Ratchet Bar Clamp

[Bellevue Woodshop]

Ratchet Bar Clamp

I wanted to try to make a clamp from mostly wood (except for the threaded rod of course)



So I made this Ratchet Bar Clamp from a 3/4" baltic birch plywood bar, and notched it like a sawblade.
I could then make the sides of the sliding tail stock from 5/8" baltic birch plywood, and a lever for a movable stop.
The stop lever for the notches are spring loaded with a rubber band.



The head stock (with the threaded rod) is also laminated from 5/8" and 3/4" BBP, and pinned with dowels
I tapped the threads directly into the wood, and this far it still works great after plenty of use.
I lubed it with some candle wax. If it strips, I just insert a T nut.
The handles are made from 1" wood dowels with foam bicycle handle grips on it.



I made a video on building this clamp: