I love the fact that Rex lists only 5 clamps as really necessary, and 2 of those are on Steve's overrated list! Just goes to prove the point that everyone is different and it all depends on what you want to focus on.
The C Clamp comes in handy when needing to lock down a bench top tool. They can provide far more pressure then a bar clamp can which helps to keep things from moving when the motor of the tool spins up. Also 9 clamps is only enough for smaller projects :) I used 16 of them the other day doing a bunch of small glue ups.
I I think the types and numbers of clamps you will need will vary according to your type of shop. I’m retired and downsizing to a workshop that fits in 1 cubic metre of space when packed away. I have standardised on the pocket hole joinery for everything and this enables me to use the minimum number of clamps, similar to Steve. It also means I don’t need an assembly table since joints are finished one at a time. If a carcass is not square (very rare) I simply loose here and tighten there until all is well. If on the other hand you prefer box or dovetail joints then you will need more clamps and an assembly table to glue up your carcass in one go. Be sure to clean up excess glue dripping into your clamps before the glue dries - modern glues are a bitch to remove from clamps once hardened.
Hi Steve. Good to hear from you. I have only bar clamps and have been able to complete one or two projects over time with them. I am very happy for the success your courses are making. You deserve all the best life can give you. Thanks so much for the tips and for sharing this video. Greetings to you and your family.
I agree with your essential clamps, but I would add the sliding grip clamps and the wooden parallels that you say are overrated. I have been a shop teacher for 24 years and my students and i use them constantly. We use them to hold panels down when they are sanding. We use them when the students are gluing up panels. If the boards are not dead level we put cellophane tape on the jaws and use them to level the boards. We also use them in conjunction with the drill press when drilling round stock.
This is exactly the video I was looking a few months back. There are a few other videos in youtube about this subject but they limit themselves to describe the billion types of clamps there are and saying everything is equally important and useful.
I use the hand screw clamps more often than pipe clamps. The clamps that I use the most are parallel clamps and bar clamps (F-Clamps). I know the parallel clamps are more pricey, but I find them very useful. I have 4 two 40" and two 28". I agree that my spring clamps and C-clamps see little use.
I have many different types of clamps. My go to clamp is a 6" vise .grip "C" clamp with swivel pad. I agree with you on most of the other clamps. I really enjoy your videos. Keep the good work going.
I agree with you when you’re talking about wood projects. Now here’s the thing, if you’re working with mechanical devices a c clamp is often essential to getting the job done. For those of us with experience in these things we often weld a nut to the bottom of the screw just below the handle. This allows you to utilize another tool to speed up turning the screw as well as allowing you to dramatically increase clamping pressure to nearly that of a press. Now as far as spring clamps go I see your point but they are great for light duty fast clamping. A good for instance is clamping a plastic sheet around a piece of wood for steam bending. If you ever do vacuum clamping for things such as fiberglass resin infusion into the fabric you’ll love having spring clamps. Here’s the thing... if you’re focusing on simple wooden projects like boxes and tables etcetera then the clamps you mentioned are ideal, but if like me you work on just about everything then a more diverse tool set is necessary. So I guess I’m saying you’re right but you’re limiting yourself. Why not keep an open mind and buy the tools that can work for many different types of jobs?
I only say this because there are many times wood projects have metal components inside. An open mind and a full tool box can make wonders happen. There are also times that a piece of wood twists after cutting it to fit and before you actually do the assembly. W strong c clamp may be the beat solution.
Yes, agreed, Steve, C clamps are something of an anomally - I own just the one - purchased thirty years plus ago. These days, I rely solely upon my pipe, as well as bar clamps of varying sizes]; spring clamps - I have three - two smaller versions of the one you featured, & an all plastic monster that comes in ( for occasional use); I own two strap clamps - squaring up box glue ups - the straps are nice & long, so I can wrap them about the larger builds - I wouldn't be without them. Another excellent presentation !! :D
Agreed - We have an assortment of old C-clamps and, unlike other clamp styles, lately we are finding them damaged and unuseable and unrepairable when the threaded shaft is bent.
