Homemade Clamp

This will be showing you how to make a homemade clamp.

Step 1: Drawing It Out

First draw out the shape of the clamp.

Step 2: Cutting It Out

Now cut out the clamp with a cutting torch. I used a victor cutting torch with a #1 tip on it to get a fine cut on the metal.

Step 3: Grinding

Now grind the rough edges with a grinder or something very abrasive.

Step 4: Main Part

Now comes the tricky part. I used a 5/8 threaded rod and (x3) 5/8 nuts. First screw the 5/8 nuts onto the threaded rod but make sure they line up to were all of the flat parts on the nuts line up. But make sure you loosen the nuts just a bit so that the rod will tighten a loosen easily.

Step 5: Welding

Now weld the bolts onto the clamp body. Leave the bolts on the rod to keep them lined up. Make sure it's all lined up or the clamp will be useless. Once you have welded the bolts onto the clamp body take the threaded rod out. Then run a 5/8 tap through the bolts a couple of times. This will make it tighten and loosen much more easily.

Step 6: Handle

Now weld a rod on the end of the threaded rod to tighten and loosen the clamp with.

Comments

[Norfolkson]

Nicely done, although it would certainly be cheaper to buy a clamp. Also, be careful of welding three nuts in a row for the same threaded rod, they have a tendency to jam.

[Yonatan24]

That is so cool! C-Clamps are pretty expensive

[rimar2000]

Good work. I did a similar one, maybe you could read step 5 to see the washer at end of the screw. The cup shaped washer allows to tighten up wood without mess up it.

[dirtbike98]

That's a good idea!

[kylemoe]

A threaded coupler would be easier to weld on than multiple nuts. Excellent instructable.