Woodworking Clamps: Getting a Grip

Few people are normally equipped with three arms, and even fewer of us can overcome the enticement of shiny new toys. As a result of these two straightforward axioms, woodworkers shall constantly be in search of more exotic clamps. In advance of starting on the search for the one of a kind clamp, though, you will want to make sure your tool chest has all the standard needs addressed first. You should have three kinds of clamps that can assist you in routine woodworking tasks; the bar clamp, the C-clamp and the band clamp. Be sure to check out the different Air Compressors & Air Tools.

Bar clamps are probably the most familiar clamps linked with woodworking. They include an adjustable jaw, a steel bar of varying distances, as well as a second jaw which can float along the bar. The second jaw could be fixed at a location along the bar, and the adjustable jaw could be snugged up with a hand screw.

This sort of clamps are quite handy for woodworking thanks to their ability to accommodate various sized projects. Pony brand steel bar clamps are durable and affordable products for the home woodworker because they are easy to open and close and the multiple-disc clutch will lock the adjustable jaw firmly at any point along the bar. Another must see is the different Industrial Compressors.

C-clamps can also be particularly convenient for woodworking, but they are really more widely used than bar clamps for the reason that C-clamps are often employed by plumbers and metallurgists too. C-clamps are made from a large piece of metal which resembles a “C”, and a flat metal pad mounted on the end of a hand screw. Since C-clamps are usually made from cast iron, a woodworker must protect his materials by using pads between the clamp pads and the project surface. In case you ever plan to invest in a few Irwin Quick-Grip C-clamps, these models already have over sized swivel pads that prevent marring while simultaneously adding to the clamp’s stability.

Band clamps are tools that woodworkers reach for when rigidclamps will not work. The most basic type of band clamp is an extremely long piece of polyester or cotton webbing which is connected to a “buckle” with a ratcheting cinch. The strap may be wrapped around the edges of irregular shapes, passed through the buckle and pulled tight buy the cinch. Jorgenson markets a well constructed band clamp that includes a 15 foot band and ratcheting cinch. If you prefer something with corner clips for securing picture frames, Merle markets a clamp with pivoting jaws and quick release corners.

Clamping and gluing are practically always a required part in any woodworking venture, so you actually should have some all-purpose clamps around at all times. Naturally, you aren’t confined to the three kinds of clamps we’ve explored, but they ought to be the central group of your rapidly multiplying collection of woodworking clamps.