The Versatile Wedge

Synopsis: Wedges are commonly used in joinery, but they also come in handy when clamping, especially in situations where traditional clamps get in the way or can’t do the job. They are also great for separating parts safely without damage. Bob Van Dyke makes his wedges from offcuts, or uses a jig if he needs a lot of the same type. He uses them to clamp thin panels, secure long edging to a workpiece, hold stock for edge-planing and routing, and take apart furniture for repair.

The wedge: I’m continually amazed at how something so simple can be so incredibly useful. It’s common to see wedges used in joinery, and they are the traditional way that a cutter is held in a hand tool like a handplane or cutting gauge. But I also find them really handy in certain clamping situations where traditional clamps are cumbersome or completely ineffective.

Not only is the force created by wedging action great when used to hold parts together, but that same force can also be used to safely separate parts with no damage.

I constantly find new purposes for wedges in the shop, even though they’ve been around as long as recorded history. Here I’ll show a few ways to clamp with wedges, a few ways to take things apart, and a few ways to hold work at the bench. once you’ve explored all the ways wedges can help you in the shop, you may think twice about buying another expensive specialty clamp.

They are easy to make

If you save offcuts from angled furniture parts like tapered legs, you might already have ready-made wedges stashed around your shop. When I do need a wedge that’s a certain size or with a specific slope, it’s easy to cut one or two wedges from the edge of a board on the bandsaw.

When I need multiple wedges of the same size and shape, I cut them on the bandsaw with a simple jig (see photos, below). Plane the stock to thickness and cut it to length, then place it in the jig’s notch and push it through the blade. Flip the stock end over end to cut the next wedge. For most clamping applications these bandsawn wedges will be ready to use right off the saw. But if the bandsaw leaves too rough a surface, clamp the wedges together in a vise and smooth them with a handplane.

From Fine Woodworking #249

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