Clamp Storage Solutions
Three woodworkers offer clever ways to keep clamps organized
Synopsis: You can’t have too many clamps. Here are examples of how some of our readers solved their clamp-storage problems using wall and ceiling racks for bar clamps and wall racks for pipe clamps. Explained are solutions for mounting clamp racks with screws or French cleats. There is also instruction on building a clamp cart, if you have adequate floor space.
From Fine Woodworking #164
Having recently moved to a smaller shop, I had to find somewhere to store my fairly large collection of bar clamps and hand clamps. When considering where to put them, I decided against a fancy rack that rolls around the shop on casters because the floor space it would require is too dear. I wanted my clamps near the area where large glue-up projects will be done, but I also wanted to keep them out of the way when they’re not needed. The solution was to hang the clamps on the outside wall of a lumber-storage rack. (In the business world, they call this “multitasking.”)
The racks I designed are quite simple, and they can be used to store a variety of different-size clamps. First, securely fasten a 3⁄4-in.-thick hanger strip (plywood or medium-density fiberboard) to the wall, using two screws at every stud location. This hanger strip serves two purposes: It’s a sturdy anchor, and it adds depth for building out the rack enough to make a good ledge on which to hang the bar clamps.
Along the bottom of the hanger strip goes another 3⁄4-in. plywood cleat (what some people call a French cleat) with a 45° cut along the top edge. That bottom cleat gets screwed to the hanger cleat.
Another matching plywood cleat with a 45° cut along the bottom edge has blocks of lumber screwed into the front face from behind; these blocks are spaced apart so there’s room to hang the clamps on them. Nothing fancy; most of the racks I used were salvaged from my previous shop, where they’ve given 20 years of faithful service so far. Depending on the type of clamps, they will hang better facing in or out, because of how the weight is balanced. On the 12-ft. wall shown on the facing page, I currently store 108 clamps, and there’s room for more.
For the full article, download the PDF below.
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