I Saved $50 on My Greenhouse Project.

Snap clamps can be an expensive part of any PVC greenhouse. Most clamps cost about $1 each, like these from Amazon. Although you can cut these in half so the price would be closer to $.50 each, that is still expensive compared to making your own.

My clamps use 3/4" IPS PVC pipe. This is a thin wall PVC which has the same diameter as the 3/4" schedule 40 pipe most people use for their greenhouses. At Home Depot you can get a 10" piece for $2. That is enough for 60 clips, which works out to be less than $.04 each.

Supplies

• 3/4" IPS PVC pipe
• 5-10" piece of steel rod. 3/8" works good but it can be almost any size.
• Saw that will cut PVC
• Propane torch
• Stand for torch is optional
• Vice or clamp to hold steel rod

Step 1: Watch Me Make Some Clamps

The following video will show you how to make a snap clamp. If you do not have a bandsaw, you can do all of the cutting with a hacksaw instead.