New woodworker, $300 to spend on clamps—what should he buy?
I’m getting back into woodworking, having a serious go at it this time, after a long lay-off from a little of this, a little of that a long time ago. My enthusiasm is dragging along a friend as well, and he’s starting to set up shop in his garage. I’ve been able to give decent feedback on a fair number of things, but he stymied me with a query that I realized I didn’t have a known good answer for: specifically, what clamps should constitute the beginning set-up for someone just beginning, who knows he wants to make cabinets and other furniture in the not-so-distant future?
I suggested to him that he could go the way that I did—collect a motley assortment of clamps of various types, lengths, etc. as one goes along, as one needs them. He looked at my array for a moment, and said, “Yeah, it’s a motley crew, alright. But there’s gotta be some sort of good starting point. Say I’ve got $300 to spend on clamps, to prime the pump, so to speak. Where do I start? A bunch of Irwin Quick Clamps? Pipe clamps? They’re cheap, you tell me, but do the job. C-clamps? F-clamps? Parallel clamps? Those awful wood screw clamps you have that I don’t know how to use? Look, I know I’m gonna need clamps, and I could just come steal some of yours when I need ‘em, but I don’t wanna be waiting for them to arrive or whatever when I’ve got a free weekend and all that’s slowing me down is not having the right clamps.”
So we sat down and came up with a list:
2 each, Quick Clamps, in 12, 24, 36 inches.
Four 4” hand spring clamps
Two 3/4” pipe clamp assemblies and 2 each of 4-and 6-foot lengths of pipe
Two 48” parallel clamps
2 each, F-style deep-throated bar clamps, 12, 24, 36 inches
I didn’t try to price it all out, but I figure we’ve gotta be getting close to that $300 mark with a list like that, and it seemed like a good list. But…
What are we forgetting? Or giving short shrift to? Too much of?
Thoughts/suggestions obviously welcomed.
Replies
I’d skip the parallel clamps and get extra F clamps.
Maybe a couple of 12” deep throat clamps.
Mike
Interesting that you mention that right off the bat. We talked about that, but Tom knows how much I love my parallel clamps, and I think he mistakes that for “need” a bit. Expensive, for sure.
I love the quick clamps, but use mostly 6 inch, and some 12. I have more of those than any other type. They have serious drawbacks,, but they are very handy.. I think the 24 and 36 are a waste of money.
For long lengths, pipe clamps are the most budget friendly. I started out with a ton of them, but only pull them out now when running low on parallel clamps, which are my favorite for panel and carcase glue ups. I use mostly 24 inch, but if you can only afford a couple, longer is more cost effective.
I use spring clamps a lot. Find a deal, and they are cheap.
I love the heavy duty Bessey F clamps -- not the ones with the clutch, which I hate. I use 6 inch and deep 12 inch. They are pricey, but very strong. I would have no use for longer versions, if you have parallel and bar clamps.
I have a bucket of c clamps I have not touched in a couple of decades. They are handy for weighing down a glueup. Those things are heavy.
I use quick clamps a lot, too, even incl. up to about 36”—though not for glue-ups or holding for work, more for testing fit/size. I do use mostly the 12” size, though—they’re almost as handy as spring clamps.
I have a lot of pipe clamps, and until I started using parallel clamps they were my go-to for carcases and panels; indeed, I might just give Tom some of my pipe clamps.
The F clamps I use, I’ll admit, are mostly the Besseys with the clutches; I don’t like ‘em, but I’ve got ‘em, and they work, though I don’t have any with a 12” or more throat, and I wish I did. Hmmmm..... I use ‘em mostly in conjunction with my parallel clamps when I’m running short on a large carcase or multiple panels, etc.
I have one C clamp now. (Well, probably a few others hiding here and there, but only one I’ve intentionally kept.) The one I have is the only tool/device I have from my grandfather’s farm, and I use it now and again just ‘cause of that, though I know he’d tell me to throw the dang thing out and use a better/easier clamp.
