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Self-tensioning Workbench Clamps

by vectorges on February 18, 2012

Table of Contents
Self-tensioning Workbench Clamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Intro: Self-tensioning Workbench Clamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Step 1: Make some rough blanks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Step 2: Finish them . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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http://www.instructables.com/id/Workbench-Bernoulli-Clamps/

Intro: Self-tensioning Workbench Clamps

I saw an article where a very innovative woodworker made some clamps for his workshop that worked like a cam cleat on a sail boat. (
http://www.garagewoodworks.com/video.php?video=v39 ). They are very useful for holding a work piece on the bench for sanding, filing, or other shaping. A piece of
wood is cut with a decreasing radius curve in its outer surface. The theory is that if you place two of them on your workbench and put a work piece between them, the
force of the wood against the curved surfaces increases the pressure on the sides of the work piece holding it in place. The outer surface of the clamp has a piece of
sandpaper to increase the holding power. The clamp is movable, easy to build, and self adjusting. It works great on the modular side of my work bench.
The clamps are unidirectional. They tighten when you push against them, and release when you pull the workpiece back. So they are effective when you are pushing
against the clamps. So you need to orient your work process to the clamps.
There is no magic to these shapes. Ideally it would be a gradually increasing radius curve. Mine is a Bernoulli curve, which is an approximation that I could find a nice
clean JPG online. It can be adapted to any size piece of wood, I had a scrap piece of 12 x 12 seven ply spruce laying in the recycle bin. Use what you have and adjust
the size of the clamp to fit.
Author's note - A later commenter suggested using string tied around a nail (or small disk) to provide a true increasing radius curve. This is a better solution and one that
in no way infringes on any patents filed y the above mentioned video. To see how tis process works, look at a cam cleat on a sailboat. This adaptation has been around
for decades and has never been patented, since it is an obvious example of an applied physics principle. I disavow all knowledge of Bernoulli, or his principles, or the
application to fill scuba tanks using his principles.

Image Notes
1. Work Piece
2. Right side clamp, mirror image
3. Left side clamp

Step 1: Make some rough blanks

I had a piece of 12 x 12 veneer core plywood in the pile. I cut into four 6x6 pieces for the blanks. Included is a JPG of the curve shape. I have a friend with a laser
engraver, so we used that to make the rough shape. You can use the attached JPG and adapt it to the available stock in your pile. Print it and transfer the shape to the
wood. Cut one, use it as the template for the others.
The exact shape doesn't matter. I filed off the rough edges with a rasp and file. Then sanded the edges and applied sanding sealer to all surfaces.

Image Notes
1. Goof portion of the blan
2. Waste

Image Notes
1. Rough blank

http://www.instructables.com/id/Workbench-Bernoulli-Clamps/

Step 2: Finish them

I sanded the blanks and applied a sealer. This helps to keep glue from sticking if they get spattered. I Filed the edges to remove the band saw marks. Then I stacked
them up and sprayed the edge with 3M spray adhesive and attached thin strips of fine sandpaper to provide some extra grip. My workbench has 3/8 inch holes drilled in
the surface for bench dogs. These clamps use the same holes.
Mount the clamps as shown so the workpiece fits between the two sides. rotate he clamps to contact the workpiece. Push forward slightly and feel the clamp engage the
workpiece. That is all there is to it. You can now hold a workpiece securely to your workbench for sanding, shaping, or sculpting.

Image Notes
1. 3M spray adhesive
2. 3M spray adhesive
3. Stack of blanks

http://www.instructables.com/id/Workbench-Bernoulli-Clamps/

Image Notes
1. Workpiece

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Comments
13 comments Add Comment

jmcdvm. says:

Jan 10, 2015. 2:30 AM REPLY

As the clamp shape can, for utilitarian purposes, be considered as a progressively changing diameter circle. The contact area between the clamp surfaces
and the workpiece will increase approximately in direct proportion to the size of clamps. As a result, the potential marring of the workpiece can be reduced
accordingly as the force per area unit at the contact surfaces are decreased. I think a slightly elastic bushing between the pivot bolts and clamp pieces might
provide some buffering of surges in contact pressure with the workpiece potentially reducing marring.

