An Eccentric Wheel Cramping Jig

The repair of cracks and splits in wooden dishes and bowls posed a problem of cramping the split together while gluing. Edge-splits extending, in some cases, nearly the radius of the item cannot be closed by cramping with a Stanley webbing clamp which slips off the bowl, and for these repairs it was necessary to devise an eccentric-wheel-cramping jig. The concept of a cam or an eccentric wheel is an old one but its use and application as reported here may be novel as no similar device seems to have been reported. The jig is easily made in an hour or two and apart from standard tools it requires only availability of a wood-lathe to turn suitable cramping wheels. The jig has use in cramping and holding many irregular shapes. Its use is described in the present paper for the repair of bowls and canoe paddles.