Homemade wooden spring clamps

Image source: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/1c/6b/66/1c6b66d522458f24ec761d25d95c6c59.jpg

Here i have a spring from an old broken clamp. I'm disassembling my last store bought spring clamp to use as a model Next i trace the shape of the clamp. Adding some thickness to it to make the new one a bit more sturdy. Next i glue the clamp shape i just drew on to a piece of 3 millimeter particle board.

Then i cut the outer shape on my band saw. This will become a model or template that i can use to make more clamps later on. Then i use the outer template to draw the inner layers. The inner layers need a space for the spring to sit.

Next i grab some 6 millimeter birch plywood scraps and use the templates to trace the shapes. Need 4 outside pieces (2 for each clam jaw) and to save time i use small nails to stack plywood so that i can cut 2 at a time. I need 5 inside pieces, 2 for one jaw and the other jaw need 3 as the first jaw will need to fit inside. Then i just cut all the pieces on the band saw.

Drilling a hole for a bolt. Here i'm just test fitting and checking to make sure the clamp will work as i planned. A bit of sanding and shaping. Gluing them up with epoxy.

A few small nails to keep the aligned! Next i clamped them and let the epoxy cure for a few hours. Using the band saw to do some cleaning up and shaping. Widening the hole for the bolt to 6 millimeters. A final test fit.

The handle felt a bit too wide. To remedy that i use my smaller band saw to shape the handle a bit. In my small band saw i have a blade that can cut through the nails i used to keep the parts aligned while the glue cured. Then a little bit more sanding and moving on to painting.

Added a few screws on the points that will be under constant pressure from the spring. Not sure if this was necessary. Painted them blue using some leftover paint. Once the paint was dry, or dryish i assembled my new spring clamp.

That's all there was too it. I will be making more of these as a still have more springs salvaged from broken clamps. Might also be possible to make your own springs from piano wire..