How do I clamp this corner?

[Dan Mages]

I am wondering what is the quickest and most efficient way to clamp a corner made up of two boards cut at a 45 degree angle? Please see the pic below. I do have one of those nifty Bessie 90 degree clamps to use. I don't want to put in a brad since I am planning on rounding over the outside corner with my router.

thanks!!

Dan

[Christian Aufreiter]

Hi Dan,

is there only this single corner or are you building a frame?
Or is it a cabinet's or drawer's corner?
Would it be possible to use biscuits or pocket hole joinery?

Regards,

Christian

[Ted Shrader]

Dan -

Since you have the Bessey corner clamp(s), why not make use of it(them)?

Ted

[Wes Newman]

Dan,

How about one of these (http://www.rockler.com/ecom7/product_details.cfm?&offerings_id=10112) Clamps from Rockler.

[Mark Singer]

Dan,

If it is an isolated joint. Screw a couple of blocks on each side ...then use a clamp. A miter without a tenon, bisquit, dowel or spline is a weak joint though.

[Dan Mages]

To clarify, this will be for the four legs of a coffee table. They will be 18" long and 3" wide on each side. I can use biscuits for them, probably 10s or 0s. I do not know if pocket screws would be a good idea for the corners.

[Keith Christopher]

I would use a solid core of maple or pine and then glue them all around it like this. In this configuration you can use the "green" extra sticky to give enough clamping pressure- and a couple of clamps if you feel the need. This is a typical center core for things like morris chairs where you make legs and use M&T to join them

[Jim Becker]

'Suggest you consider using splines..stopped if necessary to hide them...to reinforce the joint, too.

[Jerry Olexa]

Consider biscuits plus corner clamps as Mark showed. Should pull together tightly.

[John M. Cioffi]

Dan,

I've used the Bessey band clamp with great success, before. Also, if it is possible(room wize), maybe a corner block on the inside, above the top of the leg, would work.
Hope this helps.

John

[Lee Schierer]

I know this isn't as ellegant as Bessy Clamps and such, but it will work.

Take one half of your corner and run masking tape along the legth of the piece. Lay it on the table with the tape facing up. Now carefully place the second piece so the sharp edge touches the first sharpedge with the tape on it. Pres down securely, then flip the pieces over and firmly press down on the tape all along the legnth. Fold the corner into position to check the fit. If the fit is good, ope it and apply the glue. Close the corner back up, wipe off any glue squeeze out and secure it in the closed position with a few heavy rubber bands or lentgths of masking tape across the open sied of the angle.

[Dan Mages]

'Suggest you consider using splines..stopped if necessary to hide them...to reinforce the joint, too.

That would be interesting... 1/4 inch cherry splines in my black walnut... I wonder how that would look.


I would use a solid core of maple or pine and then glue them all around it like this. In this configuration you can use the "green" extra sticky to give enough clamping pressure- and a couple of clamps if you feel the need. This is a typical center core for things like morris chairs where you make legs and use M&T to join them

That would work, but it will be a pain when it comes to tapering the legs.


If it is an isolated joint. Screw a couple of blocks on each side ...then use a clamp. A miter without a tenon, bisquit, dowel or spline is a weak joint though.

That may work, I am worried about the screw holes tho. Maybe small screws and wood putty to fill it in.

[Bob Hovde]

Dan,

You're adding information as we go. Do we assume each leg is just two pieces of wood joined with a 45 deg joint and with that joint rounded and the other sides tapered? If so, I would use the hidden spline for strength.

If they're four-sided around a core, I don't think you have a problem.

Bob

[Steve Clardy]

Lee has the simplest and easiest solution.