shannonlove says:

Mar 11, 2012. 10:46 AM REPLY

The best shape for clam clamps is a Fibonacci Spiral aka Nautilus spiral, because the pressure increases smoothly against the workpiece as the cam rotates.
This prevents damage to the workpiece and prevents the cam from jamming owing to a sudden increase in pressure caused by an irregular surface.
You can layout a Fibonacci Spiral of arbitrary size using ole' Fib's geometric technique or you can print out a spiral from an image and trace or transfer it to
wood. Cut outside the lines and then carefully sand down to a smooth curve.
Even though they are not as durable, clamps made from a softwood (like white pine) are best because (1) they do not mar other woods and (2) the soft wood
deforms slightly and grips the workpiece. When they get lumpy, sand them down or throw them away and make new ones.

RandomIdeaMan says:

Aug 16, 2012. 10:48 PM REPLY

Far more work than is needed. For a smooth cam action you could simply cut circles and put the pivot off centre (closer to the edge would give more
movement in the cam, closer to the centre less movement).
I do see the advantage to the Fibonacci Spiral, being that it give the maximum variation in work piece width, but it can only be used in one direction.
By using a circular piece you can work the clamp in either direction (could be useful depending on the project and work space available), and you can still
get 0 or near 0 clamping by having the circles cammed so when both are facing to the centre they touch (or nearly touch).
The same cutting process could be used, draw the circle, rough cut and sand down, or you could use the centre of a hole saw cut, or pin your router to
the surface with a string and use it as a compass.
I would also argue for a rubber face on the clamps to give longer life and better grip.

SlickSqueegie says:

Mar 26, 2012. 9:58 AM REPLY

First, This is an awesome Idea... I really like this, though, you will find, that the plywood clamps you use will dig into softwood and leave marks on your
project...
The glue between the layers of plywood are not soft and will not give at all.. but the layers of wood are softer and will press in a bit leaving the glue to
damage the piece...this will happen over time. Maybe MDF would be a better option if available.. if not I would use a clamp block to keep the clamps from
damaging the piece..

http://www.instructables.com/id/Workbench-Bernoulli-Clamps/

If you make it large enough you could use a ring of rubber cut from a bicycle inner-tube for extra friction.

ilpug says:

Mar 5, 2012. 6:15 PM REPLY

You could put some kind of rubber facing on the clamping surface to increase friction.

Palmetto_x says:

Mar 5, 2012. 8:32 AM REPLY

Good Idea. I will try that.

Another way to get that arc is by using a nail, string and a pencil. Fasten the string to the nail and wind it up. Connect the pencil and start to unwind it you will
get that gradual arc.

vectorges says:

Mar 5, 2012. 9:16 AM REPLY

ANd if you used a slightly larger disk you could increase the differance. ANother great idea.

abstracted says:

Mar 5, 2012. 5:08 AM REPLY

i think the same can be done if you just cut wood discs and drill your axis hole off center?

vectorges says:

Mar 5, 2012. 6:26 AM REPLY

That sounds far too easy! You are probably right. The object is a varying radius surface. I think a parabola is optimal, but I have been playing with excel
for a while trying to make a good shape. Unsuccessful so far.

drloki says:

Mar 4, 2012. 9:41 AM REPLY

You could cover the face surface of the cams with an old bike inner tube if you were worried about marring a fine surface

bknow13 says:

Mar 3, 2012. 10:26 AM REPLY

If you are concerned about marring you can use some scrap between the work and the clamps.

Truehart says:

Mar 1, 2012. 7:45 AM REPLY

Nicely done, but I have some questions:
1) Do the clamps mar the workpiece?
2) Do they come unclamped while sanding (or other similar action) back and forth from the clamps? I see how they would clamp, but that clamp looks like it
only holds tight if the forces are in one direction.

vectorges says:

Mar 1, 2012. 8:22 AM REPLY

2. The clamps are uni-directional. They tighten as you push against them, but release if you pull the workpiece back. I'll update the ible to make that
clear.
1. That being said, the clamps don't seem to mar the workpiece. Ideally they will grip and stay in that position.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Workbench-Bernoulli-Clamps/