Tool Talk

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: amecks on November 05, 2018, 03:21:33 PM

Title: Wetzler Clamp 7 inch throat - refurbished
Post by: amecks on November 05, 2018, 03:21:33 PM
  I think this was in a big box of stuff my neighbor gave me.  The screw was rusted and jammed tight against the metal handle ferrule.  The lower jaw (the one with the screw) was bent to the side and twisted.  For a few weeks it served on the floor as a stop to keep the chipmunk from coming into the garage where a piece of gasket was missing on the roll up door.
  I freed up the screw, disassembled the parts, lightly wire wheeled/brushed everything, then brought it to work.  I put the lower jaw in the vise and "untwisted it" with a large adjustable wrench.  Then I grabbed some metal blocks and went to the hydraulic press.  It took about three different bends but I got it to line up correctly.
  These things don't seem to have great monetary value but I suspect this will serve well in my home shop.
Al
(https://i.postimg.cc/R0NP2tXd/1105181602.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/KYw9bYW2/1105181602a.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
Title: Re: Wetzler Clamp 7 inch throat - refurbished
Post by: coolford on November 05, 2018, 03:38:15 PM
Any USA tool is worth saving, no matter its value. :cool:
Title: Re: Wetzler Clamp 7 inch throat - refurbished
Post by: Bill Houghton on November 05, 2018, 03:40:58 PM
Wetzler clamps are much respected, so you've salvaged a good tool.
Title: Re: Wetzler Clamp 7 inch throat - refurbished
Post by: Northwoods on November 05, 2018, 05:31:15 PM
Nice old clamp.  It reminded me of a similar clamp I have.  A Colt cam-lock bar clamp similar to this one--although because of a small flaw, mine is marked Co t.  It came from Batavia, NY, east of Buffalo.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/618118898/antique-c-clamp-colt-batavia-57-corking
Title: Re: Wetzler Clamp 7 inch throat - refurbished
Post by: lptools on November 05, 2018, 05:48:43 PM
Hello, Al. Nice save!! You will find a lot of uses for that clamp, great clamping pressure, plus the extended throat. Regards, Lou
Title: Re: Wetzler Clamp 7 inch throat - refurbished
Post by: papadan on November 05, 2018, 08:46:12 PM
Nice save on that clamp.
Title: Re: Wetzler Clamp 7 inch throat - refurbished
Post by: amecks on November 06, 2018, 06:55:59 AM
Thanks everyone.
While researching Wetzler I found this site http://theclampguy.info/site.htm (http://theclampguy.info/site.htm).
Why is there a small anvil-like thing cast into the top clamp piece?  It seems like its there to hit with a hammer?  Why would that be necessary?
Al
Title: Re: Wetzler Clamp 7 inch throat - refurbished
Post by: Yadda on November 06, 2018, 07:00:46 AM
Maybe it fits in a slot for storing it when not in use?
Title: Re: Wetzler Clamp 7 inch throat - refurbished
Post by: Bill Houghton on November 06, 2018, 09:19:21 AM
Why is there a small anvil-like thing cast into the top clamp piece?  It seems like its there to hit with a hammer?  Why would that be necessary?
I asked that question on another forum a year or so ago, and someone pointed out that the little bump is level with the clamp head at the bar end, so that, if you set the clamp on the floor on its head, it won't fall over as easily.  Once I understood that, I noticed they appear on a lot of different makes of clamps, but not, for some reason, on products of the Adjustable Clamp Company (Pony, Jorgensen).  Pony bar clamps will, in fact, fall over when set on their heads, which can trigger the environmental hazard of the air turning slightly blue if you're in the middle of a glue-up when it happens.
Title: Re: Wetzler Clamp 7 inch throat - refurbished
Post by: papadan on November 06, 2018, 11:57:02 PM
There have been many times that I had to use a clamp to push bearings or a shaft into another piece. Many times I had to hit the clamp to unstick the piece being pushed. Same as a gear puller, tighten it and then shock it with a hammer to loosen the pieces.
Title: Re: Wetzler Clamp 7 inch throat - refurbished
Post by: rr on November 10, 2018, 11:11:31 AM
I don't think you could  ever have enough clamps , especially in wood working /boat building ect. nice bring back .
Title: Re: Wetzler Clamp 7 inch throat - refurbished
Post by: Bill Houghton on November 10, 2018, 12:26:07 PM
I don't think you could  ever have enough clamps , especially in wood working /boat building ect. nice bring back .
No, but it is possible not to have enough room for clamps...
Title: Re: Wetzler Clamp 7 inch throat - refurbished
Post by: skipskip on November 10, 2018, 05:10:41 PM
will it still keep the chipmunk out?
Title: Re: Wetzler Clamp 7 inch throat - refurbished
Post by: bonneyman on November 11, 2018, 10:59:49 AM
Any USA tool is worth saving, no matter its value. :cool:

