| A clamp is a fastening device to hold or secure | | | | These clamps are called "C" clamps because of the C |
| objects tightly together to prevent movement or | | | | shaped frame and are often used in, but are not limited |
| separation through the application of inward pressure. | | | | to, carpentry and welding. |
| In the United Kingdom and Australia, the term cramp is | | | | Description |
| often used instead when the tool is for temporary use | | | | Typically made of steel or cast iron, though smaller |
| for positioning components during construction and | | | | clamps may be made of pot metal. At the top of the |
| woodworking; thus a G cramp or a sash cramp but a | | | | "C" is usually a small flat edge. At the bottom is a |
| wheel clamp or a surgical clamp. | | | | threaded hole through which a large threaded screw |
| Types of clamps | | | | protrudes. One end of this screw contains a flat edge |
| There are many types of clamps available for many | | | | of similar size to the one at the top of the frame, and |
| different purposes. Some are temporary, as used to | | | | the other end usually a small metal bar, perpendicular |
| position components while fixing them together, others | | | | to the screw itself, which is used to gain leverage |
| are intended to be permanent. Anything which | | | | when tightening the clamp. When the clamp is |
| performs the action of clamping may be called a | | | | completely closed, the flat end of the screw is in |
| clamp, so this gives rise to a wide variety of terms | | | | contact with the flat end on the frame. When the |
| across many fields. These are some of the more | | | | clamp is actually used, it is very rare that this occurs. |
| common ones: | | | | Generally some other object or objects will be |
| A band clamp (also known as a web clamp) is a type | | | | contained between the top and bottom flat edges. |
| of clamp which allows the clamping of items where | | | | Usage |
| the surfaces to be clamped are not parallel to each | | | | A C-clamp is used by turning the screw through the |
| other; where there are multiple surfaces involved; or | | | | bottom of the frame until the desired state is reached. |
| where clamping pressure is required from multiple | | | | In the case that the clamp is being tightened, this is |
| directions at once. | | | | when the objects being secured are satisfactorily |
| Examples of when a band clamp may be used include: | | | | secured between the flat end of the screw and the |
| Clamping the staves of a barrel - the barrel is encircled | | | | flat end of the frame. If the clamp is being loosened, |
| by the band. | | | | this is when a sufficient amount of force has relieved |
| Clamping stretchers between the legs of a chair. | | | | to allow the secured objects to be moved. |
| Clamping a mitred frame or box - a special type of | | | | Woodworking |
| band clamp is often used which has four corner blocks | | | | A C-Clamp can be a useful tool for woodworking but |
| through which the band is threaded. | | | | special care should be taken when working with |
| Clamping pressure is applied either through a | | | | delicate woods. The flat edges of the frame, generally |
| mechanical method such as a screw or ratchet | | | | no larger than a quarter (depending on the size of the |
| mechanism which tightens the band, or through the | | | | clamp) can cause indentations and marring of the |
| elastic nature of the band material itself. There are a | | | | surfaces being clamped. This can be avoided by using |
| range of styles of band clamp available for purchase, | | | | 2 pieces of scrap wood. Each piece of scrap wood is |
| in particular the type used for framing as described | | | | directly in contact with the flat edges of the frame and |
| above. In addition to these, many other items may be | | | | with the items being clamped. This will allow the scrap |
| put to use as a band clamp. These include: | | | | wood to receive the damage from the clamping, while |
| Ratchet straps | | | | dispersing the clamping force across the piece of |
| Car or bicycle inner tubes | | | | scrap wood into the clamped objects. This effect is |
| Rubber bands | | | | similar to a person laying on a board of nails. If a |
| Rope or string | | | | person were to lay on a board with one nail, their |
| Adhesive tape | | | | entire force on the single nail would allow the nail to |
| A Bar Clamp is a clamp, typically used for | | | | injure thems. Now, the same person dispersed across |
| woodworking, that consists of a bar or rod with two | | | | thousands of nails will disperse the weight enough that |
| jaws. Typical construction has one jaw fixed, the other | | | | they are not seriousley injured. |
| moveable with a screw type clamping mechanism. Bar | | | | Welding |
| clamps in the industry terminology have the jaws | | | | C-clamps are also commonly used in welding. The |
| mounted on a flat bar, while a pipe clamp, which has | | | | heavy duty metal construction and the curved shape |
| the same construction, is mounted on a pipe, normally | | | | make it ideal for holding together metal pieces that |
| of 1/2" or 3/4" diameter. | | | | need to be welded together. The simple machine, the |
| The C-clamp or G-cramp is a type of clamp device | | | | Screw allows a high amount of pressure to be applied |
| typically used to hold a wood or metal workpiece. | | | | with a fairly little amount of work. |