If like me you use Micro Mark planking clamps, you will find them to be a great bit of kit that makes clamping planks a whole lot easier. If also like me though you do a lot of planking you will soon find their limitations. They are a cast white metal handle with a self tapping screw that is cast into it at time of manufacture. Unfortunately after a few uses the screw just breaks free like the picture below.
The other problem is that the other part of the clamp is also a white metal casting which bends over a period of time making them less efficient which changes the angle of the clamp.
The other problem that I have found are that the white metal clamps leave grey marks on the wood which can be difficult to remove. You also have to import them from America and at $20 for 10 without import duty they are quite expensive for us modellers at this side of the pond.
So here's how to make you own
1. Cut some 1/4 brass rod into small lengths. Mine are about 22mm long but the exact length is up to you
2. Buy some 0 size self tapping screws - I've used stainless steel but the choice is yours
3. Drill a shallow hole into the brass lengths which will accommodate the head of the self tapping screw. I haven't got a lathe so I did my best by making up a jig to speed the process up.
4. Use a tiny bit of silver solder paste at solder the screw into the brass. I used a couple of old clamps to hold the screw straight.
5. Clean up the screw and repeat for as many as you want
6. Cut some 1/4 x 1/16 brass strip into lengths for the other part of the clamp and just simply soft solder the steps on one end. Then drill a 2mm hole for the screw to pass through
The end results
They work great and are a lot cheaper and better than importing them. I hope that this has helped
Cheers Mark