Clamping system for table tops

[Dee Dee Martin]

I'm wanting to glue up several exotic woods, for some table tops. Some place I saw a neat clamping system that the photo showed sitting against the wall, and the clamps were upright. I think you simply stacked the boards between the clamps, and lowered them down. It didn't look like it took up much room. I think it sat on the floor.

I know I'm not explaining it very well, but if someone can point me to this table top clamping setup, some place on the web, I'd appreciate it.

-dirk

[Greg Ladd]

Is this what you mean?

http://www.advmachinery.com/default.asp?pg=plano

Greg

[egon reske]

You can do the same thing with pipe clamps and 2x4's .

Egon

[Rick Lizek]

Like Egon said. The same thing can be done with regular pipe and quick clamps and wood cauls from your shop and it's a better system than the Plano for far less money. Typically it's set up laying on a table but can easily be wall mounted. I've been using a homemade system like that for 30 years and can single handedly glue up 4' x 8' panels with perfrct registration.

[Bob Winkler]

I bought this system to save room in the shop. I haven't installed it yet, but it should do the trick. The price wasn't too bad as I recall.

http://www.rbiwoodtools.com/s/dynamic/vertical_clamps/vertical_clamps.cfm

Bob

[Jim Becker]

"Regular" clamps, either parallel jaw clamps like the Bessey K-bodies (which I currently use), bar clamps or pipe clamps, will work well. The system that Bob shows is the next step up relative to having a dedicated panel system.

I would only disagree with Egon and Rick about the Plano system (which is big bucks) in that it truly does do a better job than regular clamps in that it not only provides clamping pressure to the edges, but also keeps the panel absolutely flat automatically...something that can be a challenge with ordinary clamps. (Yes, you can use cauls, but it's not always easy to do so) But you pay for that with Plano. If I were doing a lot of panels, I wouldn't mind having the Plano system, but I'd have to put it on a mobile cart since I have zero wall space to accommodate something like that or the one that Bob points to.

[Jerry Todd]

I have been using the Plano system for two years now. Would not be without it. Does a superb job and takes up little space on a wall.
Jerry

[Dan Racette]

http://www.rrclamp.com/

I have used this. It was quick when using a drill to move the clamp heads.

d

[JayStPeter]

My plan is to DIY something similar to the Plano using the Veritas Panel Clamps from Lee Valley. The next project with extensive amounts of panel glueups will drive this one (if I don't succumb to the urge to buy the Plano at a WW show first).

Jay

[Don Baer]

Dee Dee,
The latest issue of Shop Notes (#83) has an article on making a system using 2x4's It's realy a simple "A" frame that allows you to do glue-ups on both sides of the frame. It even has some small clips to hold the clamps in position. I'd think that something like that with some shop made Culs would work very well and take up little space.

[Don Frambach]

Here's a link to my favorite clamping system available from Woodcraft:

http://woodcraft.com/family.aspx?familyid=321

I think it works better than most clamping systems because its natural tendency is to flatten the panel. Not too expensive either.