My idea was to remove the sliding end of the clamp instead of the fixed end, then the bar just slips through the hole in the work bench with the fixed end of the clamp underneath. When you put the sliding part back on the bar (on the top side of the bench) you'll have the same effect as yours but without all the work and you still have a perfectly usable clamp afterwards. (Sorry, I didn't mean to burst your bubble!)
@@davidpiemme2276and some minds don't understand english humour :) - Sure you can do that David, but then you've got to keep faffing under the bench, that'll soon get old fast.
Rafe Zetter Heck, he started by complaining about paying 12 quid for a clamp vice 6; I would have thought that he would have been glad to reach under the bench top to gain a bench clamp for free while not destroying one of his Irwins. Oh well, perhaps after living in East Anglia once upon a time I don’t understand English humor any more than another yank, after all, I’ve been married for 35 years and still don’t understand women. Still, clever shop work, mate!
My Festool collection consists of a track saw and a jigsaw. They are really good but I don't know if they are better than other doing the same function. I will say that the track saw leaves an edge that needs no further finishing. It is smooth without tear out. The jigsaw, same. They both utilize guides that greatly reduce or eliminate tear out.
I like your idea very much. I made a clamp vise on the side of my workbench, and now I will be modifying a few for mid table clamps as you have show. Thanks for the great idea.
I bought some of these types of clamps from harbor freight. The ends always break. They're very cheap. But now I can modify them like you did. I've been holding on to them cuz I knew eventually I would find somebody who had a solution to make use of these broken clamps. Thank you
Top man Badger I have just made 4 workbench clamps and they great. For anyone following the video it is spot on but would make the following comments: - you need a sturdy vice - I used a Marksman multi blow torch and struggled to heat the bar to bend it or maybe it just takes longer to heat up than I would have expected.
To make sure the bar doesn’t get hot enough to melt the plastic handle, put a metal clamp or two, to act as a heat sink, in between the handle and the place you’re heating with the torch.
Good Idea ! Everybody has these cheap Irwin clamps lying around. I switched to Jorgenson on this style "kwik clamps" a long while back, because of their removable ends and ability to link 2 clamps together. Now I can use these old cheap Irwin's for something besides hanging on the wall!
Good idea Those Irwin clamps are great. Although they are light duty, they have many uses. Bought some Dakota heavy duty 24" from Rutlands, and the bar rusts. The release trigger is plastic and one is broken already
I tried this with some wooden ones but they are now on fire, have I done something wrong or can I use it clamp things still. Pls reply fast the fire is spre...
That's a cool hack for quick-grip clamps. I use these clamps all the time and love them because they're padded and easy to use. I'm conflicted now if I want to sacrifice one for a bench dog!?! Nice video and I've subscribed and clicked on the bell icon. Well done!
The clamps sold by Lidl (£7 for two 300mm clamps)have both of the ends are removable (one with a wee peg as the Irwin; and one with a bolt and wing-nut). These clamps exert good force, and are robust in use. Irwin clamps survive better when dropped.
I have combination clamp / spreaders and just release / remove the ‘fixed’ end, insert the rod through the dog hole and refit the fixed end of the clamp. Fortunately the fixed pin on the rod slides through the dog hole. Whammo! 😎
That's a lot simpler than I thought it would be! I was too cheap to buy some track saw clamps so I 3d printed an attachment for some of my mini clamps and it works a treat, especially since the clamps are only £1 each!
Nice little vidio. I am always debating with myself the vast difference in price for similar products such as clamps does not always reflect the difference in quality. If I do take a chance on whatever really cheap woodworking tool and it's not up to scratch I'm sure I can always find another use for it, as you have done. Thanks for sharing.
Great idea. Thanks for sharing. Tomorrow we have a special offer at LIDL for cheap power fix clamps. I already wanted to buy some again because I don't have enough of them and the quality is OK for me. But seeing this, I need to buy some extra. Your video came just in time!
@@Badgerworkshop 2 pcs 30 cm clamps for 8€, or 2 pcs 10 cm + 2 pcs 15 cm also for 8 €. In 15 minutes I'll be on my way there. btw i could not find your blow torch among the tools+ you use. In which chapter can I find it. I also have a blow torch, never used it till now, and I'd like to compare the specifications.
