Microsoft Word - Woodshop 101 Part 1 of 3

TypesofClampsandWhatYou

Need to Get Started

There are dozens of different style clamps on

the market today. Some are for general use

and some are very specialized. Three of the

most widely available style clamps are bar

clamps, pipe clamps, and one-handed bar

clamps. Iuseallthreeinmyshopoftentimes

interchangeably. I prefer pipe clamps for

gluing panels up because the wood sits on top

ofthepipe. Ifthewoodislayingflatonthe

pipes then your panel will be flat also. You

can see in the picture to the left that in using

bar clamps to glue up panels the wood isn’t

laying on the bar itself. That’s because the

jawsaremuchdeeperthanthethicknessof

the panels. The deep jaws may be a

disadvantage here but when you need to

clamp something that is thick or sits back

several inches from the edge the deep jaws

are the only clamps that will do. I use one-

handed bar clamps when I need to hold parts

down while I saw, shape, sand, etc.... They

don’t’ have the gripping power of pipe clamps

but what you lose in power you make up in

convenience.

Bar clamps are sold in varying lengths. The

lengths you will most commonly use are 12”,

24” and 36” If you can buy two each that

would be a great, but if you can only buy two

get the 24” length.

Pipe clamps are sold in two parts. You buy

the jaws separate from the pipe. This is

actually an advantage because you can buy

the pipe in any length you want and if they

don’t have the size you need you can have the

pipe cut to the proper length. The black pipe

is usually found in the plumbing section of

your favorite home improvement warehouse.

Lengths of 30” to 48” will be used the most.

One-handed bar clamps are most useful in the

smaller length. If they’re too long the

convenience of the one-handed operation gets

difficult. The most popular size seems to be

12”. A couple of these would be nice.

Pipe clamps and bar clamps

Pay close attention to the alignment of

the boards as you clamp them up.

Theboardsarethesamethicknessso

the glue joint should come together

without any ridges from one piece

being higher or lower than the other.

Also, since we have cut the boards to

their exact width, make sure the ends

line up.

One-handed bar clamps