to share the hay barn though. :D

I think in west Texas you'ld have more problems with the dust storms than with kerf dust. laughing6-hehe


Plains of Co. humm!!! Anywhere near Creed? probably more over towards Pueblo or it could be in the high plans near Grand Junction I guess.

I dated a girl from Creed back when I lived in Durango back in the early 80s. I went to visit her once in early April one weekend and it was 2 weeks before they got the snow plows out more less before I could cross Wolf Creek pass to get back to Durango. Dang near thought we were going to marry wow7-eyes
Author:  Bill Hodge [ Tue Apr 21, 2009 5:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Kerfing Clamps
Todd those would be ideal for sure but with the cost of aluminum these days wow7-eyes
Of course if you have a CNC Router you could fabricate your own a lot cheaper.


Michael,

Hadn't lived that far south in CO since I was stationed at Ft. Carson back in the 70's :)

I'm NE of Boulder at the beginning edge of the North Eastern Plains. Nothin out here
but dust, sand, and the occasional bullsnake.

So.......... I take it she said no? idunno
Author:  Dave_E [ Tue Apr 21, 2009 6:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Kerfing Clamps
Hi All,

I have never really understood the lengths that some folks (and manufacturers like Taylor) go to when it comes to kerfing clamps. [headinwall] I have an old (20 year) book on classical guitar building and in it was what I used in 1995 and what I still use today. Get them at Wall Mart in bags of 100 for $4 -$5. WOODEN CLOTHSPINS!!! :o They are so stupidly simple, and do the job AS GOOD as any tool ever made! [:Y:]

Dave
Author:  Bill Hodge [ Tue Apr 21, 2009 7:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Kerfing Clamps
Howdy Dave,

That's what I used to use but my lovely Bride wanted them back. :D Plus, they're just not strong enough without the aid
of rubberbands making it a nuisance at least for me. Johnathan Kinkhead a UK luthier of some fame still uses clothespins
to this day as far as I know. :mrgreen:
Author:  truckjohn [ Wed Apr 22, 2009 11:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Kerfing Clamps
I settled on the metal cheapo blue springey super duper clothes pin clamps from Home Depot. The 2" clamps are $0.99 each and the little ones are $0.33 each.

I bought about $30.00 worth.... and I am going to buy another $30.00 worth on the next guitar.... then, I will have enough clamps to do more than 1 strip of linings at a time.

I really like them... but they are strong enough that you have to back up the "Show" side of the guitar with some scrap spruce or they will mar the sides.

Good luck

John
Author:  MRS [ Thu Apr 23, 2009 1:00 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Kerfing Clamps
I have some of these too. They actually are sufficient for this task.
Author:  Lillian F-W [ Thu Apr 23, 2009 8:58 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Kerfing Clamps
I did the same thing John. I bought about 50 of the 1" spring clamps to start off. Now every time I go in to get something for the never ending To Do List, I grab a handful. I now have a coffee can filled with the little green spring clamps and should be starting my second can soon. I like them a lot more than the little plastic ones. I bought a bunch of 1" clamps from an online store. Out of the first packaged I opened, 5 broke, the spring popped out or the pivot pin slipped out. Two broke on the guitar. I tossed the rest of them out.
Author:  SteveT [ Thu Apr 23, 2009 9:49 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Kerfing Clamps
I've built three guitars using the same, or very similar, clamps from Micro-Mark (see photo). I have yet to have one break or fail in any manner. A tube of 50 sells for 20 bucks, i.e., 40 cents per clamp. The rotating pads & spring force seem perfect for installing linings.

-Steve
Author:  SteveSmith [ Thu Apr 23, 2009 10:11 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Kerfing Clamps
I use these plastic clamps from Lee Valley in, I think, 3/4" size. They used to have a good deal on 10 at a time but still not too bad. They have the swivel pads and don't mar the sides. I've never had one break.

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=41712&cat=1,43838
Author:  David Newton [ Thu Apr 23, 2009 10:57 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Kerfing Clamps
I use wood clothes pins also.

You used to be able to get real beechwood pins, they last forever, and have very stiff springs.
The cheapie ones you usually see nowdays are worthless, don't waste a dime on them.
I have a lovely wife, and I showed her what I was looking for, and one day she came home with a couple of large packages of nice strong pins, now I'm set.

I grind the angled tips off square, so they don't overhang the linings, so I can scrape the glue off right away, and the pins don't get in the way. Does that make any sense? It really helps.
Author:  Bill Hodge [ Thu Apr 23, 2009 11:47 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Kerfing Clamps
David,
Thanks for the tip on the Beech wood pins and the grinding the tip off idea.

Do you know where your lovely wife got these? I've not seen anything but the cheap ones
here in CO. Boy do I miss living in Texas! Except in the summer ;) Never had a problem finding
anything I needed there.
Author:  David Newton [ Thu Apr 23, 2009 1:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Kerfing Clamps
Hi Bill.
She thinks she remembers buying them at the HEB grocery store. They weren't the "old timey" beech pins, but they were better made and plenty strong for my use.

I tried finding some of the old ones and on Ebay they were like $1 each! eek

I think these may be the good ones.
http://www.filmtools.com/nh-cp50.html
Author:  Bill Hodge [ Thu Apr 23, 2009 1:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Kerfing Clamps
99% of my family still lives in Texas and HEB is the place to shop. I'll see if I can get my mom or one of my siblings
to pick some up and shoot them my way. :) I could pick them up myself if I had the funds to get down there in 3 weeks
for the surprise fishin' trip they're planning for my dad at Port Aransas but I can't make it. :cry: I love fishin' at the
South Texas Coast. :D Especially with dad since he's gettin' up there in age.
Author:  David Newton [ Thu Apr 23, 2009 1:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Kerfing Clamps
My son and I went fishing on the jetties there, caught Vermillion Snapper. I slipped & slid down the rocks and into the water, my son laughed at me! Great time.
Author:  LiquidGabe [ Fri Apr 24, 2009 9:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Kerfing Clamps
I've been using the metal paper clips with great success, no problems with a little pre-bending of the lining.

I just did a little soprano uke with solid linings which needed a bit more pressure in a couple spots so I made up some pvc clamps. These are just .5" sections of 1" pvc with a kerf cut in them. They have too much pressure to stick on the end of your finger and are cheap as dirt.
Page 1 of 2 All times are UTC - 5 hours
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
http://www.phpbb.com/