Like a David Bowie-Freddie Mercury duet, clamps are all about pressure (with Vanilla Ice as the Harbor Freight knock off).
They’re like an extra set of hands around the woodshop. From workholding, to glue ups, to temporary attachments — clamps do it all.
But they’re also a very misunderstood tool (and there’s a good to fair chance you actually can have enough).
Used the wrong way, clamps lead to misaligned joints, cupped panels, and glue ups so stressful you feel like you’re trying to resuscitate a flat-lining patient.
That’s why I’m giving you my Top 7 Clamping Tips — covering the different styles, what they’re used for, and how to get the best results.
A lot of this post is about panel glue ups, which are often the hardest to get right. But keep these tips in mind anytime you’re using clamps.
Donald Kern
June 01, 2022
Excellent advice as usual. The old woodworker’s adage, “You can never have enough clamps” you completely dispell. The one thing I might add is that dry fitting and a “glue up rehearsal” can greatly take the pressure off—especially in a complicated glue up—when you are working against the glue setup time. It also let’s you know when what you thought was going to be fine actually isn’t. And you devise the Plan B without the time pressure of the glue setting up.