Essential Clamp Kit
What clamps to have and why you should have them
Synopsis: If you’re just getting started building a collection of clamps for your workshop, here are some guidelines from someone who’s been at it for quite a few years. From bar clamps to spring clamps, Jeff Miller provides a roundup of the clamps he uses every day, with advice on how many you’ll need so that you can tackle any project.
The old chestnut is true—you can never have too many clamps. But which clamps you need depends on the type of work you’re doing. As a general rule, you should buy the clamps best suited for the primary work you do, but you’ll also need a more general selection of clamps for the wide range of projects and shop tasks you’ll encounter. Assuming a finite budget, you’ll need to make some choices to build an appropriate clamp kit for your shop.
After years of building custom furniture, I’ve come to learn what makes one clamp really shine, and what causes others to collect dust in the corner. Here’s a roundup of the clamps I use every day that allow me to tackle any project or task quickly and efficiently, and some pointers on where to start if you’re just beginning to outfit your shop.
Bar clamps are the shop workhorse. They excel at gluing up panels, assembling carcases, building chairs, clamping up large laminations, and even serving as a vise when working on shaped legs. They come in a variety of lengths and are capable of exerting a great deal of pressure, or of clamping gently if needed. Bar clamps also come in a variety of forms and prices, each with corresponding benefits and drawbacks. No matter which type of bar clamp fits your budget and needs, they will form the core of your clamp kit.
For the full article, download the PDF below:
Fine Woodworking Recommended Products
Estwing Dead-Blow Mallet
MicroJig Matchfit dovetail clamps
Bessey Band Clamp
Comments
The bar clamps sure seem like the thing to get , but, no one seems to make them anymore. After a half hour search on the internet the only thing I could find were a few very limited selections of the I-beam style. Based on the color yours were Jorgenson's but they are out of business. Any suggestions?
I found the same thing as the first commentor - is this a rehash article from many years ago? These type of clamps do not seem to exist any longer.
This is not an old article. I've found i-beam clamps on craigslist very easily. Yes, jorgenson is out of business, as of a few months ago. These are the tools that Jeff Miller uses, not the tools that everyone uses. Many people feel that parallel jaw clamps are mistakenly left out, but this is Jeff's take article and he doesn't use them.
As for the I-beam clamps, Bessey is supposed to be releasing I-beam clamps that look suspiciously like red colored Jorgenson's very soon.
Wilton also makes notched bar (I-beam clamps), though I've had trouble tracking down a distributor for them.
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