5 Easy Ways to Save BIG Money with Pipe Clamps and These Little-Known Tricks

Looking to save money on your next project? Pipe clamps and these little-known woodworking tricks can help!

In this video, we'll show you 5 easy ways to save money with pipe clamps and some little-known tricks that you may not have known about. From using pipe clamps in different ways.

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[orrinkelso]

You always have really cool tips. Another thing you can do with pipe clamps is join 2 pipes together with a threaded coupler to make a really long clamp. I made a king size bed for my daughter. I put the pipes together to make clamps long enough to glue up the head and foot boards.

[murphymmc]

Another good reason for black pipe, it allows a better no slip grip by the clamp mechanism. The galvanized coating, being zinc, is soft, it gouges and slips, pushes up ridges of the zinc if you really tighten the clamp. then you have an even bigger job smoothing it out. Great tips, Izzy.

[ronheydon]

Great video, with simple and effective ideas.

[jamesneylon]

No mater how much you know, you can always learn something new. Thanks for those tips.

[TNTINDUSTRIESLLC]

I’m always surprised by the wealth of knowledge in each video. I’m stoked to start using pipe clamps as a vices. Friggen brilliant. Thanks for the shout out brother!

[SawyerDesign]

Great tips! I also like short 1” PVC sleeves/spacers to keep the black from touching your panel 👍

[woodrowsmith]

I just love my pipe clamps, and use them often. I learned a couple of new tricks today, and for that I thank you. 👍

I use Bessey 1/2" clamps. I like them because they have real crank handles, as opposed to the whimpy bars you often see in the lesser versions and they have 'extenders' on the bottom side that keep you from racking your knuckles as you crank down tension on the handles.

Pipe clamps are designed to be used with BLACK pipe. Never forget this. Galvanized pipe is slightly larger in diameter than black pipe, making the tailstock harder to adjust and the galvanized zinc coating is quite soft, which can cause the tailstock to slip, losing your clamping pressure. Black pipe can be a pain in the tukus, but taking a moment once or twice a year to maintain the pipes themselves will insure proper...and happy... experiences.

I use Izzy's method of buying pipe...slightly. If I need 12" clamps for gluing up stock for ... hmm, let's say legs, I will buy 24" pipes and cut them in half. I do keep at least a half dozen of each length (on the foot...like one foot, two foot, etc) up to 5' long and change the pipes out depending upon my needs.

Don't pay too much attention to the pipe clamps haters. They just don't know how to use and/or care for a tool that dates back to Gramps time. Care for your headstock (the actual clamping pieces) and care for your black pipe, and you'll be a happy 'clamper'!

[raywhiten]

Great tips. I find that liquid Goof Off on a rag takes the black coating of well. And If I'm super worried about the finish, I'll size the clamps close (within a couple of inches of the final panel size, and put blue painter's tape on the pipe. That also means any glue squeeze out just gets stripped off with the tape.

[dwwoodbuilds]

Uncle Henry's hack/jig is so freaking clever!! Definitely adding that to the clamping tool kit! The oxylic acid tip is definitely one of those OH CRAP, save your butt tips! Great video as always Izzy/Maggie!!

[steelandtree]

Thank you for this one. Well needed information.
Last year I stopped at a yard sale and was looking at a couple black iron pipe clamps. A guy stopped and looked at them and pointed out one of the pipes was bent a little, which I had already noticed. Then he gave every reason why these are worthless and he'd never waste his money on them. After he finally shut up and walked away, I grabbed the two pipe clamps, and paid the $5.00 each and left. One pipe needed to be replaced. Still using them.

[cyberwolf]

im with you, pipe clamps are great. I am using that great idea to put gasket material on the clamps. Thanks

[TheHandystanley]

Great tips, Maggie! When I took a class recently from Alex, he told us to get the 10' sections of black pipe and get the threading kit from Harbour Freight. Sure wish Izzy would talk.

[michaellong]

Thank you! I make walking sticks and this will help me clamp to carve, GREAT!!!

[jeffloveless]

I used a piece of belt rubber glued to end and tail pads. Great clamp ideas thanks for doing the videos.

[ecaff]

Excellent video and process
Thanks for sharing
I'm glad to see you up and walking.
Keep up the excellent creations...

[thenext]

I love my pipe clamps. Bought 8 Bessey's. I also bought 4 10 foot black 3/4 pipes and cut them in half with a sawsall. Since they are threaded on both ends, and you only need one end this gives me 8 pieces of pipe with threaded ends on all of them. Smooth out the ends with some sand paper and attach the heads, good to go.

I wanted Parallel clamps, but I just couldn't afford them. I needed 48" clamps, and the Bessy's were fine. Also, buy the 10' not the little 4 foot sections, they cost just as much. Buy the longer one and cut it to size. For the pads, Bessy's came with rubber slip on pads. Those work fine. The cork covering, I might want to look into that.

FInally, I wish I had your workbench. The size of it is great.

[Original_Old_Farmer]

This one of the best ideas I've seen in a good while. Be safe.

[SureIamLucky]

Awesome tips, thank you. Many blessings

[adirondackwoodsman]

That’s exactly what I did years ago. I wanted different length clamps so I bought had them cut 10 footers, got 8’s & 2’s, 4’s & 3’s. Also if you need longer you can get couplers for in between multiple pieces. I have Home Depot thread both ends after they cut them. Great tip on the cork and double sided tape. A lot less than the pads you can buy. Plus the Harbor freight ones just fall off.

[TheBikerDodge]

Love that idea of putting a p/c on the bench.