Philip McRae and Son, Square Peg Brand

Company History

Philip McRae and Son have been doing business as NorthEast Custom Clock Company, incorporating your photos into custom built clocks.

In Spring 2000, Philip McRae and Son introduced the Square Peg Brand of wooden clamps. They use American hardwoods (maple, oak, ash, cherry, and black walnut), with distinctive square pegs, of contrasting color, at all stress joints. Most have different woods for handles and jaws, for a very distinctive appearance. All work receives an oil finish, no varnish, no stain.

The look and workmanship are superb, for both the hand screws and the C-clamps. Contact them at (508) 947 - 4074.

They do not custom build clamps to order. Rather, regular production runs are organized around current orders and low inventory.

Advice on Care and Use

They offer the following advice:

Read, Understand, and Follow all safety rules.
Keep your clamps away from damp areas.
Do not overtighten your clamps. If more pressure is needed, use additional clamps.
Do not apply wax or varnish. This only reduces the friction needed for good clamping strength.
Use common sense in selecting clamp applications. Don't take chances on your safety.

Personal History

founder

Philip McRae spent over thirty years learning all aspects of making hard wood boxes, including design, material selection, production, and time and motion studies. This experience served as a base when he established Philip McRae and Son.

He enjoys designing new clamps, and making them, but emphasizes that it is most important to make what the customers want. Have fun, sure, but it's not just for my own pleasure - I'm in business!

He illustrated this with a particular clamp. It certainly looked nice to me, but he said, I can't sell these. I made a batch of a dozen, and I've sold just one. If all I make are the ones I like, then I can be in trouble.

I think his attitude will make a success of the Square Peg Brand of hand screws and C-clamps.

family

His son says that he is still learning the business.

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