But thanks much for your thoughts—very much appreciated. Indeed, I’d kinda forgotten about the super-deep-throated Besseys, so I’m glad you mentioned ‘em. I think they go as deep as what, 20, 22 inches? Gonna have to look that up. But I can think of a couple scenarios wherein a 12” or so throat would be nice.
Clamp recommendations will depend greatly on the projects he intends to build. Casework, bookshelves, dressers, etc have entirely different clamping need than jewelry boxes. So first I would suggest he think long and hard about what he will be building as he learns.
Personally I think pipe clamps are awful and don't own a single one. Plus I don't think they are the bargain people think they are, unless you have an abundance of black pipe sitting around. A 3/4" pipe clamp cost $15-17 a 48" piece of black pipe about $15 so a minimum of $30 ea. Right now a 2 pack of 48" parallel clamps at taytools.com is $89.99 and it is a much better clamp in my opinion.
My go to clamps are my Bessey Parallel clamps but then I build mostly larger items. I also recommend buying clamps in groups of 4's especially for case work 2 clamps are seldom sufficient. There are less expensive versions of parallel clamps as well, my son just got some from Tay Tools that look promising at probably 30% less than my Bessey.
My second most used clamp are the F-bodies which I have numerous sizes of from 8" to 48"
And since I'm old I still have a sizable collection of the classic iron bar clamps in sizes for 36"-60" for when I really need to put the pressure on. Just kidding these seldom leave the rack these days after discovering parallel clamps.
And yes I would fight you to give up my wood handscrews. Once you learn to use them properly they are indispensable
I haven't owned a spring clamp in decades but have come to see value in quick acting clamps sold by Armor, they self adjust and can put a pretty good amount of clamping pressure on if you can squeeze them one handed.
Personally the quick clamps are more of a luxury and are easily replaced by my f-body clamps which I feel are more versatile.
You make a great point about clamp needs being dictated by interest/work; Tom intends to get into casework mostly, he thinks, probably along the lines of stand-up cabinets, dressers, bookcases, that sort of thing.
I’m still learning the secrets of the wood hand screw clamps. Never used ‘em much until acquiring some recently, and they’re surprising me fairly frequently with what one can do with ‘em.
I use the quick clamps as one-handed clamps, kinda like spring clamps for when I can’t quite get the spring clamps to reach, or similar.
Also, excellent point about getting clamps in groups of 4; I’ll make sure to mention that to Tom, too.
Thanks again.
Perry
Thanks for the tip on Taylor Toolwork. Looks like a great place to peruse those wood working tools and supplies that somehow always make the mysterious transformation from "Nice to" to Got to" have.
This may be controversial [that's o.k., when haven't I been?], but, even if money grew on trees, it'd be a stunted, dwarf variety. I'd suggest this friend in need of a clamp starter selection look into HFT's Pittsburgh brand F-Style and Pipe clamps. they've greatly improved over the years. [Their pipe clamps with stand off legs are the equivalent of Irwins but usually a buck or three less expensive apiece.] I started with a half dozen F-Clamps in 6", 12", 18", 24" and 36" apiece and then doubled up on those as I went along. The wooden hand-screws are far more useful than you think; using one 12" clamp to hold a board on edge and another one to clamp the first clamp to your bench is a very quick and easy way to hold that board while you joint an edge for example. [Put the board to be planed edge down on your bench, clamp it from one end with the hand-screw laying flat on the bench and then use the second clamp to clamp the first one to your bench.] I once had someone look at my clamps - in my house, no less - and start snickering about their origin, etc. and I reminded him that if your joints truly fit you don't need too much pressure to hold them together. Somehow he didn't like that. Oh, well.
Some ideas: I would consider 6" quick adjust bar clamps. They are light, versatile, and cheap (and when squeezed down over a band-aid, the bleeding immediately stops).
