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Has anyone made any of these

http://www.woodshoptips.com/tips/050304/index.htm

I think there is an error on the drawing on the width of the cam, I think its 1' not 1 1/4"

John

I made some - I copied from the Klemsia clamps I have - the cam width is 1 1/4"

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John Ressler

Unless my eyes are deceiving me the hole on the cam is 3/16 in from the edge and 10/16 from the other edge thats 13/16 + add on half the 3/8 hole for the cam 3/16 thats 16/16 in total 1" or am I missing something ?

I don't have one to copy off so I have to rely on the drawing.

John

You know I made a couple of models before I got of these right. Then I decided not to make any more. I know they are useful, but from the advice of other builders they said to focus more on building skills rather than making the clamps, as I was only doing them as an exercise before I began building. I lacked some of the power tools that would make cam clamps much easier to make. I also made them from 3/4 thick red oak.
That being said - I will go back and make some cam clamps for gluing the bridge.....

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It's this new idea from recent decades that everyone gets a participation award. - MUX

John, the 3/16" looks wrong. (A 3/8" hole centered 3/16" from the edge would blow out). I thinks 7/16" is the right number.

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Dave
Milton, ON

Right on Dave.

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A person who has never made a mistake has never made anything!!!

Cam clamps are very useful. I have three commercial ones, but one has gone AWOL just when I needed it yesterday. I think that I will make some more.

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Expectation is the source of all misery; comparison the thief of joy.
http://redrivercanoe.ca/

Here are the dimensions I used to make mine. I made 430 clamps - they work well.

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John Ressler

Hi Dave - Well spotted - I think it was a case of not seeing the wood for the trees.

Thanks

John

Just the other day I ran across Tool-Making Projects for Joinery and Woodworking over at google books it's only a preview but the chapter on making cam clamps is included. It's worth a look.
http://books.google.com/books?id=7tVcebaJ-X4C&lpg=PA6&dq=tool%20making%20projects%20for%20joinery%20and%20woodworking%20chapter%2015&pg=PA109#v=onepage&q=&f=false

My motivation for making some was a small scale project -- my first mandolin.

Kent

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Kent

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I've made about 50 of them. Now,though,I find myself using the common 6" or 12" black plastic sliding bar type clamps with a metal bar. They weigh less when clamped all the way around a guitar,and the total width is much less.