Making a Traditional Saddlers Clam - Wood Bending

[@InformationIsTheEdge]

Thank you for another fun video Harry! I must add that not only are your videos interesting and they have a kind of tranquil feel about them, but the comments your videos inspire are also a joy to read. That is proper style! Very special indeed.

[@harryrogers]

+InformationIsTheEdge Thanks very much

[@alanherd2468]

Great video, like the attention to detail. Turn your former's the other way round to prevent trapping the ends.

[@chelseawhoelsee]

Harry Rogers!! What a delightful channel you've got here!! Very inspiring and heartfelt!! Thank you for sharing your lovely work with the world!

[@harryrogers]

Thanks

[@ScrapwoodCity]

Nice! I like your wood bending set up! Thanks for sharing!

[@harryrogers]

+Scrap wood City Thanks

[@bbrown87609]

Real nice job on the saddlers clam!!!!!!!Another fine video.

[@woogaboogawiththegreenteet8436]

well done sir,you are a jack of all trades

[@jackreeves3001]

Lining up screwheads is called clocking. In a airplane or train one can tell at a glance if the screws have loosened at a glance. In the other trades it just looks nice. Thanks for sharing!

[@harryrogers]

Thanks Jack...I had not appreciated the point about loose screws...very interesting Thanks.

[@petercastles5978]

In Australia, any clam with the short leg so far as I've seen, is military, broad arrow. Possibly so they could be broken down for easier transport. A lot of clams over here are beech as well. Most of our tools are English, so there is no surprise there. Thank you for the video. Regards...

[@hollisinman6989]

Great Harry, loved the slot screw alignment info.

[@harryrogers]

+Hollis Inman (Jack) Hello Jack - thanks ....and yes I was interested to learn about it being called Timing the screws.

[@vajake1]

I've been watching all of your leather working video's! Thanks so much for posting them. I have learned quite a lot from you and I do appreciate it very much!

[@harryrogers]

Thanks - I learn a lot from others as well. All the very best Harry

[@jonbray6861]

Very reasonable price on the plans, just purchased. Thanks very much!

[@harryrogers]

Thanks very much indeed, it goes to support a very good charity, so is really appreciated.

[@eriksimpson5570]

nice job. I really like seeing you working the old ways.

[@icespeckledhens]

thanks for the video When I did my apprenticeship in the 60's it was always considered good practice to line up the heads of screws

[@harryrogers]

+icespeckledhens I have been told by UPGardner below its called Timing the screws...like clock hands!

[@davidgriffith6627]

Harry Rogers In the states, electricians often line up the screws on switch and outlet covers. I've also heard it called "clocking" or "clock the screws". Thanks for what you do.

[@Fred-Wilbury]

Nice , I used to use one of these when I was an apprentice in the railway workshops in the leather gang 😊yards of double needles and awl stitching

[@eltallerdelprofe]

Espectacular! Gracias

[@MrSkeeter18]

Very nice work of art. Thanks for sharing

[@maryb2431]

A lovely piece of work, thanks.

[@livewiya]

Haha I'm not proud to say this, as I'm primarily a woodworker, but this video convinced me that I'm buying my saddlers clam!

[@Mezcalsoakedboy]

I bought an old one of those years ago, without knowing was it was used for (I reckoned some sort of clamp). I just loved its look. Thank for clearing that up. Great videos btw.

[@harryrogers]

+Mezcalsoakedboy Thanks, and just to add that saddlers clams are quite sought after by traditional leather workers.

[@453421abcdefg12345]

Very nice Clam, the brass slotted woodscrews are the only thing to use on something like this, those awful Pozi heads would be a constant annoyance while you work, and aligned slots are essential on a "special" job. Excellent video ! Chris B.

[@karsonbranham3900]

well done. Turned out quite nice! nice video too!

[@bigoldgrizzly]

Joiners specs for hospital work used to specify all slotted screwheads to be aligned vertically so as not to collect dust, and presumably, germs - I must admit I always do the same on musical instrument restoration, 'just for nice' as my old Grandad used to say ;-)

[@harryrogers]

Timed 6 to 12....fascinating

[@voodooalpaca]

for your next one.... if you put the formers round the other way in the vice it would be easier and the formers would not bend! nice finished product by the way

[@harryrogers]

+voodooalpaca Hi yes definitely a good idea! i need to reverse my brain!

[@gustgatt]

Excelente video, explicación y principalmente la causa por la que lo has realizado. Saludos.

[@harryrogers]

Hi I sell plans for cancer charity on my website...price of a coffee...but sorry I do not have clams to post Gustavo. Best wishes Harry

[@AfricanSouthernCross]

Great idea and it may have other uses besides leather work.....thank you for the upload !

[@timothymcswain6235]

Nicely done

[@anthonybeaman7256]

Great videos ⚙️

[@pricepi1]

Most impressive. Thank you sir.

[@TheChipmunk2008]

I am so glad it's not just me with the screw heads needing to be lined up :D I have been known to do this with sockets LOL!

[@harryrogers]

+TheChipmunk2008 Oh perhaps its catching and I will now have to do it with sockets as well! Thanks for commenting!

[@catherineseamon7817]

Hi! This is a fabulous video. I was unable to follow the direction to find the plans. Do you still have them available for sale?

[@IceManTX69]

Loved watching that!

[@harryrogers]

+Plain 'Ol Beekeeping in Plano, TX Great!

