Simply a turnbuckle... or is it?

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Hello All, I have posted a number of basic aides that can assist folks when they are trying to fit and hold various items to be fabricated. For most of you a turnbuckle is probably one of the first items that you found a host of uses for. I am mainly including this for those who might be somewhat new to the trades and are looking for low-budget items to make life easier. This particular turnbuckle has a couple of angle brackets bolted to it's ends, you could either tack-weld or clamp them to various items to move or hold them in place for you while performing additional fit-up tasks, squaring, or final weld-out. They could be attached to plates to be tacked onto parts, attached to chains, nylon slings, wire rope slings, and numerous other items for pulling and pushing purposes. I have included a few photos to give some ideas. Anyone with other suggestions or variations, I would greatly appreciate the additional input. Best regards, Allan . Attached Imagesaevald
Reply:I love it!!  I have a couple of those just laying around.
Reply:Now that is a handy trick! I'll certainly use it in the future. Thank you.
Reply:That is a handy little trick right there.  I love the ideas folks come up with. Thanks for posting.
Reply:I've not seen that either, the kids down the street at Lee Bros are gonna love this! They still think Ztfabs stack of dimes is some sort of trick....Matt
Reply:Thank's for posting.look's helpful.
Reply:Oh Man!!!! That's great! Thank you  for posting this.
Reply:I've used turnbuckles, both small and large, for lots of things but haven't seen any with yoke ends in a long time; guess it's time to look for some....Thanks for the good pictures.
Reply:makes setting an angle a breeze"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:I agree. It looks like a handy tip and one that I've not seen before.Millermatic 252XMT 304'sDynasty 280DXHypertherm PowerMax 1250Miller Trailblazer 302 EFIOptima PulserXR feeder and XR Edge gun and more athttp://members.dslextreme.com/users/waynecook/index.htm
Reply:Ha, it would be like me to throw the turnbuckle off to the side while digging through the iron pile to find something  to make a jig out of. Those larger jaw type turnbuckles aren't real common around here either. They're used more often in a stabilzer application than anything.  Mostly the closed eye types around here, and small. I'll be looking for some tho."The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life." -Theodore Roosevelt
Reply:Hello folks, I am very fortunate to have a second hand tool man not too far from me who has any number of odd and unusual items in his possession, he happened to have this one in his shop today when I visited there. Another source for turnbuckles of the type Sandy referred to(closed eye), is an OEM rock crushing and processing manufacturer that is in our town, they have a wide array of shaft mounted speed reducers that they use on their various equipment designs, alot of the time they don't use the turnbuckles provided and just scrap them, I try and make sure to pick them up whenever I'm over there visiting. Most of the folks in their shops have an extensive supply as well and many times they will part with them if asked. Hope others might include their stories of use or variations of this. Best regards, Allanaevald
Reply:We use them a lot where I work. These are some pictures I took for a weld/fab presentation for a highschool shop class. The turnbuckles in the pictures have 5/8" dia. thread. We use some on our bigger frames that have 1-1/2" dia. thread. Attached ImagesWill
Reply:Love it....Learn something new every day...
Reply:aevald, Your the man of the hour. We're always looking for easier and quicker ways to setup and that's one I never thought of. After seeing that, I went to check my surplus treasures and look what I found. Thanks for posting.  Attached Images
Reply:Nice pictures 4on12, thanks for including them here. I believe folks can get the idea for the uses better with such examples. Like the "blocks" on your square too. Best regards, Allanaevald
Reply:Aevald,Care to share any other brilliant ideas with us (jigs, fixtures, fabricating genius)?Thanks for starting this thread.
Reply:Good idea!The jaw/jaw turnbuckles can be had through www.mcmaster.com
Reply:Originally Posted by aevaldNice pictures 4on12, thanks for including them here. I believe folks can get the idea for the uses better with such examples. Like the "blocks" on your square too. Best regards, Allan
Reply:Hello Will, I've got a similar type of tool with some slight variations, as in your case, I saw these many years ago being used by a co-worker. General tool makes a stair gage block set that works on a similar principle to these, they just aren't nearly as long so they don't work for the types of things that yours or mine would. I will likely start another thread to discuss these tools and their uses more in-depth. Best regards, Allanaevald
Reply:I love the idea.  always infinitely adjustable.  If you combined this with a good layout table with slots or holes, you could increase the versatility.Esab Migmaster 250Lincoln SA 200Lincoln Ranger 8Smith Oxy Fuel setupEverlast PowerPlasma 80Everlast Power iMIG 160Everlast Power iMIG 205 Everlast Power iMIG 140EEverlast PowerARC 300Everlast PowerARC 140STEverlast PowerTIG 255EXT
Reply:Thanks for posting this up!!  Last night I had a problem getting everything lined up...this came to mind.  I didn't have turnbuckles, but I "kind of" made one with threaded rod and nuts...worked perfect.  THANKS for the idea and write-up!
Reply:Wow, that's such a simple idea, and yet so clever.  Thanks!Millermatic 252"Don't worry, he's got a welder, he can fix anything"