Hybrid Bar Clamp
“You can never have too many clamps” is the expression we’ve all heard, but with a bit of effort and a few common parts, you can get pretty close! This easy to make bar clamp is a marriage of two materials, combining the best features of both – the strength and durability of steel, and the comfort and beauty of wood.
The parts for this clamp are easy to make with ordinary workshop tools. The metal work is minimal, just cuts with a hacksaw, drill some holes and a bit of work with files.
The wooden parts of the clamp can be made from scraps that you might already have in your shop.
It’s not a bad idea to prep the parts for several of these, so that you can get a few put together at the same time.
With a bar length of 12″, these have a maximum capacity of 7-1/2″. The bar can be lengthened or shortened if more or less capacity is needed.
Strong enough for serious glue-ups, these light duty clamps are compact, adjusted quickly and won’t slip.
Since the pads are made from wood, these will hold the work tight without marring it.
Any kind of hardwood can be used, so you can make a set of custom, highly attractive looking clamps that will be a real pleasure to use on your projects.
The plans consist of 14 pages, with a materials list, 5 detailed parts drawings and 5 assembly drawings. It is in an easy to follow, step by step format that walks you through every part of the build.
For your convenience, this plan is made with both imperial and metric dimensions, with the metric dimensions (millimeters) in brackets. Screw sizes and other hardware are in imperial units.