Hello,
I need an idea of what to use besides a hose clamp for holding together the pieces for making a checkerboard style cork ring.I have some trouble with the hose clamps not compressing the pieces evenly and sometimes ending up with a gap between the pieces.
What do you guys use?

Thanks,
Daryl

Daryl , I use plastis tywraps , or zip ties . John

Rubber bands work but a little messy.

I get the nearest hose clamp size to the ring I am building. Put it on a solid dowel, PVC pipe, tighten, then tap with a hammer any thing to get the clamp to take and keep a "round " shape. Then I bend the little tab that is where the two pieces go together and bend it " outward" so it does not grab the cork and push it out of shape. Then I also file the inside to get it smooth

After each use I run 80 grit sand paper inside to keep it clean and smooth

Hey Daryl,
Funny you wrote this as I just had this exact problem using a hose clamp. I went back to home depot and went to the electrical deptartment where I found 1" metal shackle-type clamps which compress the cork ring together and tighten via nut/screw. This allows even compression of the cork as there is no overlap of metal, as in a regular hose clamp. I can stretch the shackle style clamp apart and insert the cork ring. I am able to use my electric drill to tighten the screw quickly getting even pressure for all pieces, unlike the hose clamp that , as you stated, causes uneven pressure usually to one piece. They were $.50 each and I grabbed 5 or so. It has worked very well.
Dave

That is why this board is so good, I got to check them clamps out. Thanks for posting

I simply form the pieces around a 1/4 " metal dowel to maintain proper alignment and use rubber bands as Ron does. If you are using Rod Bond as the adhesive it should work well. I have no problem with gaps using this method if I have cut the individual pieces uniformly.

Daryl,

I use wire ties....just cinch and dry.