Cheapskate knife clamp

[Hoodoo]

Made this out of spare lumber materials lying around. An oak board and some hard rubber sheets. It's been working really well. You can rotate it 90 degrees in the vise and it easily holds a knife in the spine up position. Probably don't have more than $5 in it. I think the trick is using some good rubber. This rubber is very firm and grippy. It doesn't take a lot of clamping pressure to hold a knife firmly.

BTW, if you loosen the bolt at the end, you can slip the knife in handle first and work on the blade as well.

 

[Wookey]

Good job Hoodoo, just getting into knife making, this could make life a bit easier.

 

[jdlenton]

thats a great clamp hoodoo it's where to get the rubber from over here that's going to be the problem i haven't got a clue where to get it.

James

 

[Grooveski]

What size do want them James?
After work I had a rummage in the skip and stripped a sheet from an old bridge bearing

That's just a bit of rust on the surface, the other side is clean.
Anyhow, pm me an address and I'll hack you a bit off.

[Edit] That's an open offer by the way, if anyone else wants some.

 

[Singeblister]

Does the job I am always making devices to help me in knife making some of which are over on bb
I find a lot of the stuff you buy just doesn't cut it for the money they cost

 

[C_Claycomb]

Hehehe.
That sure is a pretty clamp
Professional quality.

I now feel a case of "Clamp-envy" coming on.

I am still using this arrangement, with one or two clamps depending on what is on hand

I normally use a bit of scrap leather between the clamp and the masking tape covered blade. The duct tape was all I had at the time of photo. James, some of that leather of yours, treated or not, works fine. It will pick up swarf a little, but that is why the blade needs taping up.

 

[Martyn]

thats a great clamp hoodoo it's where to get the rubber from over here that's going to be the problem i haven't got a clue where to get it.

James

As Chris said, I believe the traditional material for use in blade clamps, is leather. I dont see why it wouldn't work in Hoodoo's lovely clamp.

If it needs to be thicker than single thickness, just stack it and glue with evostick, till you reach your desired thickness.

Alternatively, just line the jaws of your vice with a couple of layers of leather. Works for me.

 

[Martyn]

BTW, Chris, what wood are you using on that knife? I like.

 

[C_Claycomb]

Its this one in the process of shaping:
http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14109

Walnut burl from a London gunmaker. It did darken a bit with oiling, as walnut is wont to do.

Re clamping on the blade. The only problem with using a lot of padding, I have found, is that you can get some movement. You have to clap VERY tightly to take all squash out of the padding. It is better when you clamp on a larger area, I like two claps. Perhaps the kind of arrangement that Hoodoo has would make more efficient use of a single clamp.

However, judging by how well I have been assembling all my other bits of workshop gear, I don't think I will try making one just yet

Hey, anyone notice Hoodoo's axe collection propping up the far wall?

 

[george]

Hey, anyone notice Hoodoo's axe collection propping up the far wall?

I was just going to point them out

How many have you got Hoodoo?

George

 

[Hoodoo]

How many have you got Hoodoo?

George

You mean in that one little pile or altogether?

 

[george]

You mean in that one little pile or altogether?

Well if you can count them all, then ... not enough


George

 

[Hoodoo]

Well if you can count them all, then ... not enough


George

There's never enough.

My axe collection is nothing compared to Jimbo's though.