[@bazlur-Vancouver]

Nice. I see you do woodwork too. I do small woodworking. I don't have workshop, so I can't make larger stuff.

[@jackreeves3001]

It's called clocking the screws. Other than looking good it also shows it the screws vibrate loose. 🙂🙂

[@seathrunmagaoinghous4119]

Thank you

[@billwessels207]

Mine is slightly different by a hinge on 1/2 of the clam. I think that I prefer your design.

[@maxdecphoenix]

hello again Harry, I was checking up on your older videos but while watching this it reminded me of an article on steam bending i'd seen in Wood magazine here in the US 10 or more years ago. They had a quite simple method for ensuring the work stayed on the radius of the former without a vice. When they made the former they would also bore several holes in it near the edge of the radii which would accept steel u-bolts (the square kind). When the work was put into the former the ubolts would be put on and wooden wedges would be driven between the free leg of the bolt and the work; wedging it against the radius. I wonder if you ever tried this method.

[@harryrogers]

No but it sounds good..Thanks.

[@maxdecphoenix]

@@harryrogers I couldn't find any exact pictures of anyone using the method, but this one with c-clamps should suffice (www.thewoodplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/011149078-main-495x400.jpg ). Instead of c-clamps providing the pressure it was just one leg of the U-bolt with a wedge driven. I suspect it may be fairly economical for those of us who don't have 500 clamps. U-bolts are much cheaper than clamps or vices! And wedges can be made quickly.

[@TheNickHorton]

Again, inspiring...

[@harryrogers]

+TheEDCchannel Thanks

[@brianwoodward4855]

Why not flip the jig over so the end is poking away from the table instead of into it? Wouldn't that have been easier than trimming the end off after its steamed just to get it in the vise?

[@janmorse2162]

can't find your etsy listing......what is the address?

[@harryrogers]

+Jan Morse Hi Jan the link is in the description above.....the bit that says what the film is about....hope that helps. Regards Harry

[@UPGardenr]

Screws lined up with each other is called Timing the screws They are all set at the same time.

[@harryrogers]

+UPGardenr Thanks for that .......now I know the correct term. My dad always timed screws except when he was working at the bomb factory as a kid.......and I dread to think how many screws were left out as they were all on piecework!

[@DeanO]

Beautiful

[@harryrogers]

Dean O Thanks

[@newhappysharing3151]

Very admire your knowledge. wish you were my teacher :)

[@harryrogers]

Thanks

[@lyndencouvillion8451]

Harry, Is there anything you aren't good at? Great piece of work.

[@harryrogers]

IT at the moment...haha...Thanks though.

[@lyndencouvillion8451]

@@harryrogers I had watched your video on making the rounder plane before I watched the one on the leather clamp. You do seem to have a generous, wide, and strange, assortment of talents. Excellent work. Couvi

[@caskwith]

I have that bandsaw, the workhorse for my shop!

[@harryrogers]

+caskwith Yes I find it pretty good - needed to adjust it a lot when I first got it but fine now.

[@caskwith]

I had to do the same, I also took the time to a do a few improvements with needle bearings that help too. My main complaint though is the blade removal, having to take off the fence etc is a real pain, would be nice if you could do it faster so I might change it to the proper blade more often.

[@harryrogers]

+caskwith Interesting as I also have been replacing the blade bearings....I do that quite often as the green wood I use is very wet! I found some on ebay by taking note of the bearing number.

[@samanthanicholson9015]

Do you sell those? If so how much?

[@harryrogers]

I am sorry I do not. I think Abbey England have them.

[@davidwatson4510]

Due to physical limitations, I’m looking for an alternative to the clam or pony. Both require securing with the body. Would like a bench top model that is clamped. Searched YT and web, but didn’t find what I wanted. Any suggestions on what I could use?

[@harryrogers]

David you could make or cut down an existing stitching clamp that can then be bolted or clamped to a table...I have posted another film on making a stitching clamp called " How to make a leatherworkers clamp or stitching pony" that could form the basis for this. There is also something similar on Ebay UK. Search for Table/Bench top leather clamp. Sewing vice.

[@Melodyloveshorses1]

I've heard them also called " Stitching Ponies," too!

[@stephenmaniloff8493]

ILoveHorses❤🐎 ...No

[@ddaavviiddttaaaaffee]

Hi, I live in Germany...here is my question...are the dimensions in Metric or Imperial or both? I only have metric tools, rulers and tapes etc.

[@harryrogers]

Hi Dave - sorry they are in imperial only.

[@ddaavviiddttaaaaffee]

Ok...I will buy your plans and convert them to metric. Enjoy your videos, Educational as well as entertaining. Thanks for the prompt reply.

[@harryrogers]

Dave Taaffe Thanks Dave.

[@DavidREllisAZ]

Hello Harry , do you sell these clamps? If so how much?

[@harryrogers]

David Ellis Sorry David...just the plans. All the best Harry

[@dormindont1]

you have gold hand.

[@manoloramirez6456]

Nice wow

[@stephenmaniloff8493]

I thought a traditional Saddler’s Clam was kept tight using only leg pressure..though this design with the screws is easier to stitch with...👍

[@harryrogers]

Hi its the spring in the wood that keeps it closed....i.e. when I steam bent the curve I put in extra spring so it holds sewing items.

[@ВасилийДеревянкин]

Здравствуйте!Очень все хорошо.

[@rogercrier9115]

I clocked all the stainless steel screws on my decking! My entire family do not think I am mad, they know that I am☹️