Pipe Clamp

[Woznme]

Those of us who do pipe welding for a living will probably have one or more 3-point clamps in various size ranges to clamp butt joints in position for tacking. I don't know if Uncle Sam has them, but a clamp for 1/2" pipe has not been available, so we use vice grips or similar 2-point clamps to line up and hold the joint. Doesn't deal with hi/lo but we get the job done.

Recently a buddy of mine found a 1/2" 3-point clamp, manufactured locally and bought it. Works great, he said I should get one. $250. wtf. Not paying that for a clamp so I decided to make my own. It's not a copy, I haven't clapped eyes on the one my buddy bought. I sketched up what I thought would work and modified it as I went along to get all the angles right using off cuts out of the scrap bin and fasteners on the shelf.

Works good. Very happy with it. I'll have a go at hot bluing it. I spent more time than what it's worth probably, but I have time at the moment due to the wuhan wog, and I still have the $250 in my pocket so all good.

[RCcrawler]

looks like a sumner ultra clamp had a baby.

[Woznme]

It's soaking in oil right now after hot bluing. Monday I'll reassemble and post up another pic of the completed clamp.
It clamps up to 1-1/2" pipe to my surprise. That completes the full range for me as my big clamp does 2"- 8". I can now reduce the number of f-clamps and vice grips in my tool bucket.

[hddnis]

That is a nice clamp you made.

I've got a few shop made tools that I find I'm always reaching for. Some I made to save money, but most of them I needed ASAP and buying one meant getting it shipped, at least 24 hrs out, make my own it 3-4 hours and get the job done.

[N2 Welding]

Cudos to you man. Great job.

[BD1]

That's nice.
I have some vise grips with movable taps. I welded short angle iron pieces to them. They work well. For small round I have vise grips with 1/2x1/2 angle.



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[Oscar]

Very cool. I had made a tiny version of this, not exactly of course, but to simply hold smaller tubing (< 1.75" OD) for tacking/welding about 6 yrs ago. I think I still have it somewhere.

[Woznme]

Here it is lads and lasses. All hot blued up, fitted with nyloc nuts, adjusted and ready to go.


Onwards and upwards.

[acourtjester]

I think with a small modification to the (spreader bar section) design it could be a gear or bearing puller very nice

[Munkul]

Really nice work

Our guys have a couple of small clamps like these for 1/2"NB

http://www.tag-pipe.com/Products/Pip...s-product-list

The Scissor clamp design works quite well for joining straights.

[docwelder]

good job fabbing it yourself. i'm surprised anyone with a saw and welder would purchase one but sitting at the computer in the ac everything looks simple.