Clamps and thoughts

[earcaesar1]

I was looking to get some thoughts on some clamps. I currently don't have a lot of clampa. I have some cheap f clamps from HF and 2 pipe clamps I got a while ago. The pipe clamps are kind of a pain unless I am doing it wrong to clamp large panels.

I am mostly working on large dining tables and some small cabinet and drawers. I do have some interest in doing some picture frames.

What kind of clamps you all recommend? I think the parallel clamps are good but the price is pretty high. Pipe clamps I have issues with keeping it flat on the ground. Table top that I make are heavy with 2x10 and 2x12 boards. (farmhouse style tables)

I was looking at maybehttps://www.toolsforworkingwood.com/store/item/MS-ABAR.XX/Universal_Bar_Clamps

But not sure how they would fare with what I like to do and hold the weight of the top

 

[lwoirhaye]

Those are like aluminum sash clamps.  I don't have any but they seem like a good product and certainly lighter to move around.  Harbor Freight sells something similar I think, though maybe not as well made (I have some specialized clamps made by the maker of those clamps in the picture and they are pretty well made).

Pipe clamps are ok if you want to save some money.  You can also make wooden sash clamps, which used to be a thing.  Iron sash clamp heads are also available to attach to boards. 

Clamps are a thing where you get what you pay for generally buying them new - I bought used ones whenever I found them for years and saved some money that way.

 

[semenza]

Parallel clamps will be good for everything you mentioned. It isn't just the parallel part that makes them good. The jaws are large, flat , and smooth. They sit well on a surface and can still be slid open shut while sitting. They are pricey  but really hard to beat in actual use. Try a couple.

Seth

 

[treesner]

Love my jet parallel clamps that I always get on sale on Black Friday. Not sure if they still do that or not

 

[dlu]

Bessey K-Body Revo clamps are nice – and the list price is breathtaking, especially if you need several. But if you look around you can fine some decent deals. Home Depot often has OK prices on the 24 and 50 inch versions, as does Acme Tool.

 

[Corwin]

I recently purchased some of the Debuque Universal Bar Clamps for glueing up panels. These are very nice quality clamps, and I like their lighter weight for glueing panels over the Bessey parallel clamps that I had been using.

You really do need an assortment of different clamps for the various tasks you mention. The Dubuque clamps are a good start. And the link you provided has a decent price on these. I'd get a at least six or eight of any given size for starters.

 

[earcaesar1]

I recently purchased some of the Debuque Universal Bar Clamps for glueing up panels. These are very nice quality clamps, and I like their lighter weight for glueing panels over the Bessey parallel clamps that I had been using.

You really do need an assortment of different clamps for the various tasks you mention. The Dubuque clamps are a good start. And the link you provided has a decent price on these. I'd get a at least six or eight of any given size for starters.

How would you say they are with gluing up a large farmhouse style table top? Such as say 2x40x96. Trying to see if they would be able to handle the wait and still function while flat on the ground

 

[Corwin]

How would you say they are with gluing up a large farmhouse style table top? Such as say 2x40x96. Trying to see if they would be able to handle the wait and still function while flat on the ground

These are well made clamps made from a thicker material than many other brands of bar clamps. I haven't done any glue ups with these that have been as large as you describe, but I think they should work fine. Maybe you should ask Joel at Tools for Working Wood before you purchase to learn what he thinks of these clamps for your application.

 

[dlu]

I recently purchased some of the Debuque Universal Bar Clamps for glueing up panels. These are very nice quality clamps, and I like their lighter weight for glueing panels over the Bessey parallel clamps that I had been using.

You really do need an assortment of different clamps for the various tasks you mention. The Dubuque clamps are a good start. And the link you provided has a decent price on these. I'd get a at least six or eight of any given size for starters.

