Segmented Bowl Clamp

I have made a clamp for holding the rings of a segmented bowl while they are being glued together. I had thought I would make a clamp that worked like an apple press; holding the rings together by pushing down from the top. But this seemed like a lot of extra structure and overly complicated. I came upon the idea of pulling the rings together by way of a threaded rod attached to a base. The rings sit on the base and a rod is attached to the center of that base and come up through the center of the rings. The rod pulls on a bearing plate that is held down by a nut on the threaded rod. This bearing plate keeps pressure on the rings while the glue cures.
Game controller:
www.ebay.com/itm/Snes-USB-Retr...
software: joytokey.net/en/download
Canedy-Otto drill press:
vintagemachinery.org/photoinde...
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[@ThinJizzy]

A SNES controller as a CNC control pad? my man!

[@EmmetPhD]

+Micah Montoya So I use one pad like this with Mach3))) It's practical and cheap.

[@luisgerena6649]

The cutout bowl he uses at the end looks like it's 8-bit.

[@jonathan__g]

+Micah Montoya I noticed the same thing too and had to comment about it! So cool.

[@Xyienced]

+1

[@gustavo13k]

+Micah Montoya I was going to comment on that. Major nerd points awarded

[@cindymoon9609]

Segmented Bowl Clamp? I say, 'Segmented Bowl Champ'. Love your work!

[@NBCRGraphicDesign]

Nothing short of Brilliant!, Frank. Thanks for sharing your bloopers and your work-arounds. On your pressure disks, if you CNC cut a keyhole in the center of each, you will not need the radial slot and you'll get more clamping pressure b/c the disk perimeter stays intact. Thanks again.

[@frankmakes]

+Dave Potts I didn't think of that, I like it.

[@Bhix]

I love how Frank laughs at his own little jokes. Seriously, I have never done any woodworking, but I'm always amazed with how much I enjoy these videos. Keep up the great work, Frank!

[@eformance]

Frank, you can continue building 3 ring sections on top of the previous clamp boards, just make up a few more clamps and build up the bowl in multiple sections in one clamping session. When they all dry, then you can clamp the 3 ring sections together into one monolithic bowl.

[@woodworkinginthe21stcentur36]

As I remember you are an architect. Having been a CEO of an MEP firm for 22 years, I worked with many architects and sad to say only a hand full had your hands on thinking process. Many were good at "design" but you couldn't build what they designed much less pack all the MEP into their design. I really like your technical approach to woodworking! Good luck in 2016! Skip

[@jakobhovman]

Super Segmented Super Bowl Super Clamp...! Seasonal greetings Frank... Looking forward to NeXT year... and holdfasts in the 4 corners of the rig... (for the lower rings to not slide and slip).

[@jakoblindgren6604]

One clamp to make them all. One stand to hold them. One bolt to force them all and in the woodshop dry them

[@michaelharris1843]

Nostalgia level 9000 for the SNES controller. Great idea for the clamp.

[@michaelciola8039]

Frank, Great idea. I had made a very similar clamp myself. The only difference was that I had not thought to make the pressure plates like you did so my clamping starts with the base and then the rings get larger and the base acts like the pressure plate. I don't like the hole in the bottom of the bowl it makes more work to fill it but the clamp was pretty simple to make and works well. I also added the circles on the bottom but I attached the base to a faceplate and spun it on the lathe and marked them that way. One other note I find a lot of " wander" if I try to glue more than three rings at a time this can really throw the bowl out of round. So never more than three rings at once, the glue dries pretty quick so I can clamp two or three rings every hour or so and get the whole bowl laid up in one day. You are THE MAN best regards. Mike

[@BobBlarneystone]

Thanks for the idea. Here's something that might be a useful accessory to avoid running the clamping nut up and down the threaded rod. It's a clamping handlebar with half-nuts embedded in it. I sawed the top clamping nut in half. Then I ripped a 12" length of 1x3 oak and embedded the halves of the nut in the middle of the length. Then I crossdrilled the oak bar on either side of nut and installed carriage bolts with wingnuts. Now, after placing the slotted caul disc, I put the bar together and cinch down the wingnuts and turn the handlebar to tighten the press.

