Any alternatives to Rockler's Claip-it assembly squares?

[Andrew Levine]

I have a trunk to glue up - I was thinking it'd be a lot easier if I had 8 of these, though $12.99 each for a piece of molded plastic seems overboard. Anyone have any cheaper alternatives that are accurate? Thanks!

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?p...bSelect=Videos

[Jim Matthews]

I bought four of these from Ottawa.

If you want to do it on the cheap, make clamping squares of plywood.
They should remain stable if you don't drop them.

Cut some holes for the clamps to catch.

Here's a galvanized steel alternative, $5 for two!

[Andrew Levine]

I wonder how accurate those Stanley corner braces are. I'll probably make some out of ply. Thanks.

[Charles Wiggins]

Try something like this
clamping_squares.jpg

[Ben Martin]

I paid for these plans from Euro 32 and built 8 clamps for about $60 and 4 hours of shop time. Very reasonable in comparison to say the Woodpecker box clamps

http://www.euro32products.com/misc_hardware.htm

I am VERY happy with them. Worked well for everything I wanted them for, be it drilling shelf pins, adding edge banding or assembly.













Ben

[Jerome Hanby]

I bought two sets of Jevons 3d squares from Woodcraft. Amazon sells them too. I've been happy with them.

[glenn bradley]

Shop made. Been using them for years and they're still dead-on.

CoD-web-frames-2.jpg

[Andrew Levine]

I just made some of those last night! I expect them to work well.

2013-10-02 20.41.33 HDR.jpg

[John Hays]

Angle iron seems to work pretty good, too.

[Michael W. Clark]

I paid for these plans from Euro 32 and built 8 clamps for about $60 and 4 hours of shop time. Very reasonable in comparison to say the Woodpecker box clamps

http://www.euro32products.com/misc_hardware.htm

I am VERY happy with them. Worked well for everything I wanted them for, be it drilling shelf pins, adding edge banding or assembly.
Ben

Very intrigueing, what are the large holes for?

[Ben Martin]

Very intrigueing, what are the large holes for?

I believe that the intent is a finger grip, so you can close the toggle clamp with one hand. Works very well for that!

[glenn bradley]

Very intrigueing, what are the large holes for?

I believe that the intent is a finger grip, so you can close the toggle clamp with one hand. Works very well for that!

Correct. When working in an awkward spot, this allows a spring clamp to hold the piece in the general position while clamps are applied. I have actually enlarged those holes just a bit since that pic was taken.

[Michael W. Clark]

Hi Glenn,
I was actually asking about Ben's cam clamp setup. I have some exactly like yours in post #7. They are vey handy, but can be a little cumbersome for me when I am trying to get the first two boards aligned. I have a larger set and a smaller set, use them both for most box/case construction. I was thinking that a few of Ben's cam clamps would make a good partner for the corner clamps like we have.

I don't like the Rockler squares in the original post. I bought some early on when they came with the little bar clamps (maybe they still do). I never liked the clamps and the square's I received were not square. Maybe it was due to the clamps?

Mike

[Rick Lizek]

I've been woodworking for 40 years and never needed anything like that. I just measure the diagonals with the tape measure and it's done.

[Andrew Levine]

I've been woodworking for 40 years and never needed anything like that. I just measure the diagonals with the tape measure and it's done.

Of course they aren't necessary, but that doesn't mean they aren't helpful!