Clampzilla Woodpeckers OTT

[ear3]

Just took receipt of mine.  Just in time as well since I'm on the verge of a very complicated glue up of a table top for which these will be ideal.

Would note however QC issue, which is that their machine skipped over one set of holes on one of the bars.  I have no doubt that Woodpeckers will make it up and send out a replacement bar, and I may just drill it out myself on the drill press if I get to the glue up prior to receiving it myself.  But this is the first time I've had a defect in one of their products.

[attachimg=1]

 

[Alanbach]

[member=37411]ear3[/member] - I had that on one of my bars. Most of them I was able to push on with my thumb and they popped right out. One was a bit stubborn and I hit with a punch and it popped right through.

 

[ear3]

Well, I should have listened to the consensus and passed on these.  They work just fine with a straighforward clamping setup, where the wood rests directly on the clampzillas and nothing else.  I just did that here, and got good results with a truly impressive amount of clamping force without any bowing of the panel:

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The problem comes when you want to combine other clamps underneath the base, or have a more complicated glue-up than just 3-4 boards of the same length.  As already noted, these clamps are a PITA to set up because of how the mechanism swings freely when not engaged.  In order to engage it relatively painlessly, the wood has to be resting directly on the bottom bar so there is no movement as the top bar is re-pinned and the metal pads are aligned against the edge of the board.  If there's a space between the wood and the bar (as there might be if you need clearance for other, taller clamps), it's a freaking nightmare to get the metal pads flush against the edge of the wood.  Such a nightmare in fact (which also risks all sorts of nicks and dents on the edge of your panel while you're struggling with it), that I probably won't even attempt it on a complicated glue-up for fear of running past the open time of my glue, unless maybe I have another person involved who can stand on the other side of the boards and assist me with the setup.

 

[Michael Kellough]

[member=37411]ear3[/member]  could you add (securely) a riser block to the lower rail so the Clampzilla rail is supporting the weight and providing clearance for other clamps to slide in underneath the stock?

 

[ear3]

Theoretically, but this is the next glue up I'm dealing with:

[attachimg=1]

[member=37411]ear3[/member]  could you add (securely) a riser block to the lower rail so the Clampzilla rail is supporting the weight and providing clearance for other clamps to slide in underneath the stock?

 

[topguntom8]

Hello everyone. Long-time lurker/learner first time poster.

I have a 1/4 garage set-up with no table saw.  Space is a premium.  Also, I am not a very good woodworker.  Not yet anyway.  Took to the promotional video for these Hook, Line, and Sinker.  Couldn't give them my money fast enough. Bought two w/ the 50'' rail extension. Thought I could get away with less clamps and imperfect edge jointing by buying these. 

Nope. 

They are basically like giant butterfly knives scissoring all-over the place.  Just a total mess.  The boards must sit flat on the bottom rail for them to work.  I have the woodpeckers clamp supports and assumed these would be compatible...but not quite.  The top of the clamp support sits just above the bottom rail, so the wood cant quite make contact.  Super frustrating.  Also, if the width of the panel falls awkwardly between two pin settings, then the clamp wont quite engage the work because the screw either runs out or the H brace is pinched by the clamping arms.

Set-up takes 4 times as long.  Time is better spent jointing the boards properly. 

Lesson learned.  There are no short-cuts for good work.  Still love their stuff, just missed the mark with these. 

Tommy

 

[Dogberryjr]

Theoretically, but this is the next glue up I'm dealing with:

Are those tongue in groove or splined?