Ski Builders Forum

Instead of using the rather expensive (edit: expensive compared to clips) spring clamps many companies use, how about using binder clips? (The jaw type clips for stacks of paper. They are cheap, and might pose a good solution for spring clamps. I will try them on my base+edges tomorrow and report back on how it works.

http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/5 ... r-Clips-1/

not even close to enough pressure on the edge. Not to mention the fact that they aren't big enough to clamp on to whatever table you have the base set on.

and, if you think those small clamps are expensive, stop now. seriously. Probably one of the cheapest parts of this whole deal.

I think he's just talking about tacking the edges to the base, I think its a great idea. Those binder clips have a LOT of force. I've just used clothes pins and they work fine.

But you can get tiny spring clips for very very cheap at Harbor Freight. Probably comparable to the binder clips.

Yes, I was referring to tacking the edges to the base. I understand that the other materials cost FAR more than these small clips and the workmanship should not be reduced to save a couple dollars. The spring clamps from Harbor Freight I got were a horrible experience (weak springs etc. maybe just a bad batch), and I was just looking for a simple affordable alternative that seemed worth trying.
If you are sure it will not work Doughboyshredder, so be it.

Don't you have the base on a table when you clamp the edges on?

I have never seen anyone clamp the edges to the base without the base being supported.

http://on3pskis.com/wp-content/uploads/ ... r-0292.jpg

If you're not supporting your base when you glue your edges on, you're doing it wrong. You don't need a gazillion clamps necessarily, but damn if your base doesn't need to be flat.

Edit *** that pic was just too big.

CAFactory, it might work o.k. Like Twizz said he used clothespins, but really Home Depot sells these clamps http://www.homedepot.com/Tools-Hardware ... ogId=10053 for .99 each. You only need 20 of them. Clamp the edges to the base on a piece of mdf, and put a small dab of super glue on each edge. Let it sit for at least 10-30 minutes and you're good. Your edge fit, and base flatness is so important that I really don't think you should mess around with doing it right.

Fair enough, I guess il give those a try next time im in the area of home depot. Perhaps even try the clips on scrap material. But yes i do have a 3/8" template to support the base just for tacking the edges. The jaws of the clips i have seem to be just the right size to fit around the template and base, so thats where my idea came from

if they fit try em.

Here' s what I used. When clamped onto the base on a 1x8 they have more than enough pressure. Plus they're dirt cheap for a ton of them. Buy a length of 3 or 4 in pvc, cut down the length of it, then cut into strips.

Almost 100 clamps for just a few dollars.

Ha, I gotta say... thats just about the weirdest means of clamping anything I've ever seen, but damn clever! Nice work.

That's pretty fracking awesome! I have a lot of pipe laying around. Now I have a lot of clamps! I can think of so many uses for this, with different diameter pipe.

What a great idea! Another great example of ingenuity. Wish I would have thought of that before I bought 30+ clamps last summer. I'll keep in it mind if I ever need more clamps. Thanks Nate!

i found some really cheap ($.37) metal spring clamps at home depot that should work really nice for tacking edges onto base material.

So I tried the PVC method of clamping today, and it worked well. I'm sure spring clamps may have more pressure, but there are no gaps between the edges and base plus everything seems tight and secure.
Thumbs up on the idea nate

Haha, glad to be of help. My dad and I used them initially while building a cedar strip kayak, but turns out they work great for this too.