Yep. :grin:
Title: Re: Wetzler Clamp 7 inch throat - refurbished
Post by: amecks on November 11, 2018, 06:10:07 PM
Well, the chipmunk was interested in a bag of sunflower seeds that was intended for birdseed.  I had seen the chipmunk and knew I had a problem but realized later it was the seeds.  I went to grab a rag off the shelf and found one of his stashes.  I looked in the bag of seeds and it was all shells!  He prolly ate about a third of the seeds.
Now that the seeds are put away he hasn't been around.
Title: Re: Wetzler Clamp 7 inch throat - refurbished
Post by: papadan on November 11, 2018, 07:36:41 PM
Chipmunks gotta eat too! I got 2 squirrels that will knock on the front door when the bird feeders are empty. ;-)
Title: Re: Wetzler Clamp 7 inch throat - refurbished
Post by: Bill Houghton on November 15, 2018, 05:00:23 PM
Chipmunks gotta eat too! I got 2 squirrels that will knock on the front door when the bird feeders are empty. ;-)
And, when you open the door, do you get this?
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7237/7190012116_8d05ef1da3_b.jpg)
Title: Re: Wetzler Clamp 7 inch throat - refurbished
Post by: coolford on November 21, 2018, 03:23:14 PM
Don't the SOB's bite you. I raised a squirrel from a nub of flesh, when he got too big I moved him to a big birdhouse outdoors.  I would feed him peanuts daily, one day I only had four peanuts and after he ate them he looked at me and bit my finger, ended up in the hospital with an infected hand. :angry: :angry:
Title: Re: Wetzler Clamp 7 inch throat - refurbished
Post by: amecks on November 21, 2018, 04:21:55 PM
I once had a squirrel that would come to my window.  I had placed a stick from the tree to the windowsill.  I was holding a peanut for him and he bit my finger.  I don't think they can see straight ahead very well.
Title: Re: Wetzler Clamp 7 inch throat - refurbished
Post by: Bill Houghton on November 21, 2018, 04:28:30 PM
...after he ate them he looked at me and bit my finger, ended up in the hospital with an infected hand....
And what did he end up in the hospital with?
Title: Re: Wetzler Clamp 7 inch throat - refurbished
Post by: coolford on November 21, 2018, 05:36:42 PM
Squirrel did not end up in the hospital, he ended up in a hole in the ground. :grin:
Title: Re: Wetzler Clamp 7 inch throat - refurbished
Post by: Papaw on November 21, 2018, 06:12:35 PM
I have a couple that will pose for me-

(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2922/33608534971_07d3583954_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/TcSwxv)Wet Squirrel (https://flic.kr/p/TcSwxv) by Noel Hankamer (https://www.flickr.com/photos/nhankamer/), on Flickr

(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2891/33980946162_38d2881bd1_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/TLMeq7)Squirrel on Post (https://flic.kr/p/TLMeq7) by Noel Hankamer (https://www.flickr.com/photos/nhankamer/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Wetzler Clamp 7 inch throat - refurbished
Post by: bill300d on November 25, 2018, 08:21:17 PM
Here is a nice story about wetzlers clamps. http://www.poconorecord.com/article/20100801/NEWS02/8010316 (http://www.poconorecord.com/article/20100801/NEWS02/8010316)
Title: Re: Wetzler Clamp 7 inch throat - refurbished
Post by: Northwoods on November 26, 2018, 12:45:30 PM
Squirrels are rats with aerial skills and  fuzzy tails.
Title: Re: Wetzler Clamp 7 inch throat - refurbished
Post by: papadan on November 26, 2018, 02:53:35 PM
Squirrels are rats with aerial skills and  fuzzy tails.
I know, but the little bastards sit up and beg and I just can't resist feeding them. They are better than the 2 legged rats that beg for money so they can eat, but buy drugs or booze.