New And Improved Chip Flattener Build (1 Viewer)

Brookston

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For flattening chips, nothing beats a nice 12” wooden clamp. But it takes so dang long to get the chips lined up perfectly. This is my solution. It uses removable doll rods to make inserting the chips easy, fast and perfectly aligned. You open the clamp and insert the rods. Then you put your chips in between the rods, tighten the clamp, and remove the rods.

General Flattening tips:

Chips in room temperature with a fan blowing on them will cool much faster than chips in the freezer with still air.

I line the bottom rack of my oven with cookie sheets in order to block as much IR radiation heating as I can. I want the air in the oven to heat the chips equally from all sides, I don't want to introduce new stresses by heating the bottom faster than the top.




IMG_20190821_174624.jpg


Step 1. Buy a couple cheap 12” Pittsburgh clamps from Harbor Freight.

IMG_20190820_173517.jpg


Step 2. Remove the handles from the threaded rods. I used a pin punch and a hammer to get the holding pins out. They are tough SOBs, it takes a lot of good whacks. Once the handles are off, unscrew the threaded rods.

IMG_20190820_174159.jpg


These are removed to make it easier to drill. With the rods in, I had to drill the clamps while stacked atop a pile of wood with an extension in the drill chuck, in order for the bit to clear the handles. Controlling runout was near impossible, and it was dangerous. Worth the effort to remove.

Step 3. Layout where the chips will sit between the clamps, and where the doll rods will go through. I used pencils as I had forgotten to run to the store for doll rods.

IMG_20190820_175634.jpg
IMG_20190515_165825.jpg

After using them, I prefer the version with 4 rods.

Step 4. Clamp the two halves together and prepare to drill. Only go about a half inch into the second of the two clamps.

IMG_20190820_175757.jpg
IMG_20190820_180420.jpg
IMG_20190820_180645.jpg


Step 5. Put the clamps back together by re threading the rods. This can be challenging, but take your time. Remember to screw the handle ends in about an inch before engaging the other end, so you have enough extra rod to attach the handles.

Step 6. Re-attach the handles. I used a cotter pin to secure the handle to the rod. I may go back and use a pin, as the cotter gets in the way sometimes when trying to tighten the clamp down.

IMG_20190820_182402.jpg


Step 7. You’re finished, stop reading.



IMG_20190820_173517.jpgIMG_20190820_174159.jpgIMG_20190820_175634.jpgIMG_20190820_175757.jpgIMG_20190820_180420.jpgIMG_20190820_180645.jpgIMG_20190820_182402.jpgIMG_20190821_170308.jpgIMG_20190821_171203.jpgIMG_20190821_174314.jpgIMG_20190821_174320.jpgIMG_20190821_174624.jpgIMG_20190515_165825.jpg
 
Last edited:
Very nice! Great idea.

Couple of questions for you. Can I pay you to flatten some chips? Or can I buy/rent your clamps when you’re done? Only partially joking as I am just procrastinating trying this myself.
 
Interesting. I never have problems using 18 chips plus ceramic blanks on the ends. I just grab them from the rack pretty easily.
 
Very nice! Great idea.

Couple of questions for you. Can I pay you to flatten some chips? Or can I buy/rent your clamps when you’re done? Only partially joking as I am just procrastinating trying this myself.

I'd be way too afraid of forgetting them in the oven, or over tightening, to do someone else's chips.
 
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I'd be way too afraid of forgetting them in the oven, or over tightening, to do someone else's chips.

Try to use solar energy. I set some BCC chip on my driveway, flipped 'em a few times. When it is sunny in about 20 minutes they are nice and warm. I then move them inside and release after fully cooled.

When they are cold (preheating) I cranked the crap out of them, even snapping some of the blanks before. It is a trial and error thing and the OP has a great system that works for him.
 
For flattening chips, nothing beats a nice 12” wooden clamp. But it takes so dang long to get the chips lined up perfectly. This is my solution. It uses removable doll rods to make inserting the chips easy, fast and perfectly aligned. You open the clamp and insert the rods. Then you put your chips in between the rods, tighten the clamp, and remove the rods.

General Flattening tips:

Chips in room temperature with a fan blowing on them will cool much faster than chips in the freezer with still air.

I line the bottom rack of my oven with cookie sheets in order to block as much IR radiation heating as I can. I want the air in the oven to heat the chips equally from all sides, I don't want to introduce new stresses by heating the bottom faster than the top.




View attachment 326966

Step 1. Buy a couple cheap 12” Pittsburgh clamps from Harbor Freight.

View attachment 326955

Step 2. Remove the handles from the threaded rods. I used a pin punch and a hammer to get the holding pins out. They are tough SOBs, it takes a lot of good whacks. Once the handles are off, unscrew the threaded rods.

View attachment 326956

These are removed to make it easier to drill. With the rods in, I had to drill the clamps while stacked atop a pile of wood with an extension in the drill chuck, in order for the bit to clear the handles. Controlling runout was near impossible, and it was dangerous. Worth the effort to remove.

Step 3. Layout where the chips will sit between the clamps, and where the doll rods will go through. I used pencils as I had forgotten to run to the store for doll rods.

View attachment 326957View attachment 326970
After using them, I prefer the version with 4 rods.

Step 4. Clamp the two halves together and prepare to drill. Only go about a half inch into the second of the two clamps.

View attachment 326958View attachment 326959View attachment 326960

Step 5. Put the clamps back together by re threading the rods. This can be challenging, but take your time. Remember to screw the handle ends in about an inch before engaging the other end, so you have enough extra rod to attach the handles.

Step 6. Re-attach the handles. I used a cotter pin to secure the handle to the rod. I may go back and use a pin, as the cotter gets in the way sometimes when trying to tighten the clamp down.

View attachment 326961

Step 7. You’re finished, stop reading.



View attachment 326955View attachment 326956View attachment 326957View attachment 326958View attachment 326959View attachment 326960View attachment 326961View attachment 326962View attachment 326963View attachment 326964View attachment 326965View attachment 326966View attachment 326970
I haven't had a problem lining them up, but it also takes forever. Great mod! I might have to try it out.
 
For flattening chips, nothing beats a nice 12” wooden clamp. But it takes so dang long to get the chips lined up perfectly. This is my solution. It uses removable doll rods to make inserting the chips easy, fast and perfectly aligned. You open the clamp and insert the rods. Then you put your chips in between the rods, tighten the clamp, and remove the rods.
Briiliant.
 

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