Parallel clamps

[Dick Plasencia]

I've made some and used a few but one thing bothers me how does one determine the size of a parallel clamp? Is it the distance from the end of a jaw to the first screw or is it the total length of the jaw?

[Thrud]

Guy Lautard's "Bedside Reader" series has a proportional dimension chart fo these clamps. Can't remember which one though...

[JCHannum]

Interesting question.

The Starrett 161B clamp, for instance, is listed as 1-3/4" capacity. It measures 1" from tip of jaw to screw, and 2-1/2" overall length. Nothing is 1-3/4"??

[Tree]

In my experience, when the size or description of a clamp is expressed in inches, it is in reference to the maximum amount of space between the jaws when fully open.

[JCHannum]

That works.

[Dick Plasencia]

I've been told by others that the opening determined the size of the clamp. But if that were so to get a bigger clamp just get longer screws.

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Tree:
In my experience, when the size or description of a clamp is expressed in inches, it is in reference to the maximum amount of space between the jaws when fully open.</font>