Woodworking Clamps and Their Uses

Woodworking clamps are essential for woodworking projects in the woodwork shop. The main uses are for clamping work pieces together that have been glued or for other assembly where the work needs to be held for nailing, screwing, or bolting. The most common type of clamp for these purposes are pipe clamps, miter clamps and G lamps.

 Another area for woodworking clamps is for holding timber pieces to a workbench or other solid fixture so the timber can be worked on. Some times your woodworking vise is too small to hold larger timbers and clamps can assist in these instances, just be sure that the fixture you clamp to is stable and secure so as the work piece wont move. This is most important if you are using woodworking power tools on the clamped piece. The best type of clamp for these purposes would be a G clamp or pipe clamps. 

When buying woodworking clamps try to buy quality, this does not mean the most expensive but more to buy those tools that have familiar brand names. Avoid the cheapies and anything plastic. Below is a selection of woodworking clamps  to have around the woodworking shop.

G Clamps - 

 Also called "C" clamps because of the C shaped frame and are often used in woodwork, carpentry and welding so are not limited to just woodwork. They are used for many purposes as a woodworking clamp and are generally the most versatile. G clamps are very strong and have a great holding capacity. Sizes range from as small as 2" to up to 12". 

Take extra care when working with delicate woods and furniture. As they are metal, the base and head of the G clamp, generally no larger than a quarter, can cause indentations and marring on the surfaces being clamped together. This can be avoided by using pieces of scrap wood against the surfaces. Each piece of scrap wood is placed directly in contact with the flat edges of the clamp and with the items being clamped. This allows the scrap wood to receive the damage from the clamping, while also dispersing the clamping force across the piece of scrap wood into the clamped objects. 

Pipe Clamps or Sash Clamps - 

 The beauty of these is that you can make the clamp as long as you require by simply selecting a length of pipe. Pipe clamps come as a pair, one piece carries a thread to which a 1" or 3/4" pipe can be screwed into, (obtainable from your local metal shop or hardware store) the other part of the woodworking clamp will slide freely on the pipe until pressure is placed on it during the clamping process. These are ideal for larger projects where G lamps are to small. The best way to utilize pipe clamps is to have several different pipe lengths tat can be interchange with the clamp. 

Bar Clamps - 

Similar in function to pipe clamps except using a flat bar. Typically used as woodworking clamps they consist of a flat bar with two jaws, one jaw is fixed while the other slides on the bar. Bar clamps are sold in various but fixed lengths as opposed to the flexibility of a pipe clamp. Bar clamps generally come equipped with rubber pads on the contact parts of the clamp eliminating the need to use timber scrap against damaging the timber. 

Corner Clamps - 

 as they sound, these woodworking clamps are for holding corners together, start by buying four and build up to what you find useful by buying two at a time. 

Band Clamp or Web Clamp - 

These are the type of clamp where a ratchet mechanism which tightens the band, usually these days of a nylon webbing. Most useful for holding or strapping woodworking projects that aren’t square such as a barrel. 

Spring Clamps - 

Quick and easy to use, kind of a large bulldog paper clip, (that you could also use). Not intended to clamp a lot of weight but useful as a woodworking clamp all the same. 

Vice Grip C Clamps - 

Multiple use and worth every penny, get several sizes, again watch for the metal contact parts bruising surfaces you want left blemish free.

Woodworking clamps are your best friend in the workshop, they hold things for long periods without complaining while you go have coffee somewhere, look after them and they will look after you. Dont neglect or get lazy when you are using woodworking power tools on awkward timber projects, Clamp it down!