Replies

1. 
   FastEddie | Nov 19, 2007 05:02pm | #1

   Looks pretty slick.

   "Put your creed in your deed."   Emerson

   "When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it."  T. Roosevelt

2. 
   Hudson Valley Carpenter | Nov 19, 2007 05:34pm | #2

   I'm with Eddie.  After watching about half of the tutorial I'd say that their system is very slick, if you need great accuracy and plan on making a number of arched openings with veneer plywood. 

   At an average price of about $1500/set they ain't cheap.  There are similar methods which require no special hardware, just a bit more time and a bit less accuracy, so I'd really question the value of these clamps.

   
   

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   Edited 11/19/2007 9:35 am by Hudson Valley Carpenter

1. 
   FastEddie | Nov 19, 2007 06:52pm | #5

   It looks like one of the benefits is that the clamps are quite tall, whereas most shop built bending jigs are limited by the throat depth of the clamps on hand."Put your creed in your deed."   Emerson

   "When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it."  T. Roosevelt

1. 
   Hudson Valley Carpenter | Nov 19, 2007 10:21pm | #6

   That's true but you can also wedge one edge of the arch tight against wood stops screwed to the table, then use whatever bar clamps and C-clamps you have to hold the rest of it.  Just a matter of ingenuity, which I prefer in most cases. 

   Edit: BTW, I like that tilting work table they made, didn't you?

   Hey, if I had Norm's sponsors I'd have every clever tool made too but I've got better things to do with $1500 than that, not unless I'm going into the veneered archway business.  You think that McDonald's will upgrade to mahogany?

   Another thing about specialty tools.  I've had it happen that I spent more time reading the instructions and figuring out how to set up a tool/jig than it was taking me to do the job without it. 

   I've got two router jigs from my early days that I never did get to work accurately.  They're resting in their original packaging somewhere in storage.  It won't be long before I can sell them as antiques. 

   Edited 11/19/2007 2:27 pm by Hudson Valley Carpenter

3. 
   popawheelie | Nov 19, 2007 05:41pm | #3

   It depends on what you are bending. These would work for some stuff but not for others. What I'm getting at is that it's real handy to have a solid form to bend around. And it's nice to have something on the outside of what you are bending to pull tight against your form.

   I could be wrong but I could see gaps between each clamp where the material didn't come together completely. Having a form to bend around eliminates that. And having something on the outside keeps your wood from breaking. But that is just for wood.

   
   

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   Edited 11/19/2007 1:03 pm ET by popawheelie

1. 
   reinvent | Nov 19, 2007 05:46pm | #4

   They have steel bands that go on the outside faces to prevent gaps and breaks.