@@Badgerworkshop Thanks. I just found it there. I miss the specifications about the heat it can produces but then i found out it depends on the gas being used. I'm curious if my burner/gas will work. It's much cheaper. I initially bought it for burning wood.
This is brilliant and well timed. I've been looking at various clamps like the Axeminster ones you use or some of the dovetail clamps. And I happen to have a few small Irwin clamp like that. Guess I know what I am doing next weekend. Thanks for making such great content.
The vise acts as a heat sink between the heated work area and the plastic clamp body. A wet rag hanging on the bar would work too or add extra insurance.
Those “ split pins” you mentioned are called roll pins, you could re-use them, just drive them in and centre punch each side to widen them a little! But, as you discovered the heat transfer is not a problem with 300 mm clamps!
Did this with Lidl/ Powerfix clamps 2 x clamps for £4.99 worth a punt I thought - they don't take well to being heated or bent more than once 😩. Anyway binned the first one, and now have a good clamp that works well for the money.
After the practice run with the first clamp (and only managing to salvage about 150 mm of the original metal which I'll keep for now), I set the open end of the clamp in my vice for 50mm then put a tight twist in the next
Research "holdfasts", they perform the same function and might be obtained cheaper. They are far stronger than his mod. Don't know where you are but I got my holdfasts here: www.toolsforworkingwood.com/store/item/MS-HOLDFAST.XX/Holdfasts_by_Gramercy_ToolsThey are excellent build and work in 3/4 holes", perhaps slightly larger but only slightly as they are 3/4 inch.
Another modification I want to do with these (or actually the smaller clamps) is to copy the festool ones that come in the clamping elements set, I think a secondary cover with a peg - screwed to the side of the original cover will do the trick.
We have a store in the US known as Harbor Freight aka Horror Freight. They are known for their crappy tools but sometimes one or two slip through the cracks and are actually good. They sell some clamps cheaper than the Irwins that are modified to work like yours and there are vids on YT showing that. You did and do have a good idea if the HF clamps are not available.
Actually I’ve been thinking about this and I’m now wondering if the lower bar needs to be twisted at all because if it’s simply bent then, surely, it will still clamp underneath anyway as it doesn’t really need to be directly ‘below’ the upper portion to clamp anything down onto the table?
Use the existing hole at the head of the clamp, use machine screw, washers, and lock nut with a metal cross piece to create a toggle clamp-like end. Doesn't work any better than what is described but much less effort.
Nice one Matt - mind you if I had some IRWIN clamps I would save them as they are not cheap - whereas LIDL ones are 'good enough' and cheap as chips. Great idea.
and with the lidl or cheaper ones you can take the end of with a thumb screw and turn the into pushers so you take the end off push the main spar through the bench and refit the end no wreaking of the clamp and can be removed and used normally win win been doing it for years
@StuffOfLard Ohfortheloveof ... I would think they would have a tendency to just snap off, not to mention it would take a lot more muscle to twist them.
Well, it gets annoying because I have to tighten the boogers back on and I think it is because the Irwin clamps with these nuts and bolts allow you to turn it around and make it a spreader too.
My idea was to remove the sliding end of the clamp instead of the fixed end, then the bar just slips through the hole in the work bench with the fixed end of the clamp underneath. When you put the sliding part back on the bar (on the top side of the bench) you'll have the same effect as yours but without all the work and you still have a perfectly usable clamp afterwards. (Sorry, I didn't mean to burst your bubble!)
You are clearly a very clever man.
@@Badgerworkshop
Great minds think alike 🤣
@@davidpiemme2276and some minds don't understand english humour :) - Sure you can do that David, but then you've got to keep faffing under the bench, that'll soon get old fast.
*Rafe Zetter* you rude person! You forgot to add, "Sorry to burst your bubble" in your comment 😝
Or weren't you? 😳
Rafe Zetter Heck, he started by complaining about paying 12 quid for a clamp vice 6; I would have thought that he would have been glad to reach under the bench top to gain a bench clamp for free while not destroying one of his Irwins. Oh well, perhaps after living in East Anglia once upon a time I don’t understand English humor any more than another yank, after all, I’ve been married for 35 years and still don’t understand women. Still, clever shop work, mate!
