| Woodworking Clamps |
From "Ask DIY"
episode ADI-508 |
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In woodworking, proper clamping is essential. Without proper pressure applied to a glue joint, the glue won't hold. DIY's woodworking and wood refinishing expert Bruce Johnson reviews some of the commonly used woodworker's clamps, and tells how to select the right clamp for the job. - Pipe clamps and bar clamps are some of the most versatile and useful clamps in any woodworking shop.
- As the name implies, a pipe clamp (figure A) uses a metal pipe to provide the length required for the job of clamping a piece of furniture or a large glue-up job.
- When you purchase pipe clamps, typically you'll buy the elements separately -- with the head and tail-stock sold separately from the pipe. That way, you can purchase the length of pipe you need for the job.
- When gluing pieces of wood with a pipe clamp, place the elements between the jaws of the clamp, and snug up the clamp using the adjusting cranks (figure B). Pipe clamps are good for moderate to heavy projects.
- For smaller woodworking jobs where less heavy-duty pressure is required during glue-up, consider using bar clamps (figure C). These are sold as a single unit, and use a smaller metal bar instead of a pipe. Use bar clamps for pulling smaller pieces of wood together and holding them secure as your glue dries.
- For gluing up larger or more intricate pieces such as chairs, you may have occasion to use multiple clamps (figure D). Using a number of clamps will provide adequate clamping pressure from multiple directions to hold a structure together as glue hardens.
- In some cases, an alternative to using multiple clamps is to use a single belt clamp. These clamps, constructed from a belt of durable nylon, can be tightened around a large piece -- such as a chair base or picture frame (figure E) -- to apply pressure from all around.
- Belt clamps work fine for light to moderate gluing jobs. They work especially well on picture frames since they apply even pressure to four joints simultaneously. Simply apply the belt clamp and tighten it using the ratchet and adjusting nut (figure F) on the metal buckle.
Clamps can be expensive, and there's little reason to buy a large number of clamps that you may only use once or twice. If you run short of clamps, here are some suggestions for some easy substitutes. - Consider using something heavy such as a milk jug filled with sand or a spare weightlifting weight to put pressure on a joint with the help of gravity (figure G).
- A simple spring-clamp (figure H) is less expensive than larger clamps, and may serve the purpose in many situations.
- A makeshift clamp can be made from a pair of pliers or an adjustable wrench by clamping the jaws of the tool in the location where you are gluing (figure I) and using a heavy rubber band to hold the handles together. Use a wood shim or piece of scrap wood to protect the wood finish from the jaws of the pliers.
- Bungee cords (figure J) or a piece of an old bicycle inner-tuber can be used in place of a clamp or belt-clamp in some applications.
Woodworker's Tip: Whenever gluing together two pieces of wood using ordinary woodworker's glue, keep the joint clamped firmly together for 24 hours until the glue can reach full strength.
RESOURCES :
The Weekend Refinisher:
How to Make the Most of Your Furniture-A Step-by-Step Guide
Author: Bruce E. Johnson
Publisher: Ballantine Books
ISBN: 034535866X
The Wood Finisher: How to Finish Everything, From Decks to Floors to Doors
Author: Bruce Johnson
ISBN: 0345372972
Ballantine Books
Fine Woodworking
A magazine devoted to high-quality craftsmanship in woodworking.
The Taunton Press Inc.
Website: www.taunton.com
The Small Wood Shop (The Best of Fine Woodworking)
Author: Helen Albert (Editor)
Publisher: Taunton Press
ISBN: 1561580619
Woodworking Techniques: Best Methods for Building Furniture from Fine Woodworking
Author: Editors of Fine Woodworking magazine
Publisher: Taunton Press
ISBN: 1561583456
The Complete Woodworker's Companion
Author: Roger Holmes
Publisher: Watson-Guptill
ISBN: 0823008665
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