If you need to hold wood pieces together, a clamp is the tool for the job. But not every clamp is right for all projects, so it’s important to choose the ideal one for your needs.
The best ones balance between clamping pressure and mobility. Size is also an important consideration.
Spring Clamps
If you are looking for a handy tool to help you complete woodworking projects, a spring clamp is one of the best options. These little clamps can assist you in many tasks like gluing, trimming and more.
Spring clamps are small, similar in size to pliers and are able to hold materials together under tension. This makes them ideal for a variety of woodworking projects and are commonly used for fastening materials together while gluing so the adhesive sets properly.
A spring miter clamp is a type of spring clamp that is commonly used to close miter joints during the gluing process. These clamps are easy to use and come with a set of pliers that insert into the jaws to open and close them.
Spring clamps are available in several sizes. The most common is the 6-inch size, which is a good choice for woodworking and carpentry projects.
Handscrew Clamps
Handscrew clamps for wood work similar to standard bar clamps but feature a double screw structure. This allows the jaws to be angled or offset so they can clamp irregularly shaped and tapered workpieces.
These clamps also feature a deep throat, which makes them a versatile tool for holding large or small workpieces. They are often used for gluing, painting and assembling objects.
Unlike other clamps, handscrew clamps can also be used to hold dowels and pipe. They are also perfect for holding cylindrical workpieces if you saw notches in the opposing jaws with your handsaw.
They’re also useful for protecting board edges from dings and dents while you’re gluing them. To do this, simply attach short pieces of 1/2-in. plywood 1/8 in. larger than the pipe diameter to pipe clamp jaws with sheet metal screws.
A light coat of wax can help keep the surface of the workpiece from marring, which is a problem with many types of clamps. It can also help prevent the buildup of glue, which can cause black stains on the workpiece, especially with tannin-rich woods like oak or walnut.
C-Clamps
C-clamps are a popular type of clamp used in woodworking and carpentry to hold pieces of material together while doing work on them. They can also be used in metalworking.
When working with clamps, it is important to use care so that you don’t damage your project or the tool itself. In addition, it is a good idea to protect the material being held with padding, such as blocks, cardboard, or felt.
To prevent damage, it is important to use the correct sized clamp. If the clamp is too large for the piece of material you are holding, it won’t be able to be tightened enough to secure it.
There are many different types of clamps available, and each one can be helpful for a variety of projects. You should pick a type that best fits your needs, as well as the budget. It is always a good idea to shop around before making a purchase to make sure that you’re getting a quality product.
Trigger Bar Clamps
Trigger bar clamps are a popular option for woodworkers. They offer quick and easy one-handed operation, making them great for a range of projects.
The jaws on a trigger bar clamp are normally covered with soft plastic pads, which protect the workpiece from damage. They also apply less pressure than a traditional bar clamp, but you need to use caution when tightening them so as not to overtighten or break the clamp.
Clamping power and size are two key factors to consider when buying a trigger bar clamp. A good quality one will apply sufficient pressure to glue softwoods together when properly tightened, but not so much that it damages the wood or clamp.
This 6 inch TEKTON ratchet bar clamp is ideal for craft projects and small woodworking jobs, but it can also be converted into a spreader with the addition of a wingnut. Its one-handed operation and high-quality design make it a top choice for woodworkers.
