Here's a small project before the season...

For Fur Table or Work Bench...
Vice-Grip Clamp I made. Notice no fixed base (no bolting or screwing down) Very portable, just move to different hole in table or bench.
And it swivels.
Used to hold back foot while making opening cuts before gambrel.

- Vice Grips
- re-bar welded to jaws, 2" long pieces
- 1/2" pipe or re-bar welded to bottom (length to fit your need)


Welded & painted...


1/2" hole drilled in fur table...


Ready for use...


It swivels...


I first made this clamp with traditional fixed base that screws to back corner of table top. Before mounting, I realized I could use another clamp at the front of the fur table. Even could use a clamp on my outside work table.
I didn't want two clamps on my small fur table. After some thought and looking at scrap pipe, I used grinder to remove fixed base. Welded washer & pipe, drill holes in my table and the swivel clamp worked. One clamp that can be moved around fur table, on work bench or outside work area. No tools needed to remove in the off season.

Very nice!

I have similar clamps for my table top. I left the rebar off of the jaws since everything swivels. I just clamp perpendicular to the foot/leg. And for the mount, I used a 1/2" hex head bolt about 4" long and have several 1/2" holes drilled in the table top. With the treads on the bolt and a little side pressure, I can keep the clamp up off the table top and have enough room to work the underside of the leg. Works great for opening cuts and getting the leg started before going to the winch.

You stole that rebar idea from me! LOL But I stole the rod idea on the bottom from you, for the ones I use at my house.

Nice post Hern.

You stole that rebar idea from me!
No, no, no, no, no.
I borrow the rebar jaw length idea. Just borrow. Here, am returning 2" rebar jaw idea back. Thank you.

Here is a couple pictures of mine. With the single, I can clamp on foot and hold the other to make my opening cut. Works great on coon and I leave the one foot in the clamp and work around that leg to get it started then switch to the other leg and then go to the winch. This leaves both hands free to work.

For coyotes, I clamp both paws and open from the vent to the pads and start both legs before going to the winch. Again, the legs are held firm and I have both hands free.

Having my clamps up above the surface of the table gives me room to work the skin off the legs. And with the weight of the coyote pulling against the clamp bolt threads in the holes, they stay at the height that I set them. The holes are drilled all the way through the top of the bench and I can push them down to the head of the bolt if I want to.

And I can put new holes in anywhere I need them.

And I use Jayme's base and gambrel on my winch set up.

Great idea. That will take the place of that third hand I have always wanted!

Great idea !! I'm always learning more tricks on Trapperman.. It sure beats what I use now. Thanks

QuietButDeadly, nice setup.

Thanks folks.
I do like the idea I can place Clamp where needed with no tools to mount. Plus can easily be removed in the off-season.
With hole placed in front edge of table, Clamp can be used to skun Mink & Muskrat.

My fur shed doubles as a work shop in the off season. Stretcher boards & flesh'n beam stowed & skun'n base detached from floor.
The Clamp is stored away, to free up table space, but easy/fast to install when needed.

My bench has a drawer where I store my clamps and other tools when I am not using them. When I need them, just get them out and stick them in the appropriate hole. Have an LED strip light mounted above the bench so I can see what I am doing. I like to keep it simple!

Tty

Those are very cool clamps. You guys are more creative than me! I just use the clamps from an old set of jumper cables. Drill a hole in one side of the handles, if there isn’t one there already, and use a good sized screw to attach them wherever you want. You can screw one on a wall a touch over head high and it works great with rats, and take it down when season is over. I used to do my rats on a table but 3 back surgeries have made sitting uncomfortable.

I like it.

Pretty darn sweet my man!!

Got this idea from you a long time ago hern, I'd be lost without my clamp, I didn't add rebar to jaws and I can clamp individual toe bones in mine for skinning feet, real slick.

Well done great Ideas.
But If your using a puller or just a gambrel you just hang the critter by one foot and do your opening cuts. Once your opening cuts are made and you've pulled the hide down around the hips just hook up the other foot.
I use some type of clamp when doing rats and mink and skunks. But everything else gets hung up.

Glad that works for you Beav.

I like having the foot clamped down when starting the legs. I find that mush easier to work with both hands when the critter is not swinging around on a gambrel. Once I get both legs opened up all around and the hide loose from the foot, I will hang it up and proceed.