Thanks to a clever idea from our friend Roger Davis, we’re well on the way to once again offering Crucible Tool Pinch Rods (the brass on our former offering has become prohibitively expensive). Shown here is the second prototype. They work, but not as perfectly as possible, so we’re still working with Craig Jackson at Machine Time to perfect the locking/sliding mechanism.
One of the cool things about the tool is that you can expand its capacity with inexpensive 1/4″ keystock. Our version will come with two 12″ rods (as shown above) – but for less than $20, you can get two 36″-long pieces of keystock to check the diagonals on larger casework. (And of course it’s available in other lengths as well.) Then cut or grind a bevel of about 60° on the business ends so they fit snug into the corners.
In case you’re not familiar with pinch rods, it’s a more accurate way than, say, a tape measure to check that your corners are square. Nestle the pointy ends in two opposite corners, lock the screw, then check that the tool fits perfectly corner to corner on the other diagonal (then adjust your case as necessary before the glue sets, and check again).
I also use pinch rods to “measure” the length of a case inside, say when I’m fitting another things inside it, such as a till bottom in a tool chest. I set the pinch rods for a snug fit end to end, then use the tool to mark the length on my bottom board. I don’t care what the number is – just that the measurements match.
Our best guess is that the new pinch rods will be out in the summer. No word on pricing yet.
— Megan Fitzpatrick
Those look really handy. I love being able to make them really small.