Bowclamp question for users.

[rjwz28]

Those of you who have used the Bowclamp cauls before, is it hard to tighten up the clamps to close all the way to the end of the cauls?  I would like to get some but I'm worried about being able to crank down the clamps with my small hands.  I'm figuring to get the desired pressure onto the cauls, they would need to be pretty rigid and hard to tighten.

Thanks,
Rob

 

[Sean7a]

Those of you who have used the Bowclamp cauls before, is it hard to tighten up the clamps to close all the way to the end of the cauls?  I would like to get some but I'm worried about being able to crank down the clamps with my small hands.  I'm figuring to get the desired pressure onto the cauls, they would need to be pretty rigid and hard to tighten.

Thanks,
Rob

Rob, we sell'em and have'em in stock.  I've never felt it was difficult, but it's all relative.  Get a general consensus before you use my experience as a golden rule of thumb.

 

[zapdafish]

not at all, I clamp one side down with parralel clamps then the other side with these and its very easy.

The fun part is releasing the clamps. Lotta pressure built up and they snap open and jump a little after a certain point. Like a jack in a box.

 

[bruegf]

I only have Jorgensen style f-clamps and I haven't been able to get them clamped tight enough to prevent the piece from easily being moved around in between the bowclamps.  I intended to use them to glue edging on the kitchen cabinets I'm building and .tried several times when I first got them, but gave up and glued my edging using this:

 

[mouppe]

You may find your clamps run out of thread before you are able to close the cauls up enough. As zap said, use some quick clamps to help close the bowclamps before you start with the f-clamps.

If you are having trouble closing the bowclamps, use some longer ones. The extra length will give you more leverage.

Bruegf if the bowclamps are too slippery, cut up some shelf liner and stick it to the clamps.

 

[rjwz28]

Those of you that have the 4' long ones, is it true that the middle is crowned 7/16"?  I think that is a lot to clamp.

 

[mouppe]

Those of you that have the 4' long ones, is it true that the middle is crowned 7/16"?  I think that is a lot to clamp.

Off the top of my head, that seems right but I have no problems closing the clamp.

 

[bruegf]

You may find your clamps run out of thread before you are able to close the cauls up enough. As zap said, use some quick clamps to help close the bowclamps before you start with the f-clamps.

If you are having trouble closing the bowclamps, use some longer ones. The extra length will give you more leverage.

Bruegf if the bowclamps are too slippery, cut up some shelf liner and stick it to the clamps.

Its not that I'm running out of threads as I used a extra clamp initially to pull some of the curve out and then inserted the f-clamp into the t-slot.  As I get close to getting the bowclamp straightened out I just can't get enough grip on the clamp handle to turn the screw any further. 

Its not an issue of the bowclamp being slippery either, I just can't tighten the clamp enough to exert enough pressure on the panel at the ends of the clamp - I can still run a piece of paper through the gap between the end of the clamp and the edge of the panel.

I still need to contact Craig and see what he can tell me, but for now I elected to not use the bowclamp and use my father's cabinet press (in the picture above).

Fred

 

[semenza]

I still need to contact Craig and see what he can tell me, but for now I elected to not use the bowclamp and use my father's cabinet press (in the picture above).

Fred

Which, by the way, is waaaaaay cool  [cool]

Seth

 

[Michael Kellough]

The tightening clamp needs to be at the end of the Bowclamp. If the clamp is at all inboard the very end of the Bowclamp won't contact the work because the curve is continuous.

 

[bruegf]

The tightening clamp needs to be at the end of the Bowclamp. If the clamp is at all inboard the very end of the Bowclamp won't contact the work because the curve is continuous.

Understand, that's why I start with the extra clamps in a couple inches and then insert the f-clamp in the t-slot at the ends of the bowclamp, but I still can't get them straightened enough to clamp well.

Fred

 

[bruegf]

I still need to contact Craig and see what he can tell me, but for now I elected to not use the bowclamp and use my father's cabinet press (in the picture above).

Fred

Which, by the way, is waaaaaay cool  [cool]

Seth

Yes it is, so much easier and quicker than using bunch of clamps.

Fred

 

[craig feuerzeig]

I would hate for you to be unhappy in any way.  If you need more grip try drilling a hole in the handle.

 

[bruegf]

Well darn, that's just too simple, no wonder I never thought of that

Thanks  Craig.

Fred