Parallel Clamps

[Vince Shriver]

What size parallel clamps do you use most frequently: 12", 24", 31", 40"?

[Shawn Pixley]

24" clamps are used the most. But the most indespensable are my larger 60" clamps. You can usually put smaller things inlarger clamps.

[Cary Falk]

I use the 24 and 31's the most. I do have some 12" Besse Uni Clamps that I like for the smaller stuff because they are lighter.

[Jim Andrew]

I only have 24, 36, and 48. That is what is available at my local Menards. I also have F clamps in 12, 24, 36, and the small F clamps in 6, 12 , and 18. The 24's get the most use. I also like my I beam clamps for gluing up panels. Only get the old pipe clamps out when everything else is in use.

[Jim Becker]

I have more 24" than other sizes, but I couldn't do without the 40" and a few 60". They type of projects you do will dictate what's best for your shop.

[Jack Lemley]

12s and 24s. I have everything up to 60.

Jack

[Michael Peet]

I have 12s and 31s, so I reach for the shorter ones more often than not.

Mike

[Dave Zellers]

24's by far. But that is because I don't have any 12's. Wish I did but I have to make do for now. Just did a clamp-up where I used all 10 of my 24's and wished they were 12's. All I have are 10 24's, 6 40's, and 2 60's. I would love to have 10 12's too but right now my heart belongs to a SuperMax drum sander who is playing hard to get. Just the other day I realized I should buy a bunch of 12" threaded pipe to make better use of my old pipe clamps that have gotten very lonely ever since I discovered parallel clamps. In this case at least, they would have been perfect.

[Curt Harms]

24's by far. But that is because I don't have any 12's. Wish I did but I have to make do for now. Just did a clamp-up where I used all 10 of my 24's and wished they were 12's. All I have are 10 24's, 6 40's, and 2 60's. I would love to have 10 12's too but right now my heart belongs to a SuperMax drum sander who is playing hard to get. Just the other day I realized I should buy a bunch of 12" threaded pipe to make better use of my old pipe clamps that have gotten very lonely ever since I discovered parallel clamps. In this case at least, they would have been perfect.

Do you have a way to cut and thread pipe? You could cut the pipe you have now and get some couplings and make 'em as long or short as you need.

[Dave Zellers]

No way to thread it. I do use couplings now to make odd lengths sometimes.

I'm thinking 18" pipe might be more useful than 12" since you lose about 4".

[Jim Andrew]

I find the heavy duty f clamps to be very handy. They have a deep reach, about 5", and already had 10 of the 12", then Menards had a great sale for Christmas, so now I have 18.

[Mike Henderson]

12" Bessey's by far. Then the 24". The longer ones get a lot less use. I have a few 3/4" pipe clamps for really long stuff (about 6 feet long).

Mike

[Joe A Faulkner]

My smallest parallels are 24". By far, these get the most use because in general, I like to use the smallest clamp that will do the job. Most panels and cabinet doors are less than 24" wide. I recall seeing a year or so ago that one guy bought 24" clamps (the Jorgensen Cabinet Master's) and cut them down to 18" and 12" just to have some smaller options.