Renewing clamps

[wcndave]

I have some second hand f clamps that just slide and never engage.

Is it possible to renew them by filing new grooves?

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[undergroundhunter]

Worth a try, what would you do with them otherwise???

Matt

 

[Frank S]

I have an F clamp that slides, so I have drilled a series of holes along the bar about 2 inches apart and use a nut and bolt as a stop. Works O K .
Frank.

 

[wcndave]

Worth a try, what would you do with them otherwise???

I don't want to waste a couple of hours doing something pointless. If someone else said "I tried this and doesn't work" that would be helpful ;-)

 

[wcndave]

I have an F clamp that slides, so I have drilled a series of holes along the bar about 2 inches apart and use a nut and bolt as a stop. Works O K .

Sounds like some effort, drilling through that steel, however I might give it a go if the roughing up version fails.

Thing is I have one clamp with no serrations at all, which works great, so perhaps it's the inside of the sliding part that's knackered.

 

[Myfordman]

Quality F clamps usually have no serrations and accurately machined close fitting sliding components that work well.
Cheaper ones are less accurate and rely on the serrations on the bar but still nothing matching in the female part of the slide.
Filing deeper serrations is probably the easiest solution but drilling though the bar should be easy as the steel will not be hardened in any way - hence the serrations wearing off in the first place.

MM

 

[wcndave]

Odd, I got Lux, Axminster, Bessey & Festool and they all have serrations.... the only one that doesn't is some brandless cheap rubbish I got at a big box store when on sale. (It still works mind).

I'll have a go either way - thanks!

 

[Ghengis]

I haver done this with a junior hack saw and tehy still work 10 yrs on

 

[andersonec]

I would have thought using a sharpened cold chisel would be better, not only to to enlarge the serrations, but if held at an angle tipped towards the clamping head, it would raise a small amount of steel which would be more likely to catch, and maybe quicker.

Andy

 

[wcndave]

Another good idea. I have for clamps so can try each idea

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[cornishjoinery]

Look we only get one chance at life on this earth, so instead of spending hours trying to fix some old clamps, just go and treat yourself to some new ones, your time will be better spent on the actual woodworking then...........

 

[custard]

Quality F clamps usually have no serrations and accurately machined close fitting sliding components that work well.

Bessey F clamps have multiple serrations, ie on more than one face, I seem to recall them saying this was one of the reasons their clamps were so good...which indeed they are!

 

[andersonec]

Look we only get one chance at life on this earth, so instead of spending hours trying to fix some old clamps, just go and treat yourself to some new ones, your time will be better spent on the actual woodworking then...........

Never heard of recycling then? or do we just keep dumping stuff in landfill?

Andy

 

[ColeyS1]

Look we only get one chance at life on this earth, so instead of spending hours trying to fix some old clamps, just go and treat yourself to some new ones, your time will be better spent on the actual woodworking then...........

Never heard of recycling then? or do we just keep dumping stuff in landfill?

Andy

I love buying stuff from the tip :lol:

Bought this yesterday from the tip for a fiver, only needs a castor/bolt welding back on. Unbelievable what stuff people throw out. The cold chisel idea sounds the quickest and most likely solution

 

[Matt@]

I bought a dozen F clamps from axminster some years ago and they are still working perfectly. I bought some of a different size from same source more recently and they've slid from day one, how annoying :?

and the worst thing is when they slide overnight, you come in next day and the joint has opened up

 

[nanscombe]

Look we only get one chance at life on this earth, so instead of spending hours trying to fix some old clamps, just go and treat yourself to some new ones, your time will be better spent on the actual woodworking then...........

Never heard of recycling then? or do we just keep dumping stuff in landfill?

Andy

Buying new tools doesn't necessarily preclude recycling the old ones either.

Recycling is good ... if you know what you're doing and have the right tools for the job. If you don't then you're possibly just wasting your time and energy which people are quite at liberty to do.

Mind you, once someone has learnt the skills there's nothing stopping them selling on the refurbished clamps, earning some pocket money in the process, then buying another lot to work on.

 

[cornishjoinery]

Ah don't get me wrong i love to recycle and re use things where i can, not going to chuck something away just because its broken. But its all about the item, spending hours trying to get an old f clamp to work again just seems pointless to me but then if its just your hobby and your in your shed then fine but i make my living from it so its slightly different. They are not much to buy and a good set of clamps will last a lifetime. I bought a second hand sink for my bathroom, i spent hours cleaning it, rubbing and sanding it, gave it a professional paint and new plug etc and it still looked ***** so bought a new one, waste of time sometimes. I am fine with landfills being filled with my old f-clamps ........................

 

[Setch]

I have used a hacksaw to refresh the grip on my clamps. Took maybe 15 minutes and worked perfectly. Certainly a sound investment of15 mins, more so than bloviating on this thread. ..

 

[Phil Pascoe]

"Bloviate" - my new word for the day. Thanks.

 

[wcndave]

I would love to get some new claps, but I would probably go for bessey and they're not cheap.

I also don't like wasting time. The one thing you can't get more of.

However fifteen minutes would be ok.

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