Simple Jigs and Techniques #4: Veneer Press Screws for $4.50

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When I built my small veneer press in Green Valley I made six holes for screws, like my bigger one at home but only installed four screws because they are expensive and I wasn’t sure I really needed six.

Then I stole one to make my Miter Jack.

That left me somewhat deficient in veneer screws so I decided to try something I have been thinking about for a while now. I remember looking at the $6, six Inch “C” clamps at HF and wondering how hard it would be to turn one into a veneer press screw. …………………. Well it turns out, ….. NOT HARD AT ALL.
( …………….. and $6 with a 25% off coupon is only $4.50)

Here’s a real one beside the HF “C” clamp. The threads are a little slower but not much, the length is the same and the ends are different.

This one shows what you have when you cut the “nut” off of the clamp and grind the ball off one end of the handle to facilitate installation of the screw in the press.

And here it is in the press. The nut will need to be epoxied or well jammed into the beam but it works very well. I guess I’ll get a few more. The press was made Q & D from green, wet, nasty construction 2X4s and a couple of the joints have failed so I may replace the whole thing ….. thing is, I installed threaded rods when I built it and it still works fine so it’s not that high on the priority list.

And, as an added bonus if you make one today, we’ll give you absolutely FREE, a solid steel bench holdfast. (wedge not included)

This may not save all that much on a simple press but at ~$18 each for real ones it would add up quickly if you were considering a large press with many screws.

Here’s hoping someone can use this.

Thanks for looking in.

Paul

Source: LumberJocks.com

Simple Jigs and Techniques #4: Veneer Press Screws for $4.50