How do you clamp wood without a clamp?

Trevor Bjorklund · Post by **Trevor Bjorklund** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 7:26 pm

My practice chair just cracked! It's an old(ish) wooden desk chair and the seat has cracked directly up the middle. I don't have a clamp anywhere near big enough to hold it in place to glue it. Any suggestions?

Carroll · Post by **Carroll** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 8:16 pm

Zip ties.

Tourniquet.

Baling wire (or a coat hanger).

PMeuph · Post by **PMeuph** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 8:17 pm

http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/reviews/4288700" target="_blank" target="_blank

#2 or #7 would work.

When I needed to clamp some wood down for a bookshelf, I used a lot of heavy books (wrapped in plastic bags so they didn't in contact with the glue) and used them as a weight. I imagine that if you put the chairs sideways and then lay the books on top of some kind of shelf you might be alright...

termite · Post by **termite** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 9:46 pm

You could try packing tape. Wrap a number of layers around it pulling tighter each time. This may not apply enough force in this situation and will leave adhesive on the seat which will need to be cleaned off. Also it will apply more force in the centre of the seat than at the edges.

One way to glue up odd shaped objects is to glue bits of wood on for the clamps to grip on. The blocks are then planed off after glue-up. Of course this means sanding and refinishing the whole thing.

Regards

Gerard (Who has a round table top waiting to be re-glued)

Donn · Post by **Donn** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 9:50 pm

PMeuph wrote: #2 or #7 would work.

With some strong and not too stretchy cord, I think you could make a variation on #7 at home. Tighten by twisting with some kind of skewer.

DHMTuba · Post by **DHMTuba** » Tue Jan 24, 2012 10:07 am

I've used old bicycle inner tubes for this sort of thing.

rodney · Post by **rodney** » Tue Jan 24, 2012 9:44 pm

Trevor,
I can help you out but won't be at rehearsal tomorrow night. Get my number from Big Pete or Harshey and give me a call.
Rodney

Trevor Bjorklund · Post by **Trevor Bjorklund** » Thu Jan 26, 2012 12:37 pm

Thanks All -

Got it done. Chair is good as new and should withstand many more years of, um, being sat on.

tubatooter1940 · Post by **tubatooter1940** » Wed Feb 15, 2012 9:28 am

Try a spanish windlass. Glue first and then wrap a rope around several times to get a firm and wide grip and then twist/rotate the two free rope ends with a stick until you get it tight enough. Tie off the stick with another line until the glue dries.

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How do you clamp wood without a clamp?

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