[@AlanDayley]

I enjoy how you show mistakes and how they help you learn enough to succeed. Thank you!

[@molitovv]

That is going to be one of those tools you wish you made years ago, very obvious and very handy! Thanks for posting, really enjoying your channel!

[@NMrick505]

Thank you for the confidence to show issues you encounter (I won't say mistakes) since we all run into them and it shows they happen to everyone. Just a "design opportunity" as was mentioned to me by my turning mentor.

[@antystein]

Great video as always! When i started using my CNC i used to make the same mistake with the z axis all the time. So i got so frustrated and now i always run the program once, with the z axis an inch or so away from the cutting material so that i can visually check the path and make sure the cutting depth will be correct. Then i lower the z axis to the desired depth and run the program for real. I also use metal hold-downs, where the screws in the base board and the tip of the router are electrically connected with my CNC controller limit switches, so that when the tip accidentally touches one of the hold-downs an e-stop is triggered and the procedure stops. Then i can reposition the hold-down and continue the program.

[@sodacann]

Frank, even your simplest projects are both well filmed and entertaining. Thank you

[@howardjones543]

I know a lot of your videos are much more "produced" with animation and so on, but in this one, seeing things go wrong and the problem solving and on-the-fly design was really interesting!

[@MrApru1]

great idea! i like that you include the bloopers so others can learn from your mistakes.

[@hackneysaregreat]

The numbering was great!

[@MarkLindsayCNC]

Nice controller on the CNC! I use an XBox 360 controller. Sure more convenient than using the keyboard buttons and mouse. A little tip for you on your CNC hold down clamps. If you look at about 5:38 in the video, you can see the hold downs are angled downward toward the table, away from the workpiece. Try to keep the hold downs a bit closer to level by tucking a piece of scrap under the ends that are touching the table in the video. That keeps the clamping pressure directed downward as opposed to down and forward. I'm new to CNC myself, and I didn't realize how much of a difference something as simple as this made. It really works nicely. Peter Passuello did a video in which he demonstrates his technique for using clamps similar to yours, and some different strategies for clamping down materials of varying thicknesses. He has all kinds of CNC videos on his channel, and he's really come up with some great solutions for different applications. Here's a link to his clamping video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iHa2d2hpodmmhZI As always, thanks for the video Frank! I really enjoy your work!

[@KSFWG]

Very innovative in making a bowl clamp. As Alan W suggested below, I think a hand crank would "top it off" very nicely!

[@StefanGotteswinter]

Nice build - I am not sure if youre aware about it, but when you pack the rear end of the clamps on your cnc so they are level or just a little bit higher than your workpiece, they hold the workpiece way more safe, as the clamp is not just riding the edge. Thank you for those videos, incredible well edited, great narration and overall fun to watch. Happy new year :-)

[@par5endos562]

I don't remember seeing the SNES controller on your CNC before. That is way too cool!

[@TizonaAmanthia]

YES! you used an SNES controller for the CNC router! I am so happy to see that.

simple design, easy build, and cost effective. genius.

[@DaveGatton]

Great idea Frank. Love that monster CNC of yours.

[@JeanLoupRSmith]

So I'm curious, will you drill a hole on the bottom bit of the bowl to be later plugged in or will you just attach the bottom piece separately?

[@wyattoneable]

You make such cool videos that I almost forget it's about working with wood.

[@OldAndGettingOlder]

My favorite part? The inch marking of the rings. Nice touch.

[@TheShavingWoodWorkshop]

This is a really good way to approach this. Great to see the cnc getting some action

[@JustMakeIt]

Great idea for the clamp and I look forward to the bowl video.

[@aarondcmedia9585]

Thank you for sharing your mistakes. And your inspirational projects.

