The McGuiggan Clamp

[dmede]

For anyone considering building the McGuiggan clamp from our last copy of WB (193), here's a couple pics of one I built a few weeks ago. It went together very easily and works great. It's going to be a huge help getting the hood ends of my 3/4" thick planks together!

Special note, the plans call for 2" coupler nuts which I had a hard time finding. I figured all it was doing was securing the threaded rod to the handles so 1" would be ok... wrong. The extra inch is what holds the handles off the main clamp bars enough for you to rotate them. In the end all I could find were 1 1/2" coupler nuts but they work ok.

cheers, dave

http://static.flickr.com/136/323082566_625a0a7e45_o.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/144/323082642_c01e92ee75_o.jpg

[Thorne]

Very nice -- and looks like just in time, too!

[Sailor]

I roughed up my own version onthe spot in a hurry ( glue drying to quickly) while building my Redbird. I used 2 lengths of wood and a few fathoms of line to make hinges and draw the ends together. worked very well. By using line for hinges (2 holes drilled in the end to reeve a line though) I was able to adjust the angle the plankes were at with respect to the planking I was holding in place. These seem to be much better than mine though, good on you
Sailor

[shellback]

I built four of them and gave three to friends! Great clamps.

[pipefitter]

Seems like multiple washers or a spacer made from 3/4 sch 40 pipe might have worked?

[paladin]

youse guys spend too much time on funny looking "tools".....wedges and rubber bands from old inner tubes work just as well and a heckuva lot cheaper.....:D build the darn boat and go sailing!

[KE Wales]

Hey everybody,

I just tuned in. Glad to hear that you are enjoying the McGuiggan clamp. I'm going to pass along your kind remarks to Jim. It will really make his day!
Any questions, let me know. Sorry someone had difficulty finding 2" coupler nuts.
I'm sure you realize that this is but one good way of building it--not the only way. I am making some smaller versions for a Piccolo that's being built nearby.

All the best,

Karen Wales

[Bob Smalser]

...Special note, the plans call for 2" coupler nuts which I had a hard time finding.

On the West Coast you'll find them at companies that supply foundation contractors with rebar. Earthquake codes require allthread hold-downs from foundation to top plate, and that's what those coupler nuts are made for.

[dmede]

Karen, the clamp works great. It was one of those articles in WB that comes just at the right moment when you need a better way but aren't sure where to start... then viola, you find that someone has already solved your problem for you!

In about a week or two I'll put the clamp to it's intended use for my project, pulling the hood ends of my rather thick planks together. My problem finding the 2" coupler nuts is mostly due to laziness, I know some industrial supply stores I could have gone to that would have have had them, but OSH is right down the road :o Had I thought the design trough a bit more I would have seen that the extra length actually served a particular purpose.

dave

[Tom Robb]

Which WB? I don't find it in 194.

[dmede]

Which WB? I don't find it in 194.

Sorry, 193. I'll edit the main post as well.

[Tom Robb]

Thanks!