Official Luthiers Forum!

Looking through the archives it looks like it has been a good while since this subject has come up and I thought I would rehash it again.

I am thinking of purchasing about another 30 or so cam clamps and I know LMI sells them for around $12 each, but I am looking for some for less if available. Since I am purchasing so many at one time, I think I should be able to get them for less than $10 each??

Does anybody know a good source?

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Reguards,

Ken H

I, like many others, have made them.......... $12 is incredibly cheap !

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CRAIG LAWRENCE of AUSTRALIA
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Yes, but you have the prettiest ones I have seen, Craig!

I made some too, then came to my senses and bought a stack of no name beech ones from Clas Ohlson (local hardware store chain) for about the same as the LMI ones.

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

I see Grizzly is selling some Shop Fox brand cam clamps: http://www.grizzly.com/products/H2842

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Kent

Facebook Page

Many thanks guys. I also made a big mother ,I call Jumbo. It has a 36" bar and I use it frequently . Handy for all sorts of jobs !





I "tune " the flap part by thinning it out so that the jaws have a more parallel grip

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CRAIG LAWRENCE of AUSTRALIA
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Hesh, except for 'Jumbo' . they are made from deep red Tasmanian Myrtle , which is related to Euro Beech . The wood is ideal

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CRAIG LAWRENCE of AUSTRALIA
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[QUOTE=KMartin] I see Grizzly is selling some Shop Fox brand cam clamps:
http://www.grizzly.com/products/H2842[/QUOTE]

They are junk compared to the Stew-Mac clamps. The stick and break!

Louis

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- Louis Freilicher

Oh No! Not another learning experience!

Dam that edit button !!   I meant to also say that a very,very,very,very small amount of violin resin on the cam is helpful . Too much and it will be sticky ( you can wipe off any excess )

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CRAIG LAWRENCE of AUSTRALIA
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Wasted money on three Shop Fox clamps. They are useless.

BTW, don't tell Paul what a good deal he has been giving.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

When I need more cam clamps, I don't even consider any kind other than Klemmsia clamps. If I ever thought about making my own, I'd put the thought out of my mind, order some more Klemmsias, and get back to guitar building.

Like with most tools, trying to save money will cost you more in the long run. In this case, the best don't even cost much more.

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Todd Rose
Ithaca, NY

https://www.dreamingrosesecobnb.com/todds-art-music

https://www.facebook.com/ToddRoseGuitars/

I like the Klemmsia clamps also. I found that Highland Hardware has the best price on them. If you purchase in quantity, you can get them for $12.00 for the 7-3/4" x 4-1/4" ones and about $17.00 for the 7-3/4" x 7-3/4" ones (the deep ones, good for gluing on bridges)

http://www.highlandwoodworking.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEW PROD&ProdID=2879

As I don't have enough time to even make guitars, I don't want to use the time I do have to make clamps.

Ray

I was dumb enough to make my own clamps and they don't work near as well as the Klemsia clamps I purchased from Lee Valley.

Though Craig seeing yours -- I'd like 4 to 6 please

Hee Hee, I bought a dozen back in 90 something from stew mac on sale for under $7 each. I wish I had bought twicw as many.

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

I was on line today looking for Hock plane irons and chip breakers, and found good prices at this place.  They also sell cam clamps at pretty good prices in groups of 6.  It is worth a look.  They carry good stuff.  High quality, and sell used tools too.  Great website.

http://www.thebestthings.com/newtools/camclamps.htm  Is the link to the cam clamp page.  take a look.

 

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

I bought my klemmsia clamps at http://www.highlandwoodworking.com. They were the best price I could find plus an extra 10% discount if you buy 9 or more.

Philip

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aka konacat

If you think my playing is bad you should hear me sing!
Practice breeds confidence and confidence breeds competence. Unfortunately, I'm stuck in practice.

I agree with Todd, The best option is to buy them, but be careful, as others have stated, some simply don't work. An aluminium (rather than steel )bar works best as it cuts down on weight considerably .

The dozen or so I made took me quite some time to make ,but as I enjoy designing and making things I don't mind. It's called Fun !

I just designed and made a guitar stand . It was fun also , and works better than any I could buy.


Anthony , I have you down for 6 clamps @ $12 each . Any other takers ?   

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CRAIG LAWRENCE of AUSTRALIA
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Craig,

I'll take a dozen but they have to be in Brazillian Rosewood

Seriously though...if you're offering your fine clamps for sale at $12 I'd be interested in taking a dozen.

Paul's are far and away the best clamps I have used. Not to mention the $

[QUOTE=WaddyT] ...found good prices at this place.  http://www.thebestthings.com/newtools/camclamps.htm  Is the link to the cam clamp page.  take a look.

 

[/QUOTE]
Nice find, Waddy! Lowest prices I've seen on Auriou rasps. Nicholson patternmaker's too. Also chisels.

Craig PM me if you are serious!

Those are nice clamps!

I have an observation about cam clamps.
One of my students has been making some for himself. He bought a Shop Fox to take a pattern from. I pounded the roll pin out of the cam and found that the cam is drilled with the hole centered on the lengthwise centerline of the cam. This makes the cam reach maximum force when the cam is half way through its travel range. As you rotate past that point the cam gets looser. The Klemsias are drilled with the hole in the cam below (and a little forward, or outward) of that centerline. This little detail gives you more range of clamping pressure because the more you rotate the cam the more force you get out of the clamp, which is desirable.

[QUOTE=ToddStock] The Woodcraft clamps are pretty good, although other than a 10% sale, the price is merely tolerable. [/QUOTE]

I have a couple of those, and in my experience they are definitely not as good as Klemmsias. The cam will often come loose after they are clamped, whereas my Klemmsias never do that.

I really don't know what it is about the design of Klemmsias that makes them work so much better, but they've got it dialed in.

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Todd Rose
Ithaca, NY

https://www.dreamingrosesecobnb.com/todds-art-music

https://www.facebook.com/ToddRoseGuitars/