How Do You Store Your Clamps

[John Moody]

I seem to have clamps everywhere. I have quick grip clamps on the edge of my work bench. I have spring clamps hanging on the edge of a wire shelf. I have put up boards on the wall for my pipe clamps and my Bessy clamps and my F clamps. Problem with the clamps on the wall is I have so many I am losing my wall space that could be used for other storage I need. Another problem is they are all from 18" to 48" so the bar they hang on is so high I have to get on a step stool to get them down or put them up.

I am not sure I have enough floor space for a clamp cart but I am open to anything at this point.

So how do you store yours and what do you like and what do you dislike about the way you store them.

[Greg Coleman]

I built a rolling clamp rack. It is sort of an A frame on wheels. I know Norm built one on NYW. I believe Wood even has plans in one issue. I can't find it on the plans site though. This picture came from Popular Woodworking. Heck it even may be where I found it.

[John Moody]

Thanks for the ideas guys.

As much as I hate to give up floor space to anything else, I think the clamp cart may have to be my solution. The number of clamps to store per area is much better that way. I really need to wall space that is now being used storing clamps. I will give up a small amount of floor space to gain back 8' of wall space.

I'll let you know how it goes. Got to located some plans for ideas.

[John Morris]

I wish I had a better system. But I use the beam across my ceiling to store them. I just clamp up to the beam. And lately I have been keeping them on my bench, just like Steve does in his pic above. I haven't been cutting any sheet goods lately so the clamps are not in my way, since my work bench is also the outfeed table. Someday, a rolling cart is in order though!

[John Moody]

That is kinda my problem. My out feed is also my work bench and it has cabinets below so there is no beam to connect to. The ceiling is closed in so I don't have the beams or rafters to use there either. The wall has been my storage, but it just isn't working for me any longer. I need some way to put them away after using them and an easier way to get to them when I need one. Right now they are winding up all over the shop and I really don't like that. I guess the cart is going to be the route to go for me.

The American Woodworker said:

I wish I had a better system. But I use the beam across my ceiling to store them. I just clamp up to the beam. And lately I have been keeping them on my bench, just like Steve does in his pic above. I haven't been cutting any sheet goods lately so the clamps are not in my way, since my work bench is also the outfeed table. Someday, a rolling cart is in order though!

[Greg Coleman]

The plans are free.

http://www.popularwoodworking.com/article/rolling_clamp_rack/

I'll let you know how it goes. Got to located some plans for ideas.

[John Morris]

Good find Greg, I uploaded the pdf for all to see, see the file below.

Greg Coleman said:

The plans are free.

http://www.popularwoodworking.com/article/rolling_clamp_rack/

I'll let you know how it goes. Got to located some plans for ideas.

[John Moody]

Thanks John and Greg from posting those plans.

I will probably modify it some but that at least keeps from completely re-inventing the wheel.

You are right Steve. I think I have the segment on the DVR. I will have to take a look and see.

It will be a little bit before I start, but I will let you know how it comes out.

Thanks again....

[Ralph Allen Jones]

Hello John,

I made a clamp caddy that I will show you in a few minutes, it holds four 3' pipe clamps, four 2' clamps and two 18" clamps all in the middle betwee the end brackets where on the left there are two 5' pipe clamps and on th eright end are two 4' pipe clamps then quip grip clamps are secured on the face side of hte caddy.

Here is the picture I was referring to.

I hope you can see it.

Ralph

[John Moody]

What is the foot print size of that caddy Ralph?

Ralph Allen Jones said:

Hello John,
I made a clamp caddy that I will show you in a few minutes, it holds four 3' pipe clamps, four 2' clamps and two 18" clamps all in the middle betwee the end brackets where on the left there are two 5' pipe clamps and on th eright end are two 4' pipe clamps then quip grip clamps are secured on the face side of hte caddy.

Here is the picture I was referring to.

I hope you can see it.

Ralph

[Ralph Allen Jones]

Hi John,

I don't remember fr sure but I am thinking that it is 3' x 18" and 30" tall. The reason I say 30" is because the 36" pipe clamps stick up above the top by 4 " plus the crank end.

John Moody said:

What is the foot print size of that caddy Ralph?



Ralph Allen Jones said:

[Ralph Allen Jones]

I forgot the casters so it stands 36" over all height for the frame work.

Ralph Allen Jones said:

Hi John,
I don't remember fr sure but I am thinking that it is 3' x 18" and 30" tall. The reason I say 30" is because the 36" pipe clamps stick up above the top by 4 " plus the crank end.

John Moody said:

[John Hechel]

I built a simple 19" x 36" cabinet to hold mine it is double deep. as my clamp arsenal grows I plan to add a third door to the thing so that I can add more capacity.

[John Hechel]

guess I should have uploaded the pics instead of the file

[John Morris]

Nice Clamp wall John! Very nice. I just recently bought some wood screw clamps, a couple Jorgensens just like yours, man they are pricey, but worth every bit.

And I see you got the picture thing worked out. You catch on fast!

[John Moody]

John, that is really neat. I like the compactness of it.

Hope you don't mind, I rotated the picture.

I have 10, 1/2' pipe clamps 30" long. I do have pipe to change them to longer sizes when needed. I have about 20 18" "F" style clamps and 10, 24" "F" Style Clamps. If I spread them out they take up a lot of space. A layered approach might be nice. I really like that idea.

It is nice to see the different ways people find to organize their shop accessories.

Thanks for sharing this one.

John Hechel said:

guess I should have uploaded the pics instead of the file

[John Moody]

Gene, thanks for jumping and here and sharing with us. The 2x4 solution is what I am using now. I am looking for something that takes up less wall space. I am feeling like I am getting closed in. Need to move some stuff around and make better use of the space.

Gene Howe said:

I have an 8' length of 2X4 mounted to stand offs just below the ceiling to hang the F style clamps and my modified pipe clamps. Then, I ran an old long metal squeegee handle between two open shelves an let it extend up about 3'. I just slip the spring clamps over the handle and sorta stack them all up. In the handle space between the bottom shelf and top shelf, I hang all the "Quick Grips".

[John Moody]

So do you just have holes in the top for the pipe clamp to stand in Ralph?

That may be a thought also.....

[Ralph Allen Jones]

Hi John,

Yes, I drilled accourding to the pipes I was using for some are 1/2" pipe while others are 3/4" pipe and threaded on one end for the crank section of the clamps. I allowed 1/8" clearanc so I would have to fight the claps trying to get them out. The 5' and 4' clamps are held in place on each end with the use of turn buttons I made out of scrap wood.

John Moody said:

So do you just have holes in the top for the pipe clamp to stand in Ralph?

That may be a thought also.....

[John Moody]

Thanks Ralph,

I thought that was what I was seeing, but just wanted to make sure.