Clam, on the half shell.

[Mjolnir]

he's using a stirrup to clench the clam. Cool add-on!

 

[KingsCountyLeather]

5 minutes ago, Mjolnir said:

he's using a stirrup to clench the clam. Cool add-on!

 

I know... I’ve watched all of his videos. He is pretty rough and ready when showing his way of leather working but he’s very knowledgeable. He’s also on this forum as Gmace99.

8 minutes ago, Mjolnir said:

he's using a stirrup to clench the clam. Cool add-on!

 

One of the best tips he gave me is using bees wax to help pull the needle through leather when it’s sticking.

[YinTx]

11 hours ago, MillieB said:

Here's my current set-up.

Hahaha, that is awesome.  I always end up snagging some unsuspecting passerby and ask them to "kindly hold this for a second while I do something" then proceed to stitch for 30 minutes or as long as the arm strength and willpower of said passerby lasts.

And thanks to the rest of you for finally coming to my rescue.  Those are the lil contraptions I was looking for.

YinTx

[Mjolnir]

I was asked about a few details on the wood and I realized I should share this technique. I might have posted it on another thread. But here is how to bend you a clam today for the price of the wood.

Rule 1. Use a hardwood. I tried poplar 1st for the price and it folds. Pine is said to not hold a bend very well.

My only other choice at my local lowes was red oak in their craftwood. I went with 4' x 6" x 1/2". fifteen bucks. I cut it in half, hence the half clam. the leg on of these just didn't seem necessary to me. ( my idea for a cheap extendable leg. is drill a hole in the bottom. cut off a hiking pole from Walmart and glue it in!)

Using an $8 stockpot from Walmart I boiled the 2' pieces of oak, 1' or half at a time for two separate bends.

Boil for a half hour. work quickly to bend it. Be firm. Once the wood is cooled to room temp it will keep the form. I left longer till it was almost dry.

heres my setup for bending with stuff I had. Everything was eyeballed and guestimated. I have a strong art back ground so this is easy for me. I suggest visualizing a spot on the wall so all of your bends match and pay attention to putting your wood the same distance under your block or whatever you use.

The rest was shaping with a sander. I had my first one bent the day I went to lowes for the wood. After seeing a guy on you tube in England boil some wood.

ratchet straps in the photo. a dowel to keep even pressure. with out the dowel it warps the wood. PS I bent the bottom of the clam first before doing the big bend of the mouth.

[AdamPCain]

Thanks for posting your set up love how you use what you have to not make it overly expensive.  I have done wood bending in wood shop years ago, I planned on making a clam but with thin pieces and laminating them together in a fixture. Just haven't gotten around to it. Everything I want to do ends up turning into a hobby.

[AdamPCain]

On 12/28/2017 at 5:52 PM, Mjolnir said:

he's using a stirrup to clench the clam. Cool add-on!

 

Here is a good tightening system you could make for your clam and gets clamped into a panavise I bought one of these vices from ebay for really cheap.  They swivel any direction you want them to.

 

[Mjolnir]

4 minutes ago, AdamPCain said:

Here is a good tightening system you could make for your clam and gets clamped into a panavise I bought one of these vices from ebay for really cheap.  They swivel any direction you want them to.

 

I spent a week looking for this and you have one. I bought a cheap crappy version of that clamp! LOL!  Been researching compound bows to learn resin impregnating wood.  please tell me what the hardware in the 'tightening system' is. I'm pretty sure its a leverage lock. It slides up to lock? (If it doesn't then I have a patent.) my ideas for a working model are Neanderthal compared to that.

[thefanninator]

33 minutes ago, AdamPCain said:

Here is a good tightening system you could make for your clam and gets clamped into a panavise I bought one of these vices from ebay for really cheap.  They swivel any direction you want them to.

 

Exactly what I want for a bench mounted stitching clam. This is a Moreau Clam. Do you own one? I tried to order one but he retired due to health problems.

Edited December 30, 2017 by thefanninator
added photo

[thefanninator]

https://www.panavise.com/index.html?pageID=1&id1=1&startat=1&--woSECTIONSdatarq=1&--SECTIONSword=ww

[Mjolnir]

6 minutes ago, thefanninator said:

Exactly what I want for a bench mounted stitching clam. This is a Moreau Clam. Do you own one? I tried to order one but he retired due to health problems.

Panavise. thank you!