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[Viral_Jim]

So, I've been to Aldi again... 

They currently have these clamps in stock along with two small ones in a pack for £4.99. They're one of those things that I only need occasionally, but when I don't have them to hand, jobs can be a real b!tch. I am looking to modify these with some longer bar (say 750 -900mm) to make a cheap version of these. I don't need the extra clamping force of the Irwins as I have two sash clamps if I really need to hold something tight.

I realise I could just buy the Irwins, but for clamping boxes / drawers I could really do with four as a minimum, so for the sake of an hour's work, I'd rather spend £20-30 on clamps rather than close to £100. Especially as they will only be used a hand full of times each year.

So, my question... The metal I want to replace is flat bar with a 5mm x 20mm profile. Will mild steel work for this, or will something more rigid be required? The existing bars don't flex at all with just hand pressure over a 300mm length which makes me think they might be something tougher than mild steel   
 

[aaronjb]

The bar will be primarily in tension with only a little twisting motion across the 20mm dimension .. 5mm mild steel bar ought to work fine, I'd have thought

[Doctor Gollum]

Four short lengths of L shaped aluminium and a pair of narrow ratchet straps...

[Nick W]

Mild steel will be more than good enough.


I've a collection of G-cramps(most of them Record) rescued from bins because the rotating foot was missing. That's about 5minutes work and a few pence worth of steel to fix.


Have you asked around for used ones?

[Viral_Jim]

Thanks all,

Nick: I have asked about, but from a family side, my dad is still a keen woodworker so he's claimed what was going spare and most of my friends are either actual/wannabe DIY'ers who use their own, or are of the 'snowflake millenial' persuasion like me who wouldn't know what one was if you hit them over the head with it! 

Having phoned a local steel stockist that's on my way home, I think I'm looking at around £5.75 total cost per clamp. Which I am happy to pay.