Also look a at Jorgensen hand screw clamps for multi-uses around the shop (if you notch out the jaws, you can clamp dowels, or 'hold' small stock on the drill press).
For the long stuff, I would pass on the pipe clamps (I own 4) and go with the Bessey style. If you add in their Framing Set and K-body Extender, you've got a much more versatile and adaptable clamping 'system' rather than trying to maneuver 6' of pipe around the shop.
LOL!!! Giving a very funny, imaginative twist to the "Edward Scissor-hands" concept, Elmaduro. (Also could be used in a movie scene when the surgeon says "Clamp" ... .)
Super subject with a bunch of right answers. Clamps are a lot like router bits, chisels, planes, and saw blades; what is right for one may not be right for another BUT, there is a baseline of items most folks use.
Like someone else mentioned my f-style clutch-type clamps that I bought when starting out get used the least now. Slip-style f-clamps get used a lot.
I finally managed to give all but a few of my quick grip clamps away as I find them essentially useless. That's just me.
If you do much case work parallel clamps are great IMHO. A couple decades ago if I ever ran out of 24" k-bodys I bought more at the next sale. I kept doing this until I stopped running out during glue ups. Other lengths are good too. Once you start pushing over 4 feet a switch to pipe clamps may be in order.
Cheap pipe clamps are more trouble than they are worth. A HFT 3/4" pipe clamp almost did in hours of work for me just the other day. It and it's brother hit the recycle bin. I have a dozen Jorgie 3/4" pipe clamps so they won't be missed. They're not for everything but, when you need a quality pipe clamp, a pipe clamp is what you want.
Bessey UniKlamps are my most used clamps and I have a grip of them. Probably a couple dozen 12" UniKlamps alone.
I have 3 dozen Bessey mighty-minis in 4" and they are probably my second most used clamp in terms of frequency. They do everything from 3rd hand service to edge strip and trim clamping.
I would recommend a 'buy as you need them' method to your friend. The clamps I gathered as I needed them are the ones I use the most. The ones I bought to "get started" are generally the last to get used.
Like router bits, buying a set without actually knowing how you might use them often results in things bought but, not used.
I'll have to check out the slip-style F clamps, they seem promising. I use the clutch style a lot, but don't love them, and could use some >12" anyway.
Parallel clamps are my favorite, it's interesting to see in this post that many people love them, so not-so-much. I have eight 12", four 24" and two 31", and that suits me fine for now (fairly new hobbyist with a fraction of the clamps owned by more experienced folks). I have Jet and Bessey, and prefer the Jet (I assume that's a Coke-vs-Pepsi thing). To the OP, if your friend is a patient person, camelcamelcamel will let you know about sales on Amazon. I set a target price, forgot about it, got an email notification, and bought them on sale.
If this is a thread about which you clamps you love, a companion thread could be which clamps you hate. My list-topper is the Rocker "sure-foot" aluminum bar clamp. They go on sale a lot, which I why I have them. They are cranky and fickle and loathesome in every way. My clamp of last resort, they reside (literally) under my bench.
I'm curious, GDB, what, exactly, went wrong with your HFT pipe clamp(s)? Yes, the one's from the mid-'90's were "El Junko", but thus far, the ones (with the stand-off feet, at least) made in this millennium I've had no problems with.
I had a bunch of parallel clamps. Sold them all and bought twice as many Bessey heavy F clamps. Best thing I ever did. Search for Michael Fortunes article on glue ups. Begone heavy clumsy parallel clamps.
"(fairly new hobbyist with a fraction of the clamps owned by more experienced folks)."
I'll just chime in again with a cautionary tale . . . one can get a little clamp-crazy and snap up good deals as they wander along through life. This describers me pretty well a decade or so ago. The downside is that you have to store them. They eat large amounts of space and honing your choices to fewer clamps that meet your needs is not a bad thing ;-)
In my basement shop I've got about 5 inches between the top of my noggin and the bottom of the floor joists above. I have to duck when going under the main beam in the middle of the house. There are a couple of drain traps I have to (try) and remember to duck also.