[@MrSlapDrum]

I nearly never comment. But I have enjoyed watching lots of your videos. You end with "Thanks for watchin'". The usually say thanks for making another.. Of course, unknowingly to you, until now. So, without further ado, "Thanks for making them!"

[@rickdearmont9950]

Can't wait too see that segmented bowl!

[@Barrysworkshop]

Nice work, Frank. If you made a well balanced "knob" for the nut that tightens on top, you could spin it in place, then tighten it by hand without needing a wrench.

[@ryanmpatrick8787]

using the SNES controller for the CNC machine is brilliant

[@nc50express]

Awesome as always, Frank!

[@66tbird1]

Every CNC operator has made those same mistakes.. Keep up the great videos and welcome to the club.

[@danielhowell5117]

+66tbird1 Agreed. thankfully nothing got launched across the room in this example. One of my Christmas gifts this year went ballistic because of a failed hold-down... or, if I'm honest, a hold down improperly applied. I have debris "wings" on my CNC to keep chips off the rails and they caught the piece. Always wear protection, never assume you're safe until you turn the router off, and consider constructing some sort of shield to stand behind while the machine is doing your bidding.. Excellent video Frank!

[@RedBeardCarpentryWoodworks]

Sooo much detail!! Im not even a lathe guy but I appreciate the amount of quality and effort you put into your videos.Again, Great job!! -Abel Nieto

[@pandrews5042]

Hi Frank, Another great idea and video, I am so pleased you show the things that go wrong as well as what goes right as it gives the rest of us hope, Thanks again for all your entertaining videos and ideas, Happy new year . Phil Hereford UK.

[@blackswanprepping8827]

Very clever! Well done Frank.

[@vagdesign4021]

Every time you inspire me Frank! thank you.

[@clintyell922]

Great clamp you'll get a lot of use from it I build the same a few years ago I made the pressure plate like a plus sign + that lets you see the inside and out

[@BraxtonWirthlin]

Great idea, Frank! Ive been wanting to try some segmented turing and this looks like a easy build that will really come in handy on the glue ups. Thanks for sharing!

[@frankmakes]

+Braxton Wirthlin Do it! Thanks Braxton

[@caliikiid26]

I just had to comment I don't very often but I have to say I appreciate the fact that you show the mistakes much respect to you second the SNES control pad on the CNC made me like working with wood carcasses just a bit more

[@civ8458]

Awesome video and job as always Frank! Love the game controller! AWESOME!!!!

[@anderswegge6828]

It's a nice touch with the numbered grading rings.

[@kurtarmbrust]

Make key shaped holes in your clamp boards to clear the nut and washer. That way the outer rim stays solid.

[@stephengarrett5927]

I did this on mine after reading your post. Works great, thanks for the idea.

[@AlanW]

I appreciate the re-use of the old kitchen cabinet wood! You should definitely think about welding a balanced hand-cranky thing to that top nut. =)

[@KSFWG]

+Alan W I like your idea of the hand crank on the top nut. Easy to make, and quick to get the top plate in position.

[@doubledarefan]

+Alan W Build the hand crank out of the old kitchen cab plywood.

[@r0bth]

Great solution to the clamping issue. Reminds me of the mechanism that holds a roll of stretch film on a dispensing handle.

[@JurijDirinsh]

I have a great pleasure to congratulate you on a good and bright holiday - Christmas! Let it bring you a peace of mind and a huge happiness!

[@SnekkerRobert]

Smart clamp Frank ! great idea.

[@markme4441]

Awesome project videos Frank, not to mention the professional production. Keep em' coming , the cnc is a whole world of its own!, thanks for posting. One comment (sitting here on my arse), you may want to try acme threads/ threaded rod instead of those threads meant to bind. much easier to clamp things.

[@mihumus]

Beautiful Frank!

[@r3vo830]

SNES controller to control the cnc ? Splendid! Btw, never clamp the way you did it in this video, always use some support to have the clamps horizontal.

