Joseph Dixon Saddlers Clamp

[Hennessy]

once in me younger days back in australia i made some clamps from wooden barrel staves, they worked orright too..not much work getting them up to workin status just a li'l imagination eh !

[MMArmoury]

Here is the clamp I bought a few weeks ago. I found it in an antique shop. My best guess is that it was maybe used for repairing machine driving belts in the old mills around here as it resembles a similar clamp shown in R.A. Salaman's Dictionary of Leatherworking Tools. I used it for the first time yesterday at an event.

Edited May 13, 2013 by MMArmoury

[Invasion]

Well it has been some time since this post was created. I have finally got myself a clam, from Abbey England -had a long break due to really bad health problems- I haven't had a chance to use it yet; but it seems too long. The other problem is it is really hard to pull apart to insert my work...I must be doing something wrong ???

any ideas ???

[Basically Bob]

Mine was too long for me, also. To solve this issue, I measured from the ground to the height that suited me, disassembled the clam and cut each of the wooden jaws off at the bottom at the appropriate spot.

The jaws are rather tight so I just loosened off the bolt at the bottom as much as I could. I have developed a way of spreading the jaws with one hand, from the inside of the clam.

Bob

[Avgvstvs]

Bob, do you remember what shipping cost you when you got your clam from abbey?

[Basically Bob]

Yes, It was just under $50.00 CDN. I ordered thread and some pricking irons at the same time.

I found Abbey very good to deal with and their customer service was excellent.

[Avgvstvs]

Good to know, thanks!

[Invasion]

Mine was too long for me, also. To solve this issue, I measured from the ground to the height that suited me, disassembled the clam and cut each of the wooden jaws off at the bottom at the appropriate spot.

The jaws are rather tight so I just loosened off the bolt at the bottom as much as I could. I have developed a way of spreading the jaws with one hand, from the inside of the clam.

Bob

Thanks. I was thinking the same thing myself; bout chopping the end off it. I will get out in workshop tomorrow, and measure up I am a little disappointed on how hard it is to get work into jaws of clam...ill guess ill work it out in the end

thanks again

[Django57]

I posted this site i found on another post on a similar topic they look well made would be handy if you spoke French but google could help you to translate , am tempted to get one when i need a new one .

http://www.leboncoin.fr/bricolage/229819308.htm?ca=10_s

[Avgvstvs]

Django57,

There's one thing to consider with those french clams: they might be less versatile than the Dixons.

I own a Blanchard clam very much like the one you showed (pretty much the same price as the one you posted if I remember correctly). Since its jaw doesn't close by itself and it is asymmetrical, it somehow forces you to use it 'horizontally' (bottom of the jaw against one thigh and other leg over the clam for pressure).

The Dixon clams seem to be more versatile - you can use them either horizontally or vertically. Since I realized that I'm beginning to consider to start a clam collection.