Arbor press, or, tape some small hardwood blocks to a bench vise and straighten the screws. Arbor press the 'Cs' to straighten them. Put the clamp in a vise and twist the C till straight. I love to find old rusty bent C clamps. I buy then for a buck or 2 and sell them for $ 10 to $15
I've only got the set of bar clamps (trigger action type instead of the screw type; personal preference). I've never felt the need for any others. Though I do have a few smaller C clamps that I used for semi-permanently holding stuff down; that's all they're good for.
Ok after watching this episode, I ordered 4 of those pipe clamps 1/2 inch. 4 Berrel style. And today I bought 2 of those piston style squeeze clamps. So my total collection is now 10 clamps.
I've done a lot of welding in the past. Different clamps useful there. The humble ViseGrip is your best friend. Anything with a spring will eventually get toasted right quick. As for woodworking, totally agree really all you need is a couple bar clamps and a few pipe clamps.
I have 4 bar clamps that were my father's, a 3" C clamp and a couple of 1" C's, and this little plastic clamp that seems to be a cross between a C clamp and a spring clamp. I love the last one because it has a quick release and isn't too hard for me to use like other spring clamps, but it's too small for most things. For what I have done so far, these clamps have served me, although it has been touch and go a few times. Do I need more clamps? Oh, yeah!!
Having 1 arm/leg, there is no such thing as too many clamps for woodworking. It's at the point now, where I'm having to make my own clamps. I am even buying used scissor jacks just for the threaded rods so I can make a full wood clamp edge around my workbench. (My favorite type of grip clamp, the Bessey DuoKlamp... they are so amazing for my simple, inexpensive medium duty clamps. The worst clamps I own... Irwin Quick Grips... they simple are not worth the money... but their clamp accessories are GREAT!!! I use them on Harbor Freight clamps, and I can beat the clamps to death.)
I prefer bar clamps, they’re usually what I use the most. I don’t have pipe clamps, but I have something along those lines, it’s not an F clamp, but just a thicker aluminum bar clamp that I love the most. I also dislike C clamps. I use them only when I have to. And I want to like spring clamps, but I experience the same issues with them that you mentioned.
Nice video! I will say though, C clamps have their usefulness - just not maybe in normal wood working, haha! I found them extremely helpful back in the days when I helped with theater stuff - constructing stage platforms and the like. You'd use the C clamp to hold things in place while getting it all bolted or screwed together, and in those situations, where you might be needing to put together big sections, at different angles, it was helpful. You had to be sure to remember to take the clamps OFF before the toe-nailing though! (The only serious injury I ever had working on a set happened when I forgot: and hammer blows WILL knock a C clamp loose no matter how tight you've got it. I was lucky and had only a mild concussion...!) I've never seen bar clamps at all but I'll be looking for those pipe clamps...I'm planning to mostly do very little, finicky stuff. Making storage for teensy jewelry making materials, specifically...so I figure the pipe clamps, and short lengths of pipe, will be pretty close to ideal for me. And I'm a cheapskate too, why d'you think I subbed to your channel? Us folks with a tight budget need all the good advice we can get!
I think you need to invest in some quick grip clamps. They are probably the most used clamps I have. I agree that pipe clamps are probably the most cost effective clamps and they work well but I wouldn’t waste my money on 1/2” pipe. I have a couple of them but I rarely use them. The vast majority of mine are 3/4” and I love them. I also have a lot of aluminum pipe for them and that is way better than black pipe. No black marks from the pipe and no rusty pipe either.
Irwin trigger clamps are my favorite, they adjust fast, and release fast. I have the new ratcheting clamps for some things, but they are more limited. Irwin is my go to. Can you have enough clamps... depends. it you're doing a lot of drawers, there are never enough clamps. There are days I think I have too many, there are days I know I don't have enough. What i need now is a couple of extra 36" 600 lb. trigger clamps. 4 more should do it. Pipe clamps are easy, and I have enough. Keep shorter (36" length) sections of pipe along with a bunch of nipples, and you will always have a long enough clamp.
I use spring clamps and C clamps daily!...but never in the shop. Like you said, they are perfect video production clamps. When you need to hang a light from a joist a C clamp will become your best friend!
I would have agreed with you until I started making hollow wood surfboards recently. Can always use more clamps, and spring clamps are essential for bonding on the deck (not a fan of making cheap spring clamps from pvc pipes).
I'd have to say spring clamps are not overrated. They aren't supposed to be used for glue ups or such jobs. They are essential for the "extra hands" jobs. I use them all the time to hold something in position when I can't spare a hand and they are also quick to move around. They aren't intended for jobs where you need a lot of pressure or extended holding time. When you use spring clamps for what they are intended for, I find them to be quite essential.
Sprinkle some salt between the wood in your glue during the glue up and the salt bites into the wood keeping it from slipping while the glue dries. It doesn’t take much and makes a huge difference in slippage.
G Clamps (I think you call them C clamps over the pond in USA) are good if a lot of pressure is needed and can hold fence's in place and stop blocks when you being rough, alright clumsy. Pipe clamps are hard to get near me but can get cheap quick clamps. Those one handed pistol grip ones! Not needed over 3ft yet but we can get cheap sash clamps for that (square ones ) . The clamp you need but have not got is the one that's 1" bigger than the biggest you got free!
A couple of the “specialty” clamps from Kreg are nice. The one you showed with a pin on one side and flat, round face is nice for holding a pocket joint in place during assembly. I also like the one-handed clamps for quick set up. But, to your point, neither are essential.
C clamps are great if you do other things besides woodworking. I have one large one just for doing brake pads on our vehicles, I've tried using woodworking clamps for that task and they slip off and just dont work. Also good for welding. Just for woodworking though you can skip em.
for the last 15 years i have have managed with only one or two! i used the old rope clamping trick. never come across a project where i couldnt use it or a board with wedges. however i recently bought a set of 20 bar clamps as they were on offer. i have used them as they are faster than the rope method, but did i really NEED them? probably not.
I use pipe clamps for the majority of glue ups in my cabinet shop. I disagree that 3/4” is too big. The smaller 1/2” diameter can bow and touch the wood if you put significant pressure on it. Those bar clamps are actually “F-style” clamps. Real bar clamps are more like pipe clamps but with a rectangular bar instead of the pipe. You also left out quick grip clamps. They don’t usually have the clamping strength of the others but it’s great to temporarily clamp something with one hand until you can get more clamps on it. Or if you need to set and remove the clamp a lot like for a stop block. I pretty much just use the handscrew clamp as an auxiliary clamp. I can use it to hold pieces on edge for assembly or planing. You can also clamp it in the middle of a long board to have something to hook a shorter clamp to for glue ups.
I think the 9 clamp approach will certainly get you through 90% of project parts. I don't think I use more than 9 on any given glue up, etc. BUT, when I'm gluing up 3 drawers, or more than one picture frame at a time, more clamps saves you time. You can clamp everything up and go to bed. With just 9, you'd be swapping them out every hour or so as glue sets. Is it doable and a great start? Absolutely. But if more can save a lot of time if you have multiple parts.
Fun fact, in New Zealand I was taught C clamp is called G clamp and bar clamps are called F clamps. Anyway great video as always, I love my strap clamp!
I've never seen a bar clamp (either the end or the pipes) available here in the UK for some reason. They're certainly not available in the big DIY stores (B&Q). Frustrating as they seem to be a very cheap option for nice long clamps.
I agree about C Clamps. I cannot stand them. I notice you did not include Quick Release "squeeze clamps." I like those alot, although they are not as strong as pipe and others you have mentioned. But man! the convenience.
For a little while I was in the "clamp of the month" club... and got a few Bessies... then a few pipe clamps.. and a buttload of F clamps. I do have 2 parallel wood clamps which I rarely if ever use, and I have 1 C clamp... for my brake jobs when I need to compress the caliper. Love my Kreg clamps, for quick drill press jig positioning. (Rockler, I know you tried to copy them, but I don't like your version. Having said that... let the wars begin!)
what about quick grip trigger clamps? Do you use them? In my own research, most experienced woodworkers usually use and recommend these. What size and how many would be the minimum to start with?
So you talked down the wood clamp a bit at the end. And I'm thinking "oh dear, I was certain I have been thinking about/looking into getting one of those. I was certain I'd actually seen that they were quite useful". And then I take another look at the project I'm starting next week which is your lumbar rack - and you use a wooden clamp, so now I'm going to figure out a way to hold the pieces in place while they glue without a wooden clamp - to see if you are right in this video, that you