Almost all of my clamps are stored in between the joists, or, in the case of quick clamps, clamped to the joists themselves. It makes reaching up and grabbing one very convenient when my hands are busy. Its one of the reasons I really like the one-handed clamps.
So, when you make that project video, is it going to be "The 'Hard-Hatted', or the 'Hard-Headed' Woodworker"?
A good clamp is worth its weight, but some times you just need extra clamps. To fill out my clamp collection I went to Harbor Freight and bought a selection of aluminum bar clamps. Then I dimensioned some off cuts and used it to fill up the inside of the bar. It makes them way stiffer. It is a way to take you clamp money and spread it out a bit further.
I have some of those [the five footers] and that's a good tip. (One of those: "Hunched shoulders and slopping foreheads" ones. "You ask 'em a question and they shrug their shoulders. Then you give 'em the answer and they slap their foreheads".)
I personally hate bar clamps and consider the few I have a waste of money. Home depot sells the Bessey parallel 24"& 50" clamps for $50ish a piece and has a really great deal on an assorted pack of light duty bessey F clamps. I would start there, in whatever combination makes the most sense for the next project in mind, and maybe throw in a couple 6-12" quick clamps for basic shop things.
I use my Irwin pipe clamps all the time. I have 12 of them - various sizes. They don't have a deep reach like parallel clamps, but I simply clamp from both sides when I glue up a panel. I would recommend 4 each of 24" and 36" and later get longer ones. You'll regret only have two. I also use my 6" and 12" F clamps (4 of each) a lot. I first bought Bessy and as they fail, I'm replacing them with Irwin. I also have a bunch of spring clamps. Home Depot had them for $1 each a few years ago and I stocked up. I rarely use the quick clamps I have.
Free tip...be sure to have sturdy racks for your pipe clamps if you park your truck next to the rack. I learned that the hard way.
Free tip #2...if the ridges on the bar on the F clamp wear out and they won't close tight (Bessy, I'm looking at you), use your hack saw to refresh them.
Instead of a hacksaw, you might consider clamping those Bessy F-clamps horizontally - notches up - and use an 4"/4½" angle grinder to "Refresh" them.
I like most of the answers here.
I would only add that it is worth getting a variety to begin with.
My only 'must-buy' are small quick-clamps. The Irwin ones are popular. I have the deWalt 4 pack and they are so good I bought 8. Stronger than they look and useful for so many things round the shop. It's nice to have a clamp that can hold a stop block or featherboard in place and not get in the way.
My second buy would be 4 deWalt heavy duty 600mm clamps. These are REALLY strong and are nearly as good as parallel jaw clamps for a lower price, plus the one-handed operation advantage. You can use them to clamp longer pieces if you need to with wooden extension pieces.
After that buy as projects dictate, preferring the better quality items where you can.
I'll chime in again because I think it is important to keep in mind the OP's friend plan to build mostly casework. Casework requires larger and usually heavier clamps. Since most new woodworkers start building casework with plywood not solid wood I would say you could skip the 24" parallel clamps and get 4 x 30 or 36" and 4 x 48" throw in 4 x 12" clamps of some type me I would do f-body because they can apply more pressure when needed than quick clamps but I wouldn't argue to strenuously if you wanted quick clamps. Yes I know this is more like a $400 budget for clamps but you can't escape the fact it is the minimum of what you need to build casework. Buying a bunch of clamps that don't meet your needs is a waste of money IMO
Lots of good advice above. I will add how many of one thing will you make? Bessey clamps are great but are expensive. I bought HF parallel clamps when they still had them and they work fine. I mostly build small tables and an occasional large dining room table. The parallel clamps work great for this kind of work. (I suggest waxing the shafts to allow easy glue removal - or put a strip of painter tape where glue squeeze out would get on the shaft.) I use pipe clamps for larger assemblies. I added wood overlays on each end to aid assembly. I have a bunch of HF 'F' clamps. They are OK for light duty but, hey, if you are joining two boards together they really should not need a 10 ton compressive force to get the boards together, right? (I will never swear under oath that I have not used the 10 ton load.) I have the two of the HF heavy duty ratcheting clamps and they work very well. The cheap ones do not work for me. I just used the wood screws today. I use the spring clamps every now and then. I did use my 'C' clamps when I was building my work bench, not that much lately.
