Spale clamps for plank on frame models. - Make them yourself.

[Bryian]

Now that my framing is completed on my latest plank on frame model, I have been reading up on various practicums about spale clamps for holding inner planking and stringers against the frames with outward exerting pressure.
I have been looking around the internet, and theres nothing available commercially, so I thought they are quite simple to make up myself in an afternoon.

Photo below is the finished spale clamp on my model. It unwinds to hold the timber firmly against the frames from the inside.

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[Bryian]

Heres a diagram from Reverend Remero's Warrior practicum of how it looks. * Note - not sure about copyright issues but I share this image in good faith from a long
out of print publication, and intended as not for profit.

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[Bryian]

So my amateurish attempt to make them worked quite well, although a little crude looking. First of all I purchased 10mm diameter aluminium tube stock with nuts and bolts slighly smaller diameter to fit inside the tube.

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[Bryian]

Then cut and glued them together with 2 part epoxy. I made two sizes.

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[Bryian]

This is Romero's Spale clamps. A lot neater than mine, but you get the idea.

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[janos]

Brian,
Good stuff - and it does not have to be neat. I just used to say about my self-made tools that they have to be only CBW - Crude But Working.
Janos

 

[Uwek]

This is a great idea from Romero, which I found also once reading his booklets about the warrior. and it is good to hear from about your experience with this tool.
I thought, that it could produce some tensioning to the frames, and if it would be too much the form of the hull could be lost with some small bow towards outside. Or are the frames strong enough to withhold the pressure?
Many thanks for sharing this hint.....

 

[neptune]

Thanks for sharing this Brian,

best regards John.

 

[DocBlake]

Interesting, and very useful. Thanks!