Bandsaw clamp
The standard vice cannot reliably hold objects less than about 25 mm in length. Sometimes it is necessary to hold small or odd shaped objects for cutting on the bandsaw. The clamp shown in the header photo can cope with many of these difficult clamping problems. It was constructed from a piece of 6 x 75 x 100 mm steel plate. At one end is a vee block with two projecting lengths of M5 studding as shown above. Above the vee block is a clamp bar made from 10 mm square steel bar which was drilled to fit over the studs. The clamp bar was also drilled in the centre for an M5 screw.
The vee block was made by taking a piece of 25 x 25 mm square bar and cutting it at 45 degrees using the band saw.. The two pieces were then screwed to the plate from below using M4 countersunk screws.
At the other end of the plate has two more M5 studs that are Loctited into the steel plate. These are spaced to accept the clamp bar.
The vee block was made by taking a piece of 25 x 25 mm square bar and cutting it at 45 degrees using the band saw.. The two pieces were then screwed to the plate from below using M4 countersunk screws.
At the other end of the plate has two more M5 studs that are Loctited into the steel plate. These are spaced to accept the clamp bar.
This photo shows the clamp holding a piece of 50 mm diameter steel bar
Here it is holding a piece of 10 mm bar. Note that the centre screw of the clamp bar is used to hold the piece in the vee groove.
In this photo the clamp bar has been moved to the other end of the clamp and it is holding a piece of 1/2" square bar.
Here it is clamping a short piece of 6 mm steel.
This shows the clamp mounted in the bandsaw vice ready to cut a small piece of steel.
This photo shows some small pieces that have been cut from short stock. The scale can be judged from the matchbox.
I have used this little clamp often. Apart from the ability to cut small pieces of stock it is also useful when an angled cut is needed on a piece of flat plate. The angle can be accurately set up with the clamp on the bench and then the set up is simply tranferred to the bandsaw for cutting.