Harbor Freight Toggle Clamps Tool less Upgrade

[@MsSomeonenew]

You can also find a scrap of wood, drill a hole just shy of the nut size and then hammer the nuts in. Really fast and cheap solution to most bolts you want to adjust by hand.

[@ghostses]

MsSomeonenew That's a good idea! Thanks for sharing! G.

[@LumpyMusic]

Beutifully machined thumbwheels. I simplified and strengthened the clamp even more. Lose the little stamped sheet metal plates that the bolt goes through. Replace with a cut off piece of sq steel tubing that fits over the moving end of the clamp, probably 1" sq, .120 wall tube, 1" long. Drill a bolt hole for clearance on the TOP of that piece, drill and tap a threaded hole for the BOTTOM. Now you only need a thumbwheel, hex nut, wing-nut, whatever, for the TOP. ID of the sq tubing is large enough to allow the "sleeve" to slip forward or rearward on the clamp, to place the nose of the bolt/mandrel where you want it on the workpiece. I use these on my welding/set-up table. I hope my description makes sense.

[@ghostses]

***** Thanks! They did turn out nice. The description of what you did to yours makes perfect sense. That was a great mod for sure. Still tool-less, and probably stronger than stock. Thanks for sharing your mods! Take care, G.

[@andylevine4018]

Planning on going tis route for a couple of wood working jigs. Will need to use a longer screw. Will 1/4" threaded rod fit?

[@ghostses]

I measured mine Andy and it appears to be 1/4-20. Unless something changed- that should work. Good luck, G.

[@danielminskey]

wow. really nice craftsmanship. did we determine whether it is m8 or m9? really nice work .

[@ghostses]

Thanks Daniel! I measured one of my clamps and it appears to be an M8x1.25 pitch. Hope this helps, G.

[@jimzivny1554]

A few different industrial suppliers carry them as well as Amazon, knurled, star ect. Great idea, thanks

[@ghostses]

Thanks for the info James! Take care, G.

[@TerryPullen]

Very nice! Seems to me that all I would need is a wing nut on top. Once you've loosened the wing nut the bottom nut should be easy.

[@ghostses]

Thanks Terry! Yes, a wing nut on top should work equally well. Since I have machining tools I went this route and glamored it up a bit..lol. Good luck, G.

[@TerryPullen]

Just looking at those nurled knobs made my mouth water thinking about the vast array of machining equipment you must have.

[@ghostses]

Terry Pullen LOL. I have a few lathes, a milling machine, and tooling. It seems I never have just what I need though. Take care Terry, G.

[@Timshowtomake]

Hi, that is exactly what I need thanks a lot for sharing this idea ;-) greetings from France Tim

[@ghostses]

No problem Tim! Take care, G

[@coelimusic8714]

I got the thumbscrews and they work fantastic! Thanks so much for the tip.

[@ghostses]

Good deal! Glad they worked out for you. Take care, G.

[@acklan3]

G, I was on ENCO and saw a hand knurl tool. For those of your viewers that do not have access to a lathe. A piece of bar, drill bit, and the knurl tool and they can be you. Or at least copy your work. Take care.

[@ghostses]

That's cool. I'm sure those that might not have access to the tools I do could benefit for sure! Thanks for the info man! You get all the credit for the idea in making them tool-less.. G.

[@1947drummerboy]

Hi, That's a great idea. I'm having trouble trying to determine the actual toggle clamp sizes, so could you tell me what size these are that you're using please. Many thanks. JamesP

[@ghostses]

Thanks James! Here's a link to both clamps I'm showing. The specifications are listed on the pages. Hope this helps, G. www.harborfreight.com/500-lb-horizontal-toggle-clamp-96233.html www.harborfreight.com/500-lb-vertical-toggle-clamp-96238.html

[@1947drummerboy]

Great, thanks for the superfast reply. It's a great help. Now to see what they cost in the UK...

[@ghostses]

No problem! Good luck, G.

[@AZskylite]

HEY, you could have an online shop and sell your harbor freight upgrade parts....I want some nurled knobs....but, should buy the clamp first I think

[@ghostses]

That's true! The only problem is all the other irons I have in the fire...lol. Good luck, G.

[@akbychoice]

Amazon has them in packs of 10.

[@freddiedrawhorn1939]

Hey bud can u put a link to where u got the thumb wheels at I cant find them

[@ghostses]

Freddie, I make the thumb wheels myself on my lathe, but you might check on mcmaster.com to see if they have anything that might work. Good luck, G.

[@freddiedrawhorn1939]

@@ghostses thank you that website is great got just what I need thanks alot I really like your idea the cost of these things for bench dog tools is getting redicoulas what kind of thumb wheels would you reccomend I'm not a machinist thanks bud

[@ghostses]

Freddie, I did a quick search and didn't find any. I believe you need to look for an m9x1.25 pitch nut or thumb wheel. You might even look for wing nuts in that size. This is all assuming they are still like the ones I've shown here. Good luck, G.

[@michaelmcclelland2024]

Here in the USA they are called "knurled nuts" and can be bought in good hardware stores, can order from here www.mcmaster.com/knurled-nuts

[@6980869]

Hey there, i had bought both of those models recently, as i had

[@ghostses]

Agboo, it appears your comment is incomplete. Please re-post if possible. Take care, G.

[@freddiedrawhorn1939]

Great idea thanks for posting

[@ghostses]

Thanks Freddie. Glad you liked it. G.

[@MrMarkpeggy]

Very nice! Thanks for sharing.

[@ghostses]

Thanks Mark! Good luck, G.

[@hookedonwood5830]

You can look for finger screw DIN467.

[@ghostses]

Thanks, I didn't find them in the Grainger catalog, but did find them on the Fastenal site. www.fastenal.com/web/products/details/11505970?searchMode=productSearch&zipcode=&filterByStore= filterByVendingMachine=&productSearchQueryString=term%3D%26r%3D~|categoryl1%3A%2522600000%2520Fasteners%2522|~%2520~|categoryl2%3A%2522600072%2520Nuts%2522|~%2520~|categoryl3%3A%2522604553%2520Knurled%2520Nuts%2522|~%26termca%3D%26termpx%3D%26sortby%3Dwebrank%26sortdir%3Ddescending%26searchmode%3D%26zipcode%3D%26filterByStore%3D%26filterByVendingMachine%3D%26pageno%3D2

[@campbejouc]

good job.

[@ghostses]

Thanks! It makes them easier to use. G.

[@akbychoice]

Found a pack of 10 on Amazon

[@ghostses]

That's cool! G.