Woodpecker box clamps?

[bruegf]

I'm curious if any of you use the Woodpecker BC4-M2 Box Clamps and what you think about them.  I'm about to start on a building a new set of kitchen cabinets for myself and need to buy some clamps to build the cabinet boxes.  I'm wondering how the box clamps work or if I'd be better off buying Bessey K body clamps.

While the box clamps won't be as versatile as the Bessey clamps, they look like they would be far more convenient and have the advantage of making it easier to keep the boxes square.

Thx

Fred

 

[RONWEN]

I have several of both the old style aluminum and the newer plastic box clamps.  I use them when I glue up several sets of drawers (8 per drawer) & they work no matter what joint I choose.  They have no where near the clamping force of Bessey clamps but are adequate for the purpose.  The obvious advantage is the investment is much lower than Besseys and it doesn't matter what span the drawers (or other box) are.

 

[doc4som]

Fred,I am also considering what system to use for clamping (building ) cabinets. I was looking at Fastcap Assembly blocks (fastcap.com under pro tools). I have no experience with them nor have I bought them. Maybe somebody else knows more. I would like to know. Good luck- Carlos

 

[doc4som]

To RonWen,  Just recently I saw the video on the Woodpecker fiberglass (FG) clamps where they say these clamps have a grove teeth & channel which makes them easier to work. They fail to say easier than what .  In your experience,are the FG clamps easier to work with than the aluminum ones ?

 

[RONWEN]

To RonWen,  Just recently I saw the video on the Woodpecker fiberglass (FG) clamps where they say these clamps have a grove teeth & channel which makes them easier to work. They fail to say easier than what .  In your experience,are the FG clamps easier to work with than the aluminum ones ?

Yes, I suppose the teeth are an improvement over the (smooth) aluminum ones although I didn't seem to have issues using those either.  The FG clamps are considerably cheaper which is always a good thing.

 

[doc4som]

Thanks, RONWEN.  I just saw that  incrementaltools.com has the FG clamps for 10% off , but Woodpeck.com has them at the original price!

 

[Theshipstore]

I have been using them latley , I used them for the carcase build on my last set of cabinets and they work great. To me they helped square up the cabinet carcase and draw assemblies that much easier.

Sal

 

[bruegf]

Sal,

Did you have to use regular clamps to ensure the joint was tight or did the box clamp alone draw the joint together?

I just bought a set of 8 of the plastic box clamps and haven't used them yet, but just playing with a pair and a couple pieces of 3/4 scrap plywood, they didn't seem to get the butt joint tight enough to glue properly w/o also using a bar clamp to provide the actual clamping pressure.

Thanks

Fred

 

[Theshipstore]

Fred      I used them to square up everything and used bar clamps to hold it in place until the glue set

Sal

 

[tiralie]

I have 2 pairs of these woodpecker clamps and I thought they would be a good solution/backup to my bessy clamps.
I really tried to like them but I really find them extremely fussy to use. They looked like a great idea but when I started to use them in a recent cabinet project I just found they took some time to set up properly and then taking them off and repositioning them for the next corner/box was just a pain.
I really like the Bessey WS-3 Angle Clamp, more expensive but way easier to work with particularly when you are trying to work quickly and have a lot of boxes to make.
Tim

 

[doc4som]

There is a similar product at www.fastcap.com . the ass block (this is not a typo) . It seems to be the same idea as the Woopecker clamp. Has any of you used this? The Bessey product--- can it be screwed onto a table like the fastcap product?

 

[bruegf]

Fred      I used them to square up everything and used bar clamps to hold it in place until the glue set

Sal

Ok, that makes sense.  They do appear to be very quick and convenient for keeping the box square.

Fred

 

[RONWEN]

I have 2 pairs of these woodpecker clamps and I thought they would be a good solution/backup to my bessy clamps.
I really tried to like them but I really find them extremely fussy to use. They looked like a great idea but when I started to use them in a recent cabinet project I just found they took some time to set up properly and then taking them off and repositioning them for the next corner/box was just a pain.
I really like the Bessey WS-3 Angle Clamp, more expensive but way easier to work with particularly when you are trying to work quickly and have a lot of boxes to make.
Tim

A couple of things that I do may help -- I marked each block (magic marker) at the correct thickness setting for the stock size (3/4", 1/2", etc.) so I could pre-set them and when I'm ready to remove them I just pop them off with a mallet.  They are very durable & don't seem to mind.

 

[tiralie]

The Bessey product--- can it be screwed onto a table like the fastcap product?

Nope. The fast cap product looks like it would be good for drawers and smaller boxes.

A couple of things that I do may help -- I marked each block (magic marker) at the correct thickness setting for the stock size (3/4", 1/2", etc.) so I could pre-set them and when I'm ready to remove them I just pop them off with a mallet.  They are very durable & don't seem to mind.

Ron:
Thanks, I will try it out.
While I did have to fiddle with them, they did hold the box securely and squarely.
Tim

 

[fshanno]

Lamello has a product that looks pretty good.

[attachimg=1]

Lamello Clamping System

Almost bought a set from someone here on the FOG.  Pains me that I didn't do it.  Doesn't seem to be advertised here in the US but I bet Lamello dealers may be able to get it.

 

[doc4som]

This lamello systems reminds me of the MERLE CLAMP from www.mclswoodworking.com. I received an e-mail from www. Woodpeck.com , they really like their BC4-M2 box clamps, which are less expensive than their own aluminun box clamps. Now I only need to find someone who has compared the Woodpecker BC4-M2 vs Fastcap assembly block (at www. Fastcap.com). Anyone?