I had just finished insulating some plumbing pipes and had a lot of leftovers of round foam pipe insulation material. Hating to throw anything away that might be useful, I stumbled on the idea of using them to wrap the pipes of my clamps during glue-ups.

Not only does the insulation keep glue off the pipes or bars, but it also prevents contact with the workpiece that might mar or discolor the wood (pipes and bars bow toward the work as the clamp is tightened). The material fits snugly on both types of clamps and can be cut to length easily with a utility knife. At about $1 for a 6-ft. length at the hardware store, it is very affordable.

Jim Richey

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