[@chaunceymitchell]

Great Project! Much better than creating a screw down vice and a lot simpler to build. I will have to make one this weekend. Thanks as always for your great videos.

[@TheGeekPub]

Frank this is awesome! What software are you using to run your CNC?

[@johnconklin9039]

Rods are always better in tension than in compression anyway. That will make glue ups a lot easier.

[@CardsbyMaaike]

love the NIntendo game controller! and your clamp ofcourse ;-) i thought you'd be turning the bolt until you were a year older, but this looks cool

[@jamesrawlings8493]

I like that the clamp can be stored in a very small space. The original idea clamping down would take more storage space.

[@dstarr3]

Seeing that you have a (awesome) controller on your CNC, I wonder why you didn't just drill the center hole using a long plunge bit on the CNC instead of the old, half-functional drill press.

[@mprice7676]

Frank, if you watch closely at 6:29, your piece moves well before the clamp is hit. I think your setup was correct, it just that your piece starts to move due to the cut/vibration. It is a small movement, but that's all it takes sometimes.

[@frankmakes]

+Mark Price Yes, I didn't see that until I watched the video, luckily I saw it before I cut it the second time.

[@andy4an]

+Mark Price i just watched it at 1/4 speed, and I can't see any movement before the clamp is hit...how can you tell?

[@mprice7676]

+weesh ful It's easier to see at full speed, or maybe even a little faster. watch it at normal speed, pick a corner to watch, and you'll see the counter clockwise movement right about 6:28-29-ish.

[@brandonevans3682]

That is a really cool old drill press!!

[@cliffart7398]

I can't tell you how much I enjoy watching your videos. As a very new woodworker at an advanced age, I need to learn as much as I can and your videos and narration is fantastic. I just wish I had a few things. 1. your genius and talent. 2. Your shop. 3. Your tools. 4. Your talent. (i know I said that twice.) I have a grizzly 14 inch bandsaw that works well fro what I do. I have a small drill press, and Rigid table saw. I have a planer, and a compound miter saw. Of course I have clamps (never enough) and pal sanders. I have two routers and a router table that I am just barely getting comfortable with. I am trying to decide what my next big tool purchase will be. Between a Lathe, CNC, or laser engraver/cutter. What do you recommend. I think I can get more done with the lather initially but I also make boxes- band saw and others as you can see on my simple page. Bowls will expand what I can give out as gifts but I also like the idea of adding to my boxes. Anyway, I would appreciate any feedback you can give me. Keep up with the videos but I haven't gotten close to watching the ones you've already produced.

[@ScrapwoodCity]

Nice!

[@BobbinRood]

You make such good videos, just makes me happy!

[@elli1491]

I Love your work and your videos! And your voice make it that sometimes I want to listen to a video on and on and on! You are such an inspiring person! I looking forward for the bowl video and maybe soon kitchen update (?)! Cheers from Germany!

[@JonHowes1]

So basically you build a shop-press out of wood :) Nice work!

[@erouse666]

Couldn't you glue up 3 rings, put on a clamping plates and tighten the nut, then use the top of the clamping plate as a base for gluing up the next 3 rings with a second clamping plate and nut; and so on till you had all the segments gluing up in 3 segment stacks. Then after they were dry (cured, whatever) , take the 3 stacks segments off and glue them to the other 3 stack segmants thus speeding up the gluing process?

[@frankmakes]

+NotMyName I like that idea.

Congratulations for this project, very good. Happy New Year to you and all yours

[@BenBrandt22]

Nice clamp. You might like replacing the top nut with a long board with a captive T-nut in the center. This would give you a longer bar you could easily "spin down", and give you some easy leverage turning it by hand and not require the use of the wrench.

[@tonywoods6827]

Long time fan. You are quite amazing. Love your work.

