3.5" Throat Maximus Bar & Dog Clamp

Roll over image to zoom in Click on image to zoom

Forged steel · Short arm

3.5" Maximus Clamp

The short arm Maximus. Same slip-on arm and foot for 2" x 1" tube, with a 3-1/2" throat and an 8" spindle for close work.

3-1/2"Throat depth

8"Spindle length

4-1/2"Thread length

2" x 1"Tube it fits

3/8"-16Pad fastener

What's in a set

Three parts. You bring the tube. Pick 1 Pack or 2 Pack above.

3.5 inch Maximus forged steel arm with T-bar spindle and swivel pad

The working end

Arm

Throat: 3-1/2"
Opening: 2" x 1"
Material: Forged steel
Pieces: 1 per set

Short reach, less flex
Slides on, no hardware
Black oxide finish

The fixed jaw

Foot

Throat: 3-1/2"
Opening: 2" x 1"
Pad: Grooved, swivels
Fastener: 3/8"-16 SHCS

Pad turns to sit flat
V-groove grabs round stock
Spring washer keeps it snug

The muscle

Spindle

Length: 8"
Thread length: 4-1/2"
Handle: Sliding T-bar
Tip: Swivel pad

Less to crank on short work
Swivel pad on the tip
T-bar for hand torque

Build it to the job

One set, any length of bar. Here's how it goes together.

Fabricator sliding the Maximus arm onto a length of rectangular tube

Your tube

Cut your bar

Any length of 2" x 1" tube.

Foot

Slip on the foot

No bolts. It slides over the end.

Clamp

Run the spindle

Spin it down, snug with the T-bar.

Build it to the job

One set, any length of bar. Here's how it goes together.

1
Cut your bar
Any length of 2" x 1" tube. Short for the bench, long for the floor.
2
Slip on the foot
No bolts. It slides over the end.
3
Run the spindle
Spin it down, snug with the T-bar.

Maximus spindle and swivel pad pressing down on a round steel part

Short arm, close work

When the part sits near the bar, a long arm is just extra flex.

3-1/2" throat for narrow parts
8" spindle, less cranking
Same 2" x 1" bar as the 6"
2" x 1" tube not included

Maximus clamp built on aluminum tube sitting on a fixture table

Why forged steel

Heavy work needs a heavy clamp.

Forged arm and foot
Black oxide finish
Bent bar? Cut another, keep the clamp

Built for a bending bar

Every bar clamp bends the tube under load. The longer the bar, the more it deflects. Here's how the Maximus deals with it.

1The problem

When the bar bends, a straight arm tips the spindle out of line. It pushes at an angle and the part slips.

Illustration of a bar clamp holding a part on a straight bar — Clamp set, bar straight

Illustration of the bar bending under load and the spindle tipping out of alignment, shown with a red line — Bar bends, spindle tips

2The fix: a preload angle

The arm is built with a set angle. When the bar bends under load, the spindle comes back into line.

Illustration of the Maximus arm on a straight bar with the spindle angled up — Arm angled from the start

Illustration of the Maximus clamp tightened on a part before the bar bends — Clamp on the part

Illustration of the bar bending under load while the spindle stays straight, shown with a green line — Bar bends, spindle straight

3Short bar or long bar

The angle keeps the spindle straight within range on a short tube or a long one.

Illustration of the Maximus clamping a small block on a short bar — Short bar, clamp set

Illustration of a short bar bending under load with the spindle still in line, shown with a green line — Still in line

3.5 inch Maximus dimensions: 8 inch spindle, 4-1/2 inch thread length, 3-1/2 inch throat depth, 2 by 1 inch tube opening

Specs

MaterialForged steel, black oxide
Throat depth3-1/2"
Spindle8" long, 4-1/2" of thread
Tube2" x 1" rectangular (not included)
Pad fastener3/8"-16 SHCS
Weight7 lb each set
Part no.F5-BCL2313-PPK · 2 Pack F5-BCL2313-2BDK

In the box

1Arm with spindle
1Foot with pad

Per set. The 2 Pack doubles everything.

Replacement parts

Worn out a part? Find it on the clamp, then grab just that piece. Sold separately

3.5 inch Maximus clamp parts: foot with V pad on top, arm with spindle and spindle pad below

1

F5-BCL2313-HS

3.5" Arm

The arm the spindle threads through.

Shop → 2

Maximus spindle with T-bar handle and spindle pad for the 3.5 inch clamp

F5-BCS007-BO

Spindle and Pad

Same spindle as this clamp.

Shop → 3

F5-BCS200-PADKIT

Spindle Pad with Clip

The pad on the tip of the spindle.

Shop → 4

F5-BCL2313-FP

3.5" Foot

The fixed jaw on the end of the tube.

Shop → 5

F5-BCP100-PADKIT

Bottom V Pad Kit

The pad on the foot.

Shop →

Videos

Why we built it, and how to swap the spindle.

I got tired of destroying clamps, so I made this instead

How to install the spindle

Your tube sets the limit. Clamp force tops out at what your bar can hold, not the clamp. Heavier wall, more force.

Quick answers

3.5" or 6" throat?

Go 3.5" when the part sits close to the bar and you want less flex. Go 6" for deeper reach past flanges. Both fit the same 2" x 1" tube.

What tube do I need?

2" x 1" rectangular tube, any length. Heavier wall flexes less and holds more.

Is the bar included?

No. You get the arm, spindle and foot. Cut your own bar to the length the job needs.

Can I get replacement spindles and pads?

Yes. Arms, feet, spindles and pads are all sold on their own. See Maximus Replacement Parts.

Why does the arm sit crooked on the tube?

It's meant to. The arm has a preload angle built in. When the bar bends under load, the spindle comes back into line instead of tipping.

3.5" Throat Maximus Bar & Dog Clamp - Forged Steel