Rorton
Established Member
I have a few UniKlamps and ages ago made a quick holder for them:
That held 7 clamps and works OK - was rough and ready from whatever I had lying around, and a 'door' on it to stop the clamps coming out.
I need a few more clamps, and the space I had to store them was still the same space, no where else on the walls, so I got thinking about having a double layer of clamps - I could fit max 8 in a row, and have 2 rows, with them being 'offset' the other row would have 7, so I could fit 15 clamps into the same space that 8 would take up - Perfect!
Into the computer we went using sketchup, and started to work sizes out etc - here was the design:
One layer on top of 7 clamps, and a second layer, offset by a set amount, to store the other 8,
The design seemed to work ok, so into the garage to see what we have to make it with...
I had some oak left over from the tables I built recently, so 2 lengths of that were glued together to make a single board that was 115mm wide, x 1200mm long
This was then thicknessed down to 16mm as the board was already 18mm and I wanted it flat after gluing.
Then crosscut into panels for the top and bottom rack and 2 sides:
I decided to rebate the top and bottom into the sides for a bit of extra strength, so I measured down the height of the top of a clamp (27mm) and cut a rebate on the tables on each of the sides - quick press fit dry to make sure it was ok
I then marked out the spacing for the top and bottom brackets which initially needed to be identical, as the clamps on the top rail needed a slot in the bottom rail to pass through, so I stuck the 2 panels together with double stick tape, and then started to cut the grooves on the table saw again - coming in from each end.
This worked out great, so I split the 2 panels, and then cut the extra slots in what was to be the bottom one:
Once all cut, I quickly clamped the dry assembly to the tablesaw with a blue clamp (that's not part of the solution!!!) to to check how it would work
Idea was good, so carry on...
Next was some kind of bracket to secure to the wall, so I cut some more oak, used a forstner bit to cut shallow 25mm holes for washers, and epoxied these to the wood
I also needed a way to secure the clamps in the rack - I had some rare earth magnets left from another project, so made a couple of panels that would sit directly under the slots for the clamps, and drilled 5mm x 5mm deep holes for the magnets
Thats about where im up to at the moment, the magnets and washers will take a while to set, so once done, I will glue those panels onto the main frame, another sand, some OSMO for protection, and should be finished
Will post some more pics of the next stages when I get there....
![IMG_4911.jpeg IMG_4911.jpeg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ukworkshop/data/attach/79/79401-IMG-4911.jpeg)
That held 7 clamps and works OK - was rough and ready from whatever I had lying around, and a 'door' on it to stop the clamps coming out.
I need a few more clamps, and the space I had to store them was still the same space, no where else on the walls, so I got thinking about having a double layer of clamps - I could fit max 8 in a row, and have 2 rows, with them being 'offset' the other row would have 7, so I could fit 15 clamps into the same space that 8 would take up - Perfect!
Into the computer we went using sketchup, and started to work sizes out etc - here was the design:
![Rack1.png Rack1.png](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ukworkshop/data/attach/79/79404-Rack1.png)
One layer on top of 7 clamps, and a second layer, offset by a set amount, to store the other 8,
The design seemed to work ok, so into the garage to see what we have to make it with...
I had some oak left over from the tables I built recently, so 2 lengths of that were glued together to make a single board that was 115mm wide, x 1200mm long
![IMG_4912.jpeg IMG_4912.jpeg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ukworkshop/data/attach/79/79406-IMG-4912.jpeg)
This was then thicknessed down to 16mm as the board was already 18mm and I wanted it flat after gluing.
Then crosscut into panels for the top and bottom rack and 2 sides:
![IMG_4913.jpeg IMG_4913.jpeg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ukworkshop/data/attach/79/79408-IMG-4913.jpeg)
I decided to rebate the top and bottom into the sides for a bit of extra strength, so I measured down the height of the top of a clamp (27mm) and cut a rebate on the tables on each of the sides - quick press fit dry to make sure it was ok
![IMG_4915.jpeg IMG_4915.jpeg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ukworkshop/data/attach/79/79412-IMG-4915.jpeg)
I then marked out the spacing for the top and bottom brackets which initially needed to be identical, as the clamps on the top rail needed a slot in the bottom rail to pass through, so I stuck the 2 panels together with double stick tape, and then started to cut the grooves on the table saw again - coming in from each end.
![IMG_4916.jpeg IMG_4916.jpeg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ukworkshop/data/attach/79/79413-IMG-4916.jpeg)
![IMG_4917.jpeg IMG_4917.jpeg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ukworkshop/data/attach/79/79414-IMG-4917.jpeg)
This worked out great, so I split the 2 panels, and then cut the extra slots in what was to be the bottom one:
![IMG_4919.jpeg IMG_4919.jpeg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ukworkshop/data/attach/79/79415-IMG-4919.jpeg)
Once all cut, I quickly clamped the dry assembly to the tablesaw with a blue clamp (that's not part of the solution!!!) to to check how it would work
![IMG_4920.jpeg IMG_4920.jpeg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ukworkshop/data/attach/79/79416-IMG-4920.jpeg)
Idea was good, so carry on...
Next was some kind of bracket to secure to the wall, so I cut some more oak, used a forstner bit to cut shallow 25mm holes for washers, and epoxied these to the wood
I also needed a way to secure the clamps in the rack - I had some rare earth magnets left from another project, so made a couple of panels that would sit directly under the slots for the clamps, and drilled 5mm x 5mm deep holes for the magnets
![IMG_4923.jpeg IMG_4923.jpeg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ukworkshop/data/attach/79/79417-IMG-4923.jpeg)
Thats about where im up to at the moment, the magnets and washers will take a while to set, so once done, I will glue those panels onto the main frame, another sand, some OSMO for protection, and should be finished
Will post some more pics of the next stages when I get there....
Last edited: