Clamps for Woodworking

Woodworkers, especially newbies often wonder which woodworking clamps are essential. This is understandable as there are dozens of woodworking clamps available in the market and choosing the right ones can be confusing for a new entrant into woodworking.

What is a clamp used for?

 Essentially a clamp is a tool used for temporarily holding work in place securely but many of them are also used when working with wood. For example, a clamp will help you hold your work in place so you can nail, screw or glue wood together without the work shifting.

Clamps are one of the most versatile tools. They are often deployed for a whole range of woodworking projects. It is tempting to acquire as many clamps as possible, but if you are just starting out, your budget may be limited. It is expedient to stock up just a few different types that can tackle a range of projects. So what should you consider when selecting woodworking clamps?

Selecting woodworking clamps

The most important consideration is the type of projects you’ll be working on. This will determine the clamping size, power and padding you’ll need. Clamp sizes are measured by their throat depth and jaw capacity. The throat depth indicates how deep the clamp can fit onto the and jaw capacity is a measure of how far the mouth of the jaws can open. The bigger the project you are working on the bigger the size of the clamp you’ll need.

The power of the clamp is also essential when working on wood. If your clamp applies too little pressure, you may get a weak joint and if you apply too much pressure, either the wood or the clamp could get damaged. Also, consider choosing clamps with padded jaws so you don’t damage the wood you are working on.

Which clamps should you get first?

There is a wide variety of clamps available in the market, each with its own function and use. If you have been into woodworking for a period of time, you can make a list of the tasks you frequently perform in your workshop and see which clamps you most often use. If you are new and have a limited budget, the bar clamp, spring clamp and a C-clamp should enable you carry out as many tasks as possible.

Bar clamps  

Bar clamps are useful for gluing and holding pieces of wood together. The clamps are applied to the wood edges and the bar is placed on the wood surface. This type of clamp is available in various sizes and shapes.

Spring clamps

Spring clamps are light weight and relatively easy to use. They are more useful when you want to hold wood temporarily but they are not suitable for use if you need to clamp wood together under pressure, like gluing wooden boards.

C-clamps

C-clamps derive their name from the shape of the clamp. They are very valuable if you have to apply a lot of force. They have a rotating head so you can use the clamp to attach parts to many surfaces.

                                                                 

                                            C-clamp
 

When you have a more flexible budget, you can get a parallel clamp which offers large and wide opening capacities. You’ll be able to clamp larger objects. As the jaws are parallel, they do not leave dents in the wood. If you are thinking of manufacturing furniture, this is one clamp you should consider getting.

Final thoughts

You can never have too many clamps in your woodworking shop as each can serve a different purpose but if you have limited budget you should consider getting a few at first. As you get busier in your workshop, list the tasks you frequently perform and determine which clamps you use most often.