So many clamps
Prone to leaving your tools scattered around the shop? This video is for you.Sponsored by Bessey Tools
Quick–you get three wishes granted for your wood shop. Is one of those wishes allotted for unlimited clamps? If so, you’ve come to the right place. Clamps are one of those things that you don’t realize you need until you NEED them. And when you’re one clamp short, it feels like the end of the world.
Unfortunately, clamps won’t appear magically at your whim. If they did, we’d be offering you a very different video. On the other hand, having a clamp rack filled with every clamp model and iteration at your disposal might not be the idyllic solution we all believe it to be when trying to make ends meet in a glue-up. For one thing, a clamp rack can take up a lot of space, especially if you’re dragging it back and forth across your shop. Something meant to offer efficiency and convenience could end up becoming a hindrance.
But it doesn’t have to be a toss-up between too many clamps or no clamps at all. The solution? Figuring out what clamps you use, and where you use them. Find your trigger clamps living at the tablesaw more often than not? Leave them there. Defy the voice in your head that advises against clutter. Instead, lean into it.
Now, don’t toss your clamp rack just yet, but consider that sometimes leaving things around the shop may work in your favor. If that’s a particular weakness of yours, use it to your advantage. It’ll make your heat-of-the-moment clamp emergencies that much easier in the long run.
As for those other two wishes … what would yours be?
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The woodworking clamps you need |
Comments
For my second wish, I wish for a Bessey sponsorship.
Thanks, Ben. Inspires me hugely!
I have tried several options for keeping my clamps organized. They always ate up too much valuable wall space until a couple years ago when Woodpeckers came out with this rack. The ability to have six parallel jaw clamps in a single row and different size and style clamps in layers, really worked for me. Also, being modular, as clamps breed and multiply, I can alter and add to the configuration. For now, I have managed to free up a lot of wall space and corral my clamps in a very good way. It is a bit pricey, but well worth the money. https://www.woodpeck.com/woodpeckers-clamp-rack-it-system.html
Nice video, Ben, with some good clamp storage ideas. It's always nice to see how you're progressing in getting the FWW Shop set up -- you're doing a terrific job there.
And by the way, Lee Valley sells a wooden clamp rack that I use in my shop and find that it works well at holding several parallel clamps. You can see it here:
https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/tools/hand-tools/clamps/110547-lee-valley-clamp-rack?item=15K1101
Come on Ben, you know the old saying, the guy with the most clamps wins! Looks like you guys might be contenders
Ben,
The ability to make woodworking videos appears to be a large part of the future of Fine Woodworking and similar publications. At least, all of the operations that are still extant seem to be heavily invested in this type of format.
When The Taunton Press was sold to AIM on 12/3/23, who got custody of the Fine Woodworking shop? Is it still in use? Are you still able to make videos there (I hope, I hope).
The shop is still there... still a mess!
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