Clamp advice (everybody loves to talk about clamps...) :)

[Phil Mueller]

Parallel clamps for most glue ups. In addition to what’s been mentioned above, I do have a number of Dewalt 12” X large trigger clamps that are my go to clamps for smaller needs and clampling fixtures to the bench (moxon vise, bird mouth, planning stops, etc).

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[Tom Bain]

If you don’t already have them, a few deep throated F-style clamps come in very handy. I have several 8” and 12” throated Bessey F-style clamps and I wouldn’t be without them.

[johnny means]

My favorite and most versatile are my Bessey Tradesmans. Grizzly sells a 30 clamp set of which I bought 2. It's by no means a complete collection but handles 90 percent of my clamping needs. They're plenty strong without being unwieldy. https://www.amazon.com/Bessey-BTB30-.../dp/B0002HC67G
Please note, these are not the red handled junk they sell at the borgs.

[Mike Kees]

To each his own Van.. I must say I do like pipe clamps more than brussel sprouts. I find pipe clamps lighter and easier to use,but I use more of them as compared to the parallel clamps. Para's are heavy ,awkward and expensive. I have a bunch of pipe clamps at 2' long and find these get used alot. The parallels are nice for the bigger contact area on the clamp face,but slower. I am still getting used to them after about 6 years. I am sure that I will never have a shop completely free of pipe clamps though. Mike.

[Osvaldo Cristo]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B5IKY9I...I2BNJOP6T0GBQG

My friends and family are advanced planners, so now is the time to plant the seed for simple holiday gifts I might enjoy. One item I always add on is clamps. Some of what I have already include:

I have some of these and like them (lightweight but most times things fit well enough they dont need over clamping): https://www.amazon.com/Jorgensen-353...ustomerReviews

I have two smaller ones of these and like them due to the clamping force, may add a couple more of these to the list: https://www.irwin.com/tools/clamps/q...ded-bar-clamps

I have a bunch of these in various lengths. They are powerful, but heavy and steel rails I do have to take care with rust marring the wood. https://www.amazon.com/Jorgensen-724.../dp/B0000224CI

I have 4 of these I bought on sale, and thought I would like 'parallel jaws'. However, these particular clamps are not smooth. Sometimes they tighten down without actually compressing the jaws (?). Always a pain to operate so although they seem like nice clamps I dont use them.

And a bunch of smaller clamps and spring clamps, etc.

So the question is, any thoughts on additional clamps as a 'must have'? What are your favorites and most used? (furniture building)

I might try the parallel clamps again, but in a different brand. Jet or Bessey? They seemed like something I wanted but they didnt work well enough to make it a good purchase. Should I try again with a different brand?

What do you think about spring clamps? I found them very interesting and really I am considering to get a few sometime in the future... looks different and very useful for light jobs like picture frames. It is not mandatory but it looks their special application pliers https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B5IKY9I...I2BNJOP6T0GBQG can help to use them.

All the best.

[Al Launier]

Fortunately, or unfortunately, I currently have over a hundred clamps of all types. I didn't realize they procreate, or have a way of finding one's home. It's an incurable virus & I've run out of storage capacity. Guess I'll have to move to get a larger shop. Yeh, right.

[Peter Christensen]

I have most of what has been discussed so far but unless I missed it, nobody has mentioned wooden handscrews. I like them for some clamping work because they can hold non parallel work and are good for securing small parts when you want to put them in a drill press.

http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/pag...=1,43838,47843

[Patrick Kane]

Have two dozen Bessey k body revos for general purpose work and then 2-3 dozen jorgensen 7200 series clamps for larger glue ups. I do a lot of table tops, islands, counters, etc and that is where the joregenson's really shine. Glue squeeze out is no problem on the bars where as it does muck up the fine teeth of the besseys. I dont have any F style clamps, but i do want to buy a dozen of the deep jaw variety previous posters mentioned. The clamp extenders for the bessey parallel clamps can be a real money saver too. A 100-120" long clamp is a little unwieldy, but very handy to have at times.

The quick clamps kinda suck for glueups, but i have a few small to medium sized ones for workholding where you are holding something in position and only have one free hand to clamp.

[Albert Lee]

My most used clamp: Urko F clamp. check out the Bessey (300mm) in comparison.

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some of my Lamello band clamp
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and my favorite of all: Front line panel clamps, I have 8 of these.
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[phil harold]

If you don’t already have them, a few deep throated F-style clamps come in very handy. I have several 8” and 12” throated Bessey F-style clamps and I wouldn’t be without them.

I agree with Tom
But I disagree with jet parallel clamps

Jets do not move as nicely as my bessy and gross

[Tim M Tuttle]

When I first got into wwing I went to Harbor Freight and bought an assortment of clamps...f style, bar, quick, etc. just to get started. I quickly learned I loathe all Harbor Freight clamps. Even the short F style. I'd much rather spend $1 more and get Besseys. Their quick clamps are pure junk. I could get more pressure using rubber bands.

As I've grown in the hobby I've accumulated quite a few 24 and 50" Bessey parallel clamps and f style clamps. For longer stuff I've started to build a pipe clamp collection.

Whenever I am in the market for some new clamps I always start with Bessey. They are good quality but dont break the bank (well, they do, just not as bad as some).

[Nick Decker]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B5IKY9I...I2BNJOP6T0GBQG

What do you think about spring clamps? I found them very interesting and really I am considering to get a few sometime in the future... looks different and very useful for light jobs like picture frames. It is not mandatory but it looks their special application pliers https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B5IKY9I...I2BNJOP6T0GBQG can help to use them.

All the best.

I have one of those and it works well for what it is. Light duty like a picture frame, it'll work well as long as your miters are cut accurately. The one project I used it on was oak, and I was surprised at how slight the mark on the wood was, almost non-existent. Soft wood, probably a different story.

[glenn bradley]

I agree with Tom
But I disagree with jet parallel clamps

Jets do not move as nicely as my bessy and gross

This has got to be one of those things that people are just divided on. My Jets were cheap on sale but, I find them bothersome to adjust. My K bodies are a breeze.

[Van Huskey]

This has got to be one of those things that people are just divided on. My Jets were cheap on sale but, I find them bothersome to adjust. My K bodies are a breeze.

It really is odd, isn't it? While I don't find it unusual at all there are two main camps in parallel clamps what is unusual is how both camps see the same trait in the complete opposite way. Almost every time it is discussed the movement of the clamping head seems to be the deciding factor. It is a shame that we all don't live in the same city since I imagine there are many of us with both brands and we could all swap around until we were content.

Jet also made a fairly heavy F clamp with the trigger release which I somehow missed until they were being closed out and I bought as many as I could find.

jet001.jpg

[phil harold]

Jet also made a fairly heavy F clamp with the trigger release which I somehow missed until they were being closed out and I bought as many as I could find.

I found these at homedepot
Love them bought 4 of them but now discontinued

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Jorgense...-4PK/205820573