I like these kind of videos instead of someone showing off their new Festool tools 👍
Thank you. I wish I had a Festool collection.
My Festool collection consists of a track saw and a jigsaw. They are really good but I don't know if they are better than other doing the same function. I will say that the track saw leaves an edge that needs no further finishing. It is smooth without tear out. The jigsaw, same. They both utilize guides that greatly reduce or eliminate tear out.
I like your idea very much. I made a clamp vise on the side of my workbench, and now I will be modifying a few for mid table clamps as you have show. Thanks for the great idea.
I bought some of these types of clamps from harbor freight. The ends always break. They're very cheap. But now I can modify them like you did. I've been holding on to them cuz I knew eventually I would find somebody who had a solution to make use of these broken clamps. Thank you
Sounds a good use for them then
buy the Pittsburgh clamps (red) ones they are well built
Good video. After coffee it's off to the shop to make a few!
Top man Badger I have just made 4 workbench clamps and they great. For anyone following the video it is spot on but would make the following comments:
- you need a sturdy vice
- I used a Marksman multi blow torch and struggled to heat the bar to bend it or maybe it just takes longer to heat up than I would have expected.
That s the beginning to weld more !!! Cool !!!!!!!!
Thank you
To make sure the bar doesn’t get hot enough to melt the plastic handle, put a metal clamp or two, to act as a heat sink, in between the handle and the place you’re heating with the torch.
Good tip
Very clever (and prompts several other applications). You have a fresh sense of humor! Many thanks for posting this idea.
Thank you very much
Good Idea ! Everybody has these cheap Irwin clamps lying around. I switched to Jorgenson on this style "kwik clamps" a long while back, because of their removable ends and ability to link 2 clamps together. Now I can use these old cheap Irwin's for something besides hanging on the wall!
awesome idea , I can use this idea to bend the composite deck boards , very well done thanks
Good idea Those Irwin clamps are great. Although they are light duty, they have many uses. Bought some Dakota heavy duty 24" from Rutlands, and the bar rusts. The release trigger is plastic and one is broken already
Thats a shame as I was looking at the Dakota parallel clamps
I think Dakota is just a name Rutlands made up to make them sound American :)
sounds about right
I tried this with some wooden ones but they are now on fire, have I done something wrong or can I use it clamp things still. Pls reply fast the fire is spre...
This is only my first day being a full time blacksmith so im not sure. Try turning it off and back on again
Put some Osmo oil on and go for the shou sugi ban look...
Cleanup aisle three...
Were they made from Apple wood,? Perhaps it happened because you used a non Apple blowtorch?
Haha, what are you like lads
A bit of quick a cheap awesomeness. I love it. I have about 30 of this pigs and love them although I don’t use them in the shop only the field.
Thank you
Simple and effective! Nicely done Mr. Badger
Thank you chaps
What a good idea Matt!!
Thanks for a great idea. I'll be modifying a few of mine.
Outstanding hack, I have 4-6 of these that I rarely use anymore. Great way to repurpose them.
Thank you
Please don't give up the woodworking ! I really liked that modification.
Dont worry i am not going to stop.
Nifty idea, thanks for sharing
That's a cool hack for quick-grip clamps. I use these clamps all the time and love them because they're padded and easy to use. I'm conflicted now if I want to sacrifice one for a bench dog!?! Nice video and I've subscribed and clicked on the bell icon. Well done!
Thank you. Lots of people have said to get cheap Aldi clamps for this
Great tip! Easy solution and cheap alternative. I’m subscribing to see more! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you very much Don
Great tip. BTW on some of those clamps the back end is removable, so you can reverse them. I thought the Irwins were like that but I guess not.
Thanks Andy
The clamps sold by Lidl (£7 for two 300mm clamps)have both of the ends are removable (one with a wee peg as the Irwin; and one with a bolt and wing-nut). These clamps exert good force, and are robust in use. Irwin clamps survive better when dropped.
I have combination clamp / spreaders and just release / remove the ‘fixed’ end, insert the rod through the dog hole and refit the fixed end of the clamp. Fortunately the fixed pin on the rod slides through the dog hole. Whammo! 😎
Hi Matt. Very clever. Thanks Tom.
Thank you Tom
Great idea Matt .