So it breaks down to what you are building today. You probably will branch off to other projects in the future and need different clamps for those jobs. Don't try to get enough for all future projects. today Cover what you will build in the near future and expand your collection as the need arises.
Good Luck
Thanks to all who posted comments for the genuine help provided. Tom just sat here reading through the comments and says he’s now got a pretty good idea. He does wanna focus on casework as he goes along, he says, and so he’s gonna need some long clamps. He’s thinking he’ll start with the slip-style F clamps—he played around with mine with the clutches, and he agrees, the clutches aren’t for him. That’ll save him a little over going for parallel bar clamps, and he’s already picked up a handful of 12” quick clamps, and two handfuls of spring clamps. (I picked up a pair of 12” Jorgensen wooden screw clamps for him, too. Tom laughed, says they’ll look good on the wall.)
Thanks, everyone!
Perry
My suggestion is go to Harbor Freight and pick up an assortment of aluminum bar clamps and F clamps.
The bar clamps are a must for panel glue ups. You really don't want to be using F clamps for this. Don't get any long than 48". Before you use the bar clamps, remove the head and file the collar b/c they are bad about binding. Then insert a section of hardwood in the channel to stiffen up the bar.
I use them all the time, in some cases I prefer them to parallel clamps which can add a huge amount of weight if you have to relocate the glue up overnight.
The Harbor Freight F clamps I would actually put up against Bessey with the exception the pads fall off a lot easier. (BTW where are all those missing Bessey pads????)
Stay away from the longer F clamps and the cheap quick grip type clamps.
You can also pick up smaller Bessey F clamps at Home Dept
Next would be a few deep reach F clamps.
My opinion, I have a selection of various clamps but focus on 2.
F clamps, and while I have some Bessy, I find the harbor freight ones just fine. I tend to get 12-18 inch, they are my go to for small stuff.
Pipe clamps. I like the Bessy with the feet. I like the 3/4 ones and my favorites I have a 36 in ish pipe on it but usually 60 in. I get a pipe at the store (6 ft if they have it but lately it has been 10 ft) and cut them in half. I also keep some full pipes and couplers on had I'd I need something longer.
Combine those with some cauls and I can do a lot.
I have some quick clamps, but don't use them often. I like my parallel jaw clamps but they are expensive. I'll probably pickup some handscrews soon but not as much as clamps as work holding tools. C clamps are nice but I use them more for metal than wood. I have several bar clamps but honestly the pipe clamps are just as good although a bit lighter (price is not worth it for me)
I have some other clamps, which are great but mostly specific use, and for specific projects.
My approach is about getting the most good enough clamps for the money so you can get a good collection. My dad used to get 2 of whatever size/type, 2 just is not enough when things go wrong.
Much good advice here. Nobody has mentioned good old-fashioned, but less-and-less-known, wooden hand clamps. The kind with the long, flat, square jaws, the tapered ends and two hand screws. I waited way too long into my woodworking career -- 25 years or so -- before I got to know how useful these babies are. They can apply quite a length of excellent pressure ranging from gentle to really damn aggressive. They adapt to angles. They excel at holding things for work while being themselves clamped to a surface with something like an f-clamp. They make excellent stops for machines. Fantastic. At first you don't know how the hell they work and why someone would use them but once you get used to them they are indispensable. They are the only clamps I'm looking to add to my little old collection these days.
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