Super Simple nipple Clamps

A quick and easy project to start with. Totally home made wooden nipple clamps you can make with a minimum of tools.

What you need:

A hunk of hard wood (I used a piece of Oak from the firewood pile)

A band say or a steady hand with another kind of saw

A drill press or a hand drill

A 3/16" bit, give or take (read through first!)

A 1/2" bit (optional)

Sandpaper in different grades from rough to very fine

small rubber bands, or small elastic hair ties.

Here is what I did.

I started with a seasoned oak log about 6" in diameter from the firewood pile.

I cut a slice out of it about a half inch thick, so I had about a 1/2" thick circle

Centered in the circle drill 9 3/16" holes in three rows of 3, each about 1/2" from each other in both dimensions. The pattern of these holes forms a square.

Use the 1/2" bit in your hand, not in a drill, to chamfer the very center hole on both sides.

Pick one axis and with your band saw, cut two opposing outside rows of the 3/16" holes in half (so you have semicircles)

On the other axis, measure about 1/8" beyond the outside edge of the other two opposing rows of holes and cut along that.

You should now have a a square piece of wood with semi circles on the top and bottom and the remaining holes in it.

On your band saw, cut the piece in half thickness wise you you have two roughly 1/4" think squares as above

Cut both of these in half through center hole so you have the semi circles with little shoulders.

Now, sand everything down really well. If you have a belt sander you can round the corners and add some nice contouring. Do not round the faces with the center hole. Make sure to sand the center hole really well.

You can put some finish on the wood now if you like. I used butchers wax. It looked very nice on the oak.

Now take two of the 4 pieces, align the center holes up and put a small runner band or a small hair tie around the two opposing U shaped semi circles.

The nipple goes in the center hole, chamfer side in. The bands hold the clamps together from both sides. You can change the degree of pinch by changing the size of the center hole and or using more or tighter bands.

My SO has nice big nipples and the 3/16" holes are a good fit. The bands can clamp it down just tight enough for fun, but not tight enough to hurt. The wooden pieces have a nice amount of weight to them.

These are a lot easier to make than the description lets on. Once you have made one set the next set will be a lot nicer and you will crank them out a lot faster.

Enjoy!