Thanks Michael
Great idea on budget👍
Thank you
Thanks for the idea
That's a lot simpler than I thought it would be!
I was too cheap to buy some track saw clamps so I 3d printed an attachment for some of my mini clamps and it works a treat, especially since the clamps are only £1 each!
That is a bargain then
tip: an adjustable wrench is nice for grabbing whilst bending..no need to squeeze for grip.
Great idea. Thank you.
Nice tip. Just so you know Aldi and Lidl often sell similar clamps to the Irwin but for a fraction of the cost. Around £5 for a pair.
Thanks. I will look out for them
Love the dead pan humour Matt 😆
very nicely done!
Thank you very much
Nice little vidio. I am always debating with myself the vast difference in price for similar products such as clamps does not always reflect the difference in quality. If I do take a chance on whatever really cheap woodworking tool and it's not up to scratch I'm sure I can always find another use for it, as you have done. Thanks for sharing.
I have a lot of cheap clamps and they always come in handy
Great idea. Thanks for sharing. Tomorrow we have a special offer at LIDL for cheap power fix clamps. I already wanted to buy some again because I don't have enough of them
and the quality is OK for me. But seeing this, I need to buy some extra. Your video came just in time!
The Lidl clamps sound perfect for this
@@Badgerworkshop 2 pcs 30 cm clamps for 8€, or 2 pcs 10 cm + 2 pcs 15 cm also for 8 €. In 15 minutes I'll be on my way there.
btw i could not find your blow torch among the tools+ you use. In which chapter can I find it. I also have a blow torch, never used it till now,
and I'd like to compare the specifications.
I have just added it to the metal work section
@@Badgerworkshop Thanks. I just found it there. I miss the specifications about the heat it can produces but then i found out it depends on the gas being
used. I'm curious if my burner/gas will work. It's much cheaper. I initially bought it for burning wood.
It should work but it will just take longer
This is brilliant and well timed. I've been looking at various clamps like the Axeminster ones you use or some of the dovetail clamps. And I happen to have a few small Irwin clamp like that. Guess I know what I am doing next weekend. Thanks for making such great content.
Glad to be of help
Great idea Matt, think I’ll give this a go, cheers
Thank you
That's really handy. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Niki
The vise acts as a heat sink between the heated work area and the plastic clamp body.
A wet rag hanging on the bar would work too or add extra insurance.
Good idea
Good job mate worked well
Thank you
Those “ split pins” you mentioned are called roll pins, you could re-use them, just drive them in and centre punch each side to widen them a little! But, as you discovered the heat transfer is not a problem with 300 mm clamps!
thanks
Good Video Badger
Thank you
Just use medium or heavy duty quick clamps, end clamp is removable,as it's reversible.
Great idea, well done!
Thank you
Nice job 👍
Brilliant idea and great informative video, I’m going to try that myself.
Thank you
Good idea Matt 👍
Thank you
Did this with Lidl/ Powerfix clamps 2 x clamps for £4.99 worth a punt I thought - they don't take well to being heated or bent more than once 😩. Anyway binned the first one, and now have a good clamp that works well for the money.
I will keep a eye out for them next time
After the practice run with the first clamp (and only managing to salvage about 150 mm of the original metal which I'll keep for now), I set the open end of the clamp in my vice for 50mm then put a tight twist in the next
Brilliant idea Matt,my cheap Aldi versions will get the same treatment!👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
cheap clamps woiuld be even better.
Again Matt, nice one! I'm doing this.
Thank you. You will have to order more clamps
Great idea.
Brilliant
Cheers for this, just most of the way making a bench top like this (yay for forstner bits), and was stressing about the cost of the clamps.
Glad to be of help
Research "holdfasts", they perform the same function and might be obtained cheaper. They are far stronger than his mod. Don't know where you are but I got my holdfasts here: www.toolsforworkingwood.com/store/item/MS-HOLDFAST.XX/Holdfasts_by_Gramercy_ToolsThey are excellent build and work in 3/4 holes", perhaps slightly larger but only slightly as they are 3/4 inch.
Love it
Thanks Richard
Smart! Cheers Matt
Thank you
Nice work matt and a great mod!
Thank you very much
A good and damp rag where you don't want heat, as long as there is water it won't heat up above 100° C.