How would you say they are with gluing up a large farmhouse style table top? Such as say 2x40x96. Trying to see if they would be able to handle the wait and still function while flat on the ground

I think they would be way more than adequate. The aluminum tube is strong and light, it will do fine supporting the weight of the top and they loop like they are built to work while resting on a larger surface, if you want a bit more clearance you could place some 2x2s under the clamps. If you balance the load on the clamps by putting about half on the bottom (under the glue-up) and half on the top, it will help to keep the top flat.

 

[Birdhunter]

I started collecting Blessey clamps about 30 years ago buying them as needed for projects. I now have a wall full. They are expensive, but extremely well made. The ones I bought 30 years ago are still functioning perfectly. These clamps exert an amazing amount of pressure while keeping the faces parallel. Dryed glue peels off with either a finger nail or a light touch with a single edge razor blade.

 

[PreferrablyWood]

I have recently bought and used the Dubuque sash type clamps, ones with a clamping width of just over three feet. They are nice and light and the butterfly type tightening handles is easy on the hand. I bought six and added three more. For longer clamping distances I use Juma high quality pipe clamps I have six and will add maybe 4 more and just get the additional lengths of pipes I need as jobs require.

I have about 9 Steep C clamps with about a 24 cm clamping distance 7 bar clamps with 24 cm clamping clamping size and 24 C clamps with a 3 inch clamping distance.

I really like the steel C clamps German make similar til bessey so may get 10 er so with a 40 cm clamping distance for selv made laminated beams..Juma makes some with a similiar quality to the besseys.. 

 

[sancho57]

[member=182]Corwin[/member]

This is a little off topic for this thread. Where is a good plce to buy lumber/ply etc near the Tri cities area? Thanks for your help. [smile]

 

[Corwin]

[member=182]Corwin[/member]

This is a little off topic for this thread. Where is a good plce to buy lumber/ply etc near the Tri cities area? Thanks for your help. [smile]

Sorry, but I cannot help you with the Tri-Cities area. That's on the other side of the mountains from me. I have a difficult enough time finding suppliers anywhere near me.  [smile]

 

[Jaybolishes]

Beware the jet 60” parallel clamps. I bought 8 and only 2 of them worked correctly.  The other 6 would bind when you would screw them in to tighten. They wouldn’t put any pressure on the work piece.  Just be sure to test them all quickly soon after you buy them.

 

[earcaesar1]

what size throat would you say would be a good one to get? I see a lot of the bessey f clamps are mostly either 3.5 or 2.5 throat size.

Is too big of a throat a bad thing? I know an inch makes a big difference, but would it be better to just get 3.5?

 

[semenza]

what size throat would you say would be a good one to get? I see a lot of the bessey f clamps are mostly either 3.5 or 2.5 throat size.

Is too big of a throat a bad thing? I know an inch makes a big difference, but would it be better to just get 3.5?

More throat depth is generally better unless it is really deep like 10" and might get i the way on some things.

One of the pluses of parallel clamps is that the entire throat is clamping surface.  So it gives some options when clamping some types of things to not have to always clamp at the end of the jaw. 

Seth

 

[online421]

I have different types of clamps,

you can consider Frontline clamps if you do table tops, I have 8 of these babies and they are great.

If you do large/wide glue ups, you may need a glue table like this.

[attachimg=1]

It also helps if you have deep throat F clamp. I love my Urko F clamp. having Bessey sitting next to them make Bessey look like Wanna-Be clamps...

[attachimg=2]

 

[treesner]

I have different types of clamps,

you can consider Frontline clamps if you do table tops, I have 8 of these babies and they are great.

If you do large/wide glue ups, you may need a glue table like this.

[attachimg=1]

It also helps if you have deep throat F clamp. I love my Urko F clamp. having Bessey sitting next to them make Bessey look like Wanna-Be clamps...

[attachimg=2]

need those giant urkos where do I buy them

 

[earcaesar1]

Yeah I've been trying to figure out how to find them in the states also

 

[Cheese]

Try Grainger, I saw some there some time ago. You may not like Grainger's prices though... [smile]