I'm mulling over doing a project with a bunch of birch ply panels, applying 1/4" birch solid edge banding, hence the need for a bunch of edge clamps. Rather than buy them for one-time use, I'm wondering if anyone has suggestions for DIY alternatives to the Rockler-type clamps?



I have a bucket full of ninety-nine cent spring clamps, maybe I can round up some old bike inner tubes or similar and add the rubber band to the clamps.

Appreciate any recommendations or alternatives.

Thanks,

RMW

 Bought some of those Rockler clamps when they had a sale and also some that Taylor Toolworks sell. Both styles have broad pads made of extra grippy rubber to grasp the surface of the board. I don’t think regular spring clamps will compare well but if you have enough to apply them side by side that will probably be good enough.

I have seen the innertube method done several times, but never done it myself.
I think it actually came first and Rockler created a ready-made version.

I haven’t seen those but assuming the bicycle inner tube fits over the jaws of the spring clamps the inner tube rubber will be a lot more grippy than the plastic overmold. Might work and is easily reversible.

i used the inner tube and spring clamp method and it works good, you do have to make sure you get he right inner tube but otherwise no issue. The rocler ones look nice but when you need 50 or more it starts to add up.

Thanks all. I'd forgotten about Izzie's rubber band trick, I'll play around with that first before moving to inner tubes if needed. Found this also.



RMW

Hey thanks Mike. I haven't seen Eric post here in a while, he always had good stuff to share.

I stumbled across the YT video early this AM (up @ 4:30, forgeting the time change...) and ordered a 2 pack of tubes. Looks like a pretty easy project and I should be able to remove the tubes if I need to use the clamps for other stuff.



Did a second test run today using the lime green 3M painters tape and that worked fine. You'd burn thru a lot of tape for a 8' long section, so the clamps make more sense for bigger projects.

Thanks,

RMW

They look great! I am going to give them a try.

I bought the Lee Valley version when they first came out but found the bands too stiff. I think these will be much better.

I put together a set of 10 inner-tube spring clamps for a project last year and they worked great!

I picked up the inner-tubes for free at the local bike shop.  Mine were the used discarded tubes from bikes in for maintenance. 

With the $14 I saved, I bought a Festool couple cups of coffee :-)