I received an e-mail from my friend and fellow woodworking artist Josh Carlson yesterday. After reading your posts on clamp situations, he sent me these pictures of a wedge clamp that he was working on. I thought I would invite him on as a guest artist since it was pretty fitting with recent topics.
Guest Artist Josh Carlson wrote:
“Basically it is a jig for gluing up lots of rips into larger planks or countertops. It is based on the sliding wedge method of clamping pressure to glue boards tightly together as well as hold them down to a flat surface. The large moveable rail part has many wedges attached going in one direction, it is the loose wedge that is driven into place that pushes the board together. The moveable rail allows you to reposition and clamp various sizes and combinations of wood into counter top quality flats. Then just a little work with the jack plane and there it is.”
Dave Says:
February 18th, 2007 at 2:14 pmVisit Dave
That is genius. I am definitely going to have to try that out. Very cool.
Do you have any trouble with the glue squeezeout causing the panel to stick to the workbench? I spose you could lay some wax paper or something down.
I love the planing on the floor!
Dave Says:
February 18th, 2007 at 2:16 pmVisit Dave
Are you making a workbench? What is that?
josh Says:
February 19th, 2007 at 7:14 amVisit josh
Thanks Dave! I thought you would benefit from this one. I am making two low-grade pine(low-cost)countertops for some friends. Everything about this project is pretty cost effective. I have had a few of the glued parts stick to the table. Minor though, just a couple lines of glue on each board was enough. The main hurdle to overcome this year has been the cold. It has forced a lot of work to be completed in the basement. Hence planing on the floor. It is nice to walk away from these tops and realize not one dollar was spent on store bought clamps.
phil Says:
February 22nd, 2007 at 8:53 pmVisit phil
very inventive! this is something i will have to try. in my shop we never have enough ‘quick clamps’ for gluing chairs, but rarely have enough bar clamps for gluing large panels or tops. thanks for the idea.
MikeO Says:
March 1st, 2007 at 3:27 pmVisit MikeO
Neat