[@FrankGraffagnino]

Great video. I'm tellin ya man, horizontal clamps for some of this stuff is way better. Lots of time on case like this, all you need is for pieces not to slide, so just building walls around the piece is much better than using trying to have lots of downward force only for the friction to keep it from sliding.

[@phooesnax]

Well done. I will have to remember that idea.

[@fredwatson2097]

great video, i use a similar jig and have found that if you make your top clamping piece "cone ' shaped you tent to get better clamping force as it seems to spread the pressure better

[@fdutrey]

I knew it. Back to your true love: turning bowls...

[@orlando1a1]

What a very clever man Frank Howarth is.

[@sinned8517]

I like that you put your mistakes in your videos

[@sscustoms100]

some skateboard grip tape on the base might hold the bottom ring in place to stop it moving around during glue up might work

[@TAG-1984]

Great idea Frank!. Do you feel that it delivers enough pressure on the outside rings?, you could always add clamps there, this is definetely an idea i'm going to use!

[@westinrohan104]

i guess Im kinda randomly asking but do anyone know of a good website to stream newly released series online ?

[@keithabel6962]

@Westin Rohan i would suggest Flixzone. Just google for it =)

[@AwesomeWoodThings]

Genius! Love it.

[@gammarotor]

Place blocks under the outer notches in your clamping bars so the angles won't be so extreme. This will also increase the surface area where the clamps contact the work piece. You have some very neat equipment.

[@teooruc7858]

Great idea if you are building a bottomless bowl. 😳

[@krtwood]

You might be able to get a speed nut to make it faster getting the nut on and off. I don't know if you can get them that large. The jig doesn't let you get the bottom of the bowl on though, so you wouldn't you still need the other type of jig or your old method to finish it?

[@Keith_Ward]

+krtwood I was going to suggest the same thing but figured I would see if anyone else had first. They are available up to 1"-8 (and M16-2) from McMaster www.mcmaster.com/#speed-nuts/=10gcebw

[@TheOneWhoMightBe]

That Candy-Otto (sp?) drill press is a monster! :D Totally impractical, but I still kind of want one. :)

[@bretrichter]

I love your videos! Keep up the good work! I would love to see more CNC videos!

[@rdouthwaite]

Ah, that good old CNC learning curve ;-)

[@anthonywhite2788]

I would tack weld a rod at a slight angle on the top nut so you would not need to use a wrench when tightening the clamp down.

[@LouAdzima]

Nice job. Good idea!

[@AntoineLandry]

I laughed out loud watching this one! Thanks Frank for the great videos!

[@PatonHaus]

Excellent video Frank. I realy enjoy seeing the ups and downs you encounter when doing these projects, it keeps it realistic (we all mess up sometimes!). I noticed you have to bend over your cnc table to turn off the router, have you thought about putting a dedicated switch near your other controls to power on/off the router?

[@britney2932]

for some reason the part where the numbers were carved into the board was so satisfying

[@Rouverius]

Reminds me of the Towers of Hanoi game... except with a lot more glue. Anyway, clever clamp!

[@norm1124]

Nice video. Glad to see, that CNC results not only in my shop to try and error :-)

[@rogerleslie4282]

Frank you can buy a belt gripping compound to make your drill come ALIVE. You are an inventer of inventions. Roger Barossa Valley South Australia........

[@frankmakes]

I will look into that, thanks

[@flemminglvbo1176]

follows you from Denmark like the way you make your graphics with the videos and the things you are doing in your workshop intentionally final

[@jackmack9325]

If you make the bottom out of metal - with the circles, you clould put magnets to control slippage. just an idea for you. great video

[@mhaz49]

Simple solution anyone can make. Excellent!

[@bioletsmakeiteasy]

People that make cheese basically use the same contraption. Only they use it to squeeze the whey out of the curds. Great project.

[@shipskepr1]

love the drill press

[@mfwoodshop]

Nice design, I choose to make the first design you shown about two years ago. It work ok, I think it could be better if combined your plan with mine. Good stuff as always.