Woke up all chiper and ready to put in a good day’s work on the porch I’m doing in front of my house.
First on my list was to put rake boards. Experimenting with using epoxy at a the miter between rake board and fascia (instead butt+caulk).
OK. Get everything ready. Dry fit board. Mix 10 minute expoxy. butter one piece. Oh oh. 3 year old starts a meltdown inside. Go in and make sure wife has it under control. Get back outside. 6 minutes left now. Where’s the little cup of epoxy!? Look everywhere. Finally find that it fell under the porch. A bit of dirt in it. 4 minutes left. Butter other piece (fascia which is already installed). Back down ladder. 3 minutes. Grab rake board (10′ long). Carry up ladder. Reach for clamp in my tool belt. Oops. Drop clamp. No problem – I can get it quickly. Back down ladder to pick up clamp. Up again with board. 2 minutes left. Open clamp. Huh? Open clamp. Doesn’t open. 1 minute left. Look for second clamp. Where did I put it? 0 minutes left. Time for a beer.
Threaded part was all the way open on the clamp when I dropped it. Impact of fall slid the clamp head shut along the racheted bar. Now it is clamped all the way shut but because threaded part is all the way open, I can’t open it again. This is a first for me.
Globs of expoxy now harded on unmounted trim and I’m drinking a beer and writing the post.
Tip of the day: Never open the threaded part of a bar clamp all the way. Leave a 1/2″ or so at all times.
Hey. Did I mention that I’m a DIYer? I know, you pros are rolling you eyes 😉
Replies
BTDT...a hammer is the answer, or rap the back of the fixed head as you tug the handle. IOW, smack the back of the head on a the floor holding the clamp by the handle..and pull up as soon as ya feel the impact with the floor..it's easier to show ya than explain it...LOL
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
Don't why I didn't think of that! I tossed it the clamp last time I was cleaning up my work site - I was tired of seeing it sitting in my toolbox as a reminder of my stupidity.