No Marty, you are right. This job does call for pipe clamps. I just don't have any. I usually do not work in such a wide surface in solid wood. One time I did make two kitchen countertops out of maple strips. For those, I drilled holes through all the pieces, and counter sunk larger on both end pieces. I then used threaded rod, large diameter washers, and nuts as clamps. I then glued an outside strip on to hide the hardware, but for the life of me, I can't remember how I attached that strip without clamps! Lol