Re: long clamps

How long do you need these to be?

Re: long clamps

Industrial supplies have long clamps that are not so expensive. I've seen 3'-6" bar clamps but I forget the price. I've also seen pipe clamps (w/o the pipe) too in favorite industrial supply but they're still expensive for me at P600 a set.

Re: long clamps

An alternative to clamps may be rubber tubing or similar elastic material, used like a big or long rubber band. Or tire inner tube cut into strips.

Or even just rope with a knot that allows tension to be adjusted, such as a trucker's hitch.

Re: long clamps

Recently, I've started using ratchet straps but only because I have a them. They're not exactly cheap but if you have other uses like holding a boat to its trailer like I do then they're ok. The only problem with using these types, including the rubber bands is there is a strong tendency to pull the work out of alignment if you don't compensate or take counter measures.

Here is an example of the rubber band approach. These are birdsmouth joints so they are self-aligning. It would be extremely difficult if these were any other kind of joint.

Another wide range clamping approach is to use tourniquets. I've seen this done with wood braces and four GI wire tourniquets to camp down mortise and tenons of a fine furniture cabinet.