Official Luthiers Forum!

I need to buy several more cam clamps. I have checked all the normal places I just hate to spend $15+ each. I know I can build them cheaper, but just don't have the time. Does anyone have any other resources for wooden cam clamps besides SM,LMI,Woodcraft etc.

Thanks
Richard

Build them yourself. There are easy plans available on line and in various books.

Do not order the Fox can clamps from Grizzly.

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"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered." G. K. Chesterton.

Garrett Wade. Best commercially available ones I've used.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

Just curious Steve what was the problem with the Grizzly?

Thanks
Richard

This is where StewMac gets theirs.
http://www.usaclamp.com/CamClampPage.aspx
Best I've found.
-C

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Freeborn Guitars
and home of BeauGuard©

I like the Klemmsia clamps best. Best prices seem to be from Lee Valley or Highland Hardware. (Mine all came from Lee Valley)

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

Their terrible tools. The don't hold/clamp.
I'm not the only one that has found this out. There have been other threads here and that's the feeling pretty much everyone has.
I generally like stuff from Grizzly.

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"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered." G. K. Chesterton.

I buy mine here. theres a discount when you buy six.
http://www.thebestthings.com/newtools/camclamps.htm

Thanks for all the reply's and thanks for the heads up on the grizzly stuff

R

Those clamps, if they are the ones I'm thinking of, have a slightly serrated edge on the back of the metal piece, that makes them hard to release. I have a fit every time I take one off of the rack. I have to use a screwdriver to get it to open up. Very irritating. I have others I like much better, and are easier to use. I have even sanded the serrations down some, but they still hang.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

I haven't expierenced that with these waddy. I think you are right about the serated edge on the bar on these.

I have the same issue with the Stew-Mac clamps sometimes they can be a itch to get apart. But I do like them I wish I had more. I like the 4 1/2" clamps I feel I can get better clamping preasure with them then I can with the 8" ones. The little ones aren't of much use.

deleted by me.

I too have a few of the clamps Steve mentioned and they are marginal at best.

Greg

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Gwaltney Guitars

i have noticed that much of the crap sold at harbor freight is identical to the grizzly stuff but cheaper in price. I bought a set of steel squares from grizzly and then seen the identical chinese made set at harbor freight for a lot cheaper. I'm not saying harbor freight stuff is any better but grizzly does charge more for the same thing. I have been disapointed with a few other things i bought from grizzly. I bought a few shop fox bridge clamps in the style of the ibex clamps and the quality was crap compared to the original ibex I had.

My experience with StewMac is that they are sometimes "sticky" but if you buy in sixes, the price is hard to beat and the quality is not a risk. "Dubuque Clamp Company" is 90 miles north of me but they seem to be a "stealth" company, preferring to wholesale only.

I built a dozen of them. PM me and I'll send you the plans.

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A higher purpose for wood.
Rich Smith
Issaquah, WA

http://www.usaclamp.com/CamClampPage.aspx as previously mentioned IS the retail outlet for Dubuque Clamp Co. Check the area code on the contact page...And again, they are the supplier for Stew Mac.

Their clamps are the best I've found- and I've got a few Klemsia's in the herd. "Sticking" is not a problem for me. Re-evaluate your technique.

-C

_________________
Freeborn Guitars
and home of BeauGuard©