Another modification I want to do with these (or actually the smaller clamps) is to copy the festool ones that come in the clamping elements set, I think a secondary cover with a peg - screwed to the side of the original cover will do the trick.
Look forward to seeing what you do
.
Cracking idea.....Thanks for sharing........
Thaks Stuart
We have a store in the US known as Harbor Freight aka Horror Freight. They are known for their crappy tools but sometimes one or two slip through the cracks and are actually good. They sell some clamps cheaper than the Irwins that are modified to work like yours and there are vids on YT showing that. You did and do have a good idea if the HF clamps are not available.
A lot of suggestions also to use Aldi clamps
Great idea, nice video
Thank you Mark
That is GENIUS !!!
Thanks Mike
Looks like you made a couple of track-saw clamps there too. Nifty.
Maybe. I have not seen if they would fit
Nice hack Matt!
Thank you
Great idea
Thank you
Thank you
Thanks for this idea.
Thanks for watching
I wish I kept all my broken Irwin clamps!
Actually I’ve been thinking about this and I’m now wondering if the lower bar needs to be twisted at all because if it’s simply bent then, surely, it will still clamp underneath anyway as it doesn’t really need to be directly ‘below’ the upper portion to clamp anything down onto the table?
Im sure that would work.
Great technique! Thanks for sharing this.
Thank you John
Nice work! 😃👍🏻👊🏻
Thanks Fred
Going to try this with Harbor Freight clamps. Serious cheap skate. Lol
Definitely making a couple of these. Cheers for the tip. :)
My pleasure
Good stuff man, thanks!
That's a clever solution on the cheap side! (the way we like it)
Thank you
Use the existing hole at the head of the clamp, use machine screw, washers, and lock nut with a metal cross piece to create a toggle clamp-like end. Doesn't work any better than what is described but much less effort.
🏆
Brilliant! I like cheap solutions, and I thought the Axminster clamps were a little expensive, even if they are well made
They are pricy but good. These are much cheaper
Thank you good cost saving idea
Thanks Steve
How thick is your bench top (deep the holes)?
Why did you bent it? what benefit this bring you?
Good idea, did you know that Irwin actually make an adapter for their new range of clamps that allows you to do that 😀👍
I did not but i am sure this is cheaper
Really a smartpants😊
Thanks Josh
Nice one Matt - mind you if I had some IRWIN clamps I would save them as they are not cheap - whereas LIDL ones are 'good enough' and cheap as chips. Great idea.
Thank you
and with the lidl or cheaper ones you can take the end of with a thumb screw and turn the into pushers so you take the end off push the main spar through the bench and refit the end no wreaking of the clamp and can be removed and used normally win win been doing it for years
Great vid love simple fixes!
Thank you Martin
Presumably the clamp would still work without the twist?
It would
how much is it?
I'm building a ridiculous workbench right now with 1/8 inch thick top. I'm afraid this isn't going to work for me
That is one brilliant idea mate and it works.
Love your blow torch, I need to get one of those.
Thank you. Its a great torch
Make sure you use MAP gas - butane/propane won't get the metal hot enough.
hi did you build a timber chassie on one of yours shepherds hut ,.jack
Hello Jack. Yes I did for one of them. There is a picture of it on my Instagram
thanks for reply.did you do a video of it .jack
jack s no sorry
TY! ^5!
I love British Dead pan Humor...well said!
Thank you
You could shorten that bend even less I’ve had these for years
Nice 🙋👏👏👏💖
Thank you
would this work with pipe clamps?
if you have big enough holes
Good job ! Those specialized clamps are way to expensive.
They are good but expensive
Clever!
Brill idea.....could I not simply bend the bar though? Ie did it really need to be heated up? Ta for posting
You could try
@StuffOfLard Ohfortheloveof ... I would think they would have a tendency to just snap off, not to mention it would take a lot more muscle to twist them.
Cool idea, I thought you was about to ruin the clamp😂😂😂
Thank you
My Irwin clamps have a screw holding the end on so no sawing needed.
Even better
Well, it gets annoying because I have to tighten the boogers back on and I think it is because the Irwin clamps with these nuts and bolts allow you to turn it around and make it a spreader too.
Genius
Thank you very much