Clamps

I use a "micro-adjustable" bar clamp, six inch size.  They  have a metal bar, but most of it is plastic.  It has two triggers- one releases the clamp to position it roughly by hand.  The most popular brand appears to be Irwin, and can be found at most hardware stores.  But Harbor Freight has them at a cheaper price, but not as good a quality as the Irwin ones.  I have about four of the Irwin ones and three of the Harbor Freight ones. They provide exellent control of clamping pressure.  Each actuation of the clamping pressure only moves the jaw a small fraction of an inch.

I will try to take a picture today and post it tomorrow.

I use other clamps too- two sizes of closepins, rubber bands, those plastic spring clamps, and even masking tape.  There was a thread either in this forum or the techniques one below,a week or so ago, about masking tape, as the glue can wick out under the tape and mar the finish of the plastic

https://www.lowes.com/pd/IRWIN-QUICK-GRIP-2-Pack-6-in-Mini-One-Handed-Bar-Clamp/1000235705

GMorrison

https://www.lowes.com/pd/IRWIN-QUICK-GRIP-2-Pack-6-in-Mini-One-Handed-Bar-Clamp/1000235705

 

Thanks, Bill you beat me to it.  Yes, those are the ones- my go to clamps, though I use several other types if the bar clamps don't work.

I have quite a collection of those mini-clamps myself. I agree they are very handy to have around, and I use mine oftern. But personally I find there use in modeling to be extremely limited.

If one is gluing something basically flat to something else basically flat, and both lying on the same plane, they are great. But in my experience, in our hobby, that doesn't happen very often.

I'm always buying clamps of some sort, thinking maybe this is the magic clamp. It's gotta be, right? I recently acquired the cutest little yellow clamps, they even have swiviling clamping surfaces. They are small, perfect for our miniature world hobby. They just had to be the ones!

They are not. Sigh.

So I go back to holding parts together with my fingers, which is my primary clamp.

There must be a better way, but I've yet to find it.

Some guys use these spring clamps:

https://www.harborfreight.com/spring-clamp-set-22-pc-69374.html

I got myself a set and tried them.  I don't find them as useful as the clothespins I also use.

I find that the mating surfaces of the jaws are too smooth and the clamp may slip off in some scenarios.  When I use them to clamp an airplane wing together, for example, they would shoot off the trailing edge.  However, you can cover those bits with masking tape, or even glue pieces of emery paper to them.  Beyond that, these clamps are OK.

(I've gotten away from using clamps to hold wing parts together, by the way.  Too often, uneven pressure caused gaps on the leading or trailing edge.  Now I just use rubber bands).

I thank y'all for your suggestions.  The bar clamps look interesting and I'll have to give them a try, but perhaps my fingers might cause less slippage and apply the right amount of pressure before they start to cramp.  Thanks again.  Michael B. 

I also find most clamps to be useless for modelling; the spring clamps in particular want to pop off anything that isn't flat. Clothespins are cheap and you can modify the jaws easily according to your situation. 

My general procedure is to lay out some short pieces of tape ahead of time, apply Tamiya Thin and hold with finger pressure until flashed dry, tape the join and move on down the line. Works for me on most applications.

mrmike

I also find most clamps to be useless for modelling; the spring clamps in particular want to pop off anything that isn't flat. Clothespins are cheap and you can modify the jaws easily according to your situation. 

....

 

I use clothespins a lot.  I have three sizes, the normal ones for pinning clotheslines, and a mini- and a micro set that I suspect are primarily for hobbyists.  The mini size are about an inch long, the micro size a half inch long.  I bought the micro set from Model Expo.  I have seen the one inch ones in many places including some hardware stores and a dollar store.

I do cut the full size ones, either straight across to eliminate the fishmouth, or even the opposite direction  to make them more pointed.  I also do the same with the minis, but just leave the micros as they are.  They are a very soft pressure, not good for things that need a strong force.

While we're talking clothespins I should mention specifically how handy the are for tubular shapes; think missles, gun barrels, etc. It only takes a few swipes of a round file to make custom clamps for these otherwise difficult objects.

Don, thanks for reminding us about the mini clamps - I need to order some.

I like to build 1/48 scale bombers. The main wings have been warped on every one of them. These wings are long and the appearance of the model can be ruined if the warp isn't corrected. I have devised a way of straightening the wings. I use an architects scale, clamps and rubber bands. The architects scale is super stiff and removes the warp when used with rubber bands. Works great.  FYI, I use those bar clamps a lot.

B-29

B-24

B-58

Now that is clever!

<<<< that's me eating my words about clamps just a little bit.

This is a picture of the B-29 wing after I removed the clamps. It is perfectly straight. The architects scale is perfect for fixing a warped wing because it will not bend at all.

Great work!  That post also points out the strength of monocoque construction.  The wing of the '29 had a fairly thick airfoil, so when both halves of the wing are glued together, even under pressure like that, it will hold its shape.

I got started modeling with the balsa stick and tissue models. I was always amazed at how much more rigid they became after covering with that thin tissue.  And a coat of dope stiffened them even more!

Don Stauffer

I got started modeling with the balsa stick and tissue models. I was always amazed at how much more rigid they became after covering with that thin tissue.  And a coat of dope stiffened them even more!

 Ah yes, the good old days  

 

https://www.modelhobbies.co.uk/master-tools---model-kit-tool-set--09951-78678-p.asp?utm_source=scalemates

I like using this, but that's just me.