Wood clamps are an essential tool in any woodworker’s workshop. These versatile tools can be used for a variety of tasks, from holding parts in place to securing boards tightly together for the best joint.
Choosing the right clamp is important for ensuring accurate work and safety. Clamps are available in various shapes and sizes, so be sure to choose the one that’s right for your needs.
Pipe Clamps
Pipe clamps are used to hold wood pieces together for gluing or assembly. They are adjustable and come in different sizes and materials.
The best pipe clamps have elevated feet, which keep the workpiece above the support surface and prevent dirt from coming into contact with it. This helps avoid black stains on the wood.
You should also look for a pipe clamp with threads on the end, which allows you to screw it onto the pipe. This is important because it keeps the pieces firmly held together and reduces the risk of the pipe bending.
When assembling wide boards, it is important to use parallel jaws on the clamps to ensure that the planks don’t bow up as they are clamped down. This is usually only a problem when using pipe clamps to assemble boards that are wider than four feet.
Bar Clamps
Wood clamps are a vital part of any woodworking project. They’re specifically designed to secure glue ups and keep pieces from shifting or disconnecting before they set.
If you’re looking for a sturdy woodworking clamp that’s also affordable, a bar clamp is the best choice. They’re durable and easy to work with, and you can find them in a variety of sizes to fit your projects.
They also come with extensions for a wider jaw capacity, so you can use them to accommodate larger projects. These can be purchased for about a few dollars each.
Parallel Jaw Clamps
Woodworkers use parallel clamps to align glued-up doors, panels, cabinet carcasses, and other assemblies so they can be screwed together square and true. They also work well for light-duty projects that require a little extra pressure, such as pulling bowed boards or tough joinery together.
Because they exert so much pressure, it’s important that a clamp’s jaws don’t crush the grain or mar the surface of your workpiece. This can ruin a project and make it difficult to clean up.
Fortunately, most of the best clamps have a plastic coating over steel jaws, which provides strength, a lightweight design, and a mar-free surface. They also often include removable bar pads that straddle the jaw bars, preventing glue contact with the board.
Trigger-Activated Clamps
Clamps are essential tools for most woodworking projects. They’re designed to maintain two pieces of wood in place after they’ve been glued together.
There are many different types of clamps, ranging from the simplest to the most complicated, so it’s crucial that you choose the best one for your needs. The clamps you select depend on the size of your workpiece, joint angle, and desired pressure.
For example, trigger-activated clamps are simple to use and provide a safe grip. These clamps adjust their jaws using a trigger mechanism, and they’re often available in a variety of sizes to suit any project.
Screw Clamps
Screw clamps use a screw mechanism to adjust the jaws and securely hold or glue workpieces together. They’re popular with woodworkers and DIYers because they’re easy to use, and they won’t mar the surface of the object being held.
The movable jaw of a screw clamp tightens onto the workpiece by turning a screw in a clockwise direction. This helical thread makes the screw clamp more sturdy and durable, but it also allows it to be easily turned in the opposite direction if the clamp needs to be loosened.
When using a screw clamp, open the jaws by twisting the handle to the left. This will loosen the screw and separate the moveable jaw from the stationary one.
