Found a cheap alternative to the wooden spring piston compressor

[LongIslandArcher]

Found it at Lowe's, of all places.  It's the Bessey 36" double-headed bar clamp.  The link is here, in case anyone's interested.  It's only $20 and it works like a charm.
http://www.lowes.com/SearchCatalogDisplay?storeId=10151&langId=-1&catalogId=10051&N=0&newSearch=true&Ntt=bar+clamp  
Just make sure you wrap duct tape around the forks on the double head, as it is a cast iron and will scratch your barrel.

[Magnum]

Dear Longislandarcher,  please Be careful with using a clamp, do not under estimate an airgun spring power and IMO I can not recomend it.. it will get you when you least expect !
Link of interest    http://www.gatewaytoairguns.com/airguns/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=18013&posts=24&highlight=spring%20compressor&highlightmode=1#M169001

[Bogey]

Recently I had some problems during reassembly of a springer.  Due to poor manufacturing, the trigger assembly needed some extra work to get it to set properly and have the bolt thread without stripping.    If I had been using a "bar clamp", it would have been difficult to do the needed fitting.   The spring compressor it seems  can pull double duty as a vise and give you a stable  work platform.     I would recommend building a compressor, when you get a chance.

But whatever you use try to careful.

[RedFeather]

Sooner or later I will finish my compressor. Took a few tips from someone with a bench vice. You can use the vise as the screw part of the compressor. I bought five pieces of plumbing fittings at Sears Hardware. A large round based flange for the base, short piece to thread into it for an upright, T fitting for the top. The sliding part for compressing the spring is a smaller section of pipe that slips into the T with another base plate screwed onto it. To this I can attach a piece of wood, etc. Positioned it in front of the shop vise with the vise fully closed and screwed it to the workbench. Now I just need a base to hold the barrel/compression tube. Simply position the tube against the cross piece and run the vise open to control removal, closed to reinstall. When finished, unscrew everything from the workbench or you can leave only the base. When I'm finished, I will post a picture. (Got to REALLY clean the bench off first!)

[LongIslandArcher]

But that wooden spring compressor is basically just a modified C-clamp on a wooden frame.  All I'd have to do is build a wooden frame to mount the bar clamp in to hold everything down.  My rifles aren't as fancy as the ones with the screw on cover, so I really don't need the fancy wooden spring compressor.  And the bar clamp I found is infinitely more adjustable than the fancy wooden one.  Not that I'm knocking the wooden one, but I don't need one of those for my needs.

[airiscool]

"............But that wooden spring compressor is basically just a modified C-clamp on a wooden frame......"

Your wood clamp is missing one extreamly  important part!

The ability to safely fasten the gun's reciever securly to a clamping device so that the spring end parts can't slip sideways off the clamp pad with the result the gun and spring parts go violantly in opposite directions,.... one of which the gun owner is usually standing in the way of.

Paul.

[LongIslandArcher]

It won't slip off the end of my clamp anyway because there's a rubber shoe covering the metal (which is already concave).  I've already used it.

[joe-joe guns]

I like your idea with the bar clamp and if you do like you say and mount it to a board and maybe use a U bolt with a rubber hose on it to protect the gun and keep the action from moving around I think you'll be good to go and safe.Don't take these guys in the wrong way they've "been there done that" they just want you to keep all your parts and pieces.I might go get me one of those and see what I can do mine compressor is gettin kinda shabby.

[Big_Bill]

Hey Archer,

Like Joe said, the clamp doesn't keep everything from flying apart, many have used different methods, like you, until they got hurt !

Those wooden spring compressors will keep everything in place, and wont allow slippage and flying springs and end caps. Even spring compressors need to be modified for certain air guns to prevent flying objects !

Safety and your sight should be your number one consideration when taking apart a spring loaded piece of equipment.

But it's your hide you risking, it only takes one mistake to injure yourself ! And somethings don't grow back !

I'm of the opinion that I don't need to be harmed to use proper safety equipment. But some people have to learn the hard way !

Bill

[CharlieDaTuna]

I certainly would not recommend a bar clamp. It will work but can be extremely dangerous unless modified and used in a frame with both some kind of rear and center point holding device.

 Anybody using one is asking to get hurt and it's an accident waiting to happen. I fear that this post just might get someone hurt. There have been a number of incidents/accidents of people using different bar clamps reported on the different forums over the years including ours if I'm not mistaken.

 I see it as a good $20.00 investment culminating in possibly severe injuries and possibly big medical bills. My suggestion is don't use it or do it unless you don't care about your well being and how your family may handle the possible end results. If it don't matter to you and the family don't matter, play the odds and more power to you.

[airiscool]

My wood compresser cost all of about $5.00 worth of threaded rod, nuts and bolts at the hardware store. The plywood was all scrap pieces.  Rock solid and very safe to use.

I'm a  wood worker by proffession.  I have about 100 pipe, bar and C-clamps, but I wouldn't use anyone of them for the job of a spring compressor. And I thought about using some of them before I built the wood compressor, but quickly realized how potentially dangerous a bar clamp could be in that type application.

Paul.

[kiwi]

I use to use a T bar sash clamp before i made a compresser...

Bolt a peice of wood each side & you end
up with a Vee for the gun to sit in..

Pete

[Tn.Reb]

You tell folk's a stove is hot and SONE will STILL touch it !!!

[bcshooter]

IMHO.....You should spend the time and bulid yourself a spring compressor, there are plans here in the GTA Mall or on the internet ......This is the safest way to remove a spring with preload. There are some airguns that do not require a spring compressor to remove the spring, but they can be counted with one hand.....Bill.

[snookman]

Anyone who wants a spring compressor but can't, or doesn't want to make one, here is a link for one that you can buy that is good to go for under $100.00. No broken noses, knocked out teeth, or damaged sight .http://www.network54.com/Forum/79574/thread/1257146873/FS-++Spring+Compressor . Just my opinion,snookman