Useful tool for lashing and clamping?

B

beeperboy

Joined
Jan 28, 2004
Messages
175
I saw this tool demo'd at a gunshow 20 years ago. Like a dolt, I never bought one and it's been bugging me for years. I finally stumbled upon in on the web a couple of years ago. It is a tool for making clamps from several types and sizes of wire.

http://www.clamptool.com/pages/uses.html

(no affiliation YMMV, YADDA YADDA, insert standard boiler plate disclaimer here)

I built myself one and it works great. All of my buddies tried to steal it, so I decided to make a dozen of them and hand them out to all my outdoor/biking/fourwheeling/snowmobiling/ATV/RV'ing types for Christmas gifts. They were a big hit.

They are too big and heavy for backpacking I suspect, but they are certainly valuable survival tools and useful to anyone that ventures out into the back country with a vehicle. I hate to sound like a K-Tel advertisement, but the uses are only limited by your imagination.

Everything in my house and shop is lashed with Clamptool clamps. I cracked the handle on my favorite axe, and used the tool to reinforce the handle. It's stronger than new now, and I probably won't replace the handle until the damage gets worse.

Here are some of the tools I made. They are 1/2" diameter O-1 tool steel and the tip is hardened and tempered to make it last a long time. I hot caustic gun blued them to make them a bit more corrosion resistant.

What do you guys think? Useful tool, or silly gimmick?

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Actually...pretty interesting. Your's looks like an improvement to me with the replacement of the wing nut. I think they would be pretty handy around a farm, ranch, for 4 wheeler and rock climbing vehicle folks, or other places that need quick mechanical repairs to get them by until they can get to a shop, more than around the camp.
 
Actually if they work (I am sure they do) it does look to be pretty handy little device
 
So, it looks like it's basically a tool for cinching lockwire nice and tight ? I'm asking because I work maintain a kennel and I'm always doing fence and pen repairs (not to mention mending chewed hoses!) It looks like something that could save a lot of time and effort.
 
Liam Ryan said:
Up to what guage do they handle?
Very skillful work there, good job. :thumbup:
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Thanks. I've used metal coat hangers as a test. I'm not sure what gauge that would be, 14-16 gauge? I think a piece of barbed wire fence could be used in a pinch. It does a wonderful job with 18-22 gauge black or galvanized hardware store wire, as well as 20-24 gauge stainless steel wire. I've replaced all of the hose clamps on my garden hoses with wire clamps as they don't cut your hands like SS hose clamps do.

BB
 
DeadeyeLefty said:
So, it looks like it's basically a tool for cinching lockwire nice and tight ? I'm asking because I work maintain a kennel and I'm always doing fence and pen repairs (not to mention mending chewed hoses!) It looks like something that could save a lot of time and effort.
Click to expand...

It took me about 2 or 3 tries to get a nice tight clamp. I have done several dozen now and I can do one in about 2 minutes.

If you do a Google search, you'll find a test where the clamps held up to doing emergency repairs on hydraulic lines. I tightened my first clamp so tight that I crushed the aluminum tubing I was practicing on. It's amazing the mechanical advantage you can get from tightening by hand. Overzealous tightening could cause damage to the device you are repairing.

BB
 
I would have never thought of something like that ever. I saved it so I could get my mind around it a few more times but the farmboy in me wanted that years ago!!
 
CUTS LIKE A KRIS said:
I would have never thought of something like that ever. I saved it so I could get my mind around it a few more times but the farmboy in me wanted that years ago!!
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Exactly, that's why I sent one to my cousin that farms and cattle ranches. It may be a literal life saver on a remote farm where the nearest store is three hours away.

BB
 
That is a pretty cool idea and tool. :thumbup: I had never seen a tool like this before.

KR
 
It's interesting that's for sure.

I've used nylon zip ties for all sorts of similar stuff though.
 
I'm impressed by the ones you made. Very nice. I bought an aluminium one from the home and garden show years ago and it's great for making hoseclamps with small soft wire. It's not nearly robust enough to form coat hanger wire.
 
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