When I make small boxes with mitred corners, I initially reach for the blue/masking tape, lay the work out on the tape and “roll” it up,
Unfortunately if you want to beef it up a tad (the “clamping” pressure),
you’ll find the tape tearing and you’re quickly reaching for more tape… and that recalcitrant end seems to have magically disappeared and when I eventually find it, the fingernails struggles to dislodge it, meanwhile that glue up is rapidly curing and seems to be winning the race.
Consequently, if I choose to beef it up, I reach for my strap clamp(s),
For segmented or circular glue ups, one may again reach for the blue/masking tape, but under a similar scenario, out comes the straps,
though they would be better purposed without the corner brackets,
The above ones were more easily removed on this clamp… and I hate the metal strap against timber (even the lowly MDF).
Most people are familiar with these various formats (miscellaneous brands),
While they are useful, I find them a PITA… and the ones without variable angles and wind up reels a PITA ².
Fortunately you can “customise” your own strap clamps… and I don’t mean a piece of rope and stick used like a tourniquet. If a tourniquet is used, one must remember to relieve the pressure every 15 minutes… which is not conducive to successful glue ups.
By “customisation”, I mean cannibalising one of these ratchet clamps.
I believe the idea was posted on LJ by , I hope I got his name right, “Boxguy”, long before Abraham high tailed away from Goliath.
The process is to get a perfectly good ratchet tiedown straps, and turn it into a ratship clamp by grinding away the short strap retaining pin on the main body,
Depending on the quality of your ratchet, chose the right side to grind the pin off,
and take care to minimise the damage you may inflict on the retaining body of the clamp.
The next step is to surgically remove the hook on the long strap,
Now the photo may seem ambiguous, but you must operate on the hook (with the tick) and not the strap loop (the cross.. in red.. a no-no… you need it). No need to be careful, as I doubt you’ll ever use either hook (along with the short strap) again.
You may laugh, but a chap I know (I insist it’s not me), claimed it was easier to cut the Poly' loop rather than hack through the metal hook.
You then remove the pin and attach the long straps loop using an appropriate sized bolt (bolt recommended and not pinned), with a nylock nut,
If done to both ratchets, you will finish up with a pair of strap clamps,
Suggest you plan ahead and select an appropriate length ratchet.
As application of a long strap,
may lead to a shitload of loose strap on the floor,
for you to trip over... well I did. Suggest you but a four set of ratchets and make several different lengths of straps.
Warning... RTFM about the "quick release" of the ratchets, to avoid unnecessary damage to your work when you frustratingly try to loosen the strap clamps, if not studied up.
I get an itchy "add to shopping cart" trigger whenever I see those, look very useful. Plenty of shop-brewed designs I looked at with custom corner brackets, so I've still not pulled that trigger for the pre-made versions.
The tie-down strap idea looks good, but I never had the heart to cannibalize one of my "precious's" since I'm down to maybe 20 or so. Good call on the reprofiling since those corners will bite into anything you find dear on the project.
Might be time to fire up the ponder engine and see what's what.
SplinterGroup ..... but I never had the heart to cannibalize one of my "precious's" since I'm down to maybe 20 or so.....
The tie-downs are so cheap (at least here in Aussieland)... especially a bulk 4 pack, that they'd be worth the investment even if you only made boxes. 2 straps could save 8 Be$$ey$.
If your first cut is too short... Take the second cut from the longer end... LBD
Thanks Dutchy... I saw those while I was "fact" finding/verifying while drafting this blog... model number didn't register. Actually looks like I have their other version (fixed corners) or at least a direct clone.
If your first cut is too short... Take the second cut from the longer end... LBD
LIttleBlackDuck commented about 5 hours ago Thanks Dutchy... I saw those while I was "fact" finding/verifying while drafting this blog... model number didn't register. Actually looks like I have their other version (fixed corners) or at least a direct clone.
I’ve used wire twist pliers for similar jobs, too. But if I sell one of my motorcycles this fall, as I am planning to do (anyone want a BMW K1600gtl ? All services done up to the 30,000 mile one, even though the bike only has about 25,000 miles on it), I will definitely have a spare pair of tie-downs to sacrifice to the woodworking gods.
My brother gave me a pair of those Dave. He had an array for aircraft maintenance work and he'd buy large lots of them at aircraft maintenance auctions.
I use maybe 20 pounds of SS safety wire and those pliers putting wire mesh up on my perimeter fence.
