(05-14-2018, 02:48 PM)®smpr_fi_mac® Wrote: I just learned about panel clamps last week. I wish I knew about them earlier! I started looking about and found the set that Veritas sells. Nice, but pricey, so I searched YouTube and found a walk through for making your own for *much* less.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTmpLE2Vwjk&t=4s
So I made three sets for about $17. Can't wait to mill the boards and give it a try on the next cradle I build.
I made a panel clamp 30 years ago that I seldom use now, retired carpenter. Basically I cut 7 2x3's 48" long.
Then bored holes for T nuts at 3" centers thru the 1-/12" face. I used 3/8" heavy duty T nuts , they are cast not steel stamped. Steel stamped T nuts are cheap but will strip the threads with prolonged use.
Now I have 7 pieces 48" long with 3" center t nuts. This is the back piece ,the front is another 2x3 with 1/2" holes bored thru, no t nuts ,just the holes. Now I have 7 sets of cauls that hang vertically off a lumber rack with French cleats. I have two different lengths of bolts for different panel thicknesses.
I start by running a bolt top and bottom thru the outside 2x3 into the back one with the t nuts. I do this on the outside cauls at first. The boards are slid into the jig, resting on the bottom bolts. Each board is held 3 or 6" above the preceding boards for room to apply glue. I then start the rest of the bottom bolts.
Glue is applied on the bottom board, the next board is lowered by removing the hold up bolts. I usually slide the second board back and forth a bit to spread the glue. Next board is done the same way. Repeat til width is achieved.
Now I snug up ,not tighten yet the top and bottom end bolts. The rest of the top bolts are installed and run up snug. I use a battery powered drill to run up the bolts. The torque adjustment comes in handy so the bolts are not over tight yet. I have pipe and bar clamps ready to pull the seams tight, they are added and the panel bolts are then tightened.
I used to make softwood benches similar to a wood workers hardwood bench for various industrial outfits that wanted heavy duty lab benches. I could glue up 2 benches a day . I used to get orders of 20 or more at a time.
The press made this possible.
mike