tools to replace bridges?

[nicko0]

ive been dreaming of clamping tools to reduce the need for glass bridges to hold sections in position while the weld is being worked.

seems simple enough

anyone using anything like this?

ideas?

[Shmart]

I suppose it depends what your bridging together. I occasionally make glass manifolds that are used in labs and we use wooden bridges to hold two parrallel pieces of tube together until they held together by the taps.
other people i work with use them for lots of other things but i'm more comfortable with glass bridges.

the wooden bridges are pretty simple, they're two pieces of equal sized wood with a bolt in the middle (they can also be at the ends aswell for a bit more versatility) You simply put the two bits you want clamping in between and tighten. We have lots of different sizes as they're pretty cheap and easy to make. one of the flaws with this is that the pieces that are being held need to be a similar size otherwise it's difficult to tighten.

as i said I think it depends on what you're bridging. this may help you with a few applications but definitely not all.

[Forche]

I had my Cnc guy make me up one last year...it all depends on the application, you could just gotta design and figure out how to make it from stuff at home depot if you don't have someone like that at ur disposal

[gambitglass]

YA I had the same thought a couple months back. It would be nice to set some small clamps where you can adjust 2 lengths and the angles a little. Would be great for pulling bends in like simple spoon and save time/risk of attaching glass bridges. Would probably sell like hotcakes of someone could nail down a decent design.

[Dan Kooper]

A Sherlock bridge would be great. Even like a double clawed adjustable item would work.

[JBob]

i think it would be harder to attach and remove a tool to a hot, multi-section piece of work, then just adding a glass bridge. if i was attaching it to a piece id assume it would have to be warm, again...idk sounds like a good idea but the more i think about it the more pain in the ass it would be...think ill just stick to 6mm and fire, but it would be cool to see what comes out of this.

[BK]

i have a set of clamps that i used when making a schlenk line, and have found them to come in handy for a ton of other things. just two 3/4''wide by 4 inch long strips of wood with a wing nut (i think, hardware illiterate) in the middle. ill take pics later if the description isnt working for people

[kage]

I would think that you could maybe clamp two claws together....?

[n3rd]

part number 33751, perpendicular angle clamp, fits on blast shield ground joint tools

http://www.indigo.com/science-supplies/gph-science-supply/bossheads-clamps.html

[dustyg]

Hose clamps on the ends of a stiff wire?

[Dan Kooper]

I don't have a problem with glass ones really. I use the same bridge for a slew of sherlocks. I get my money out I it. It would have to be able to sit in a kiln and not get fucked up. and if it gave out it could be a disaster.

[nicko0]

the clamping bridge for me would be for speed more than anything. glass bridges take time to be placed and removed. also during that time the initial weld that the bridge is to be bracing is cooling off while attaching the bridge and since it is not a fully worked in weld, it is far more likely to crack when one gets to go back and work it in after installing the bridge.

i think ill try making a variety of sizes and styles of the wooden clamp ones and see what works and hopefully end up with a small set that accomplishes most bracing tasks.

[nicko0]

id love to see a pic or just a short description of the design u had made. i imagine its very nice.


I had my Cnc guy make me up one last year...it all depends on the application, you could just gotta design and figure out how to make it from stuff at home depot if you don't have someone like that at ur disposal

[nicko0]

so every section that comes out the kiln has a blowtube or rod 12.7 mm attached to it so my clamps would only need to be able to attach to those handles. then a locking armature joining the two clamps.

http://www.flexbar.com/shop/pc/FLEXBAR-13-8MM-X-1-25-THREAD-NO-MAGNET-69p5013.htm

[BK]

one of my most used tools recently

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c334/paiintballa182/7A55A337-A5A7-4953-9581-776A58DEB338-297-000000129CB24D44_zps42774664.jpg

[Shmart]

^^^^^^ This is what i was trying to describe. I'd love to see someone design something better but you can't beat the simplicity of this. It's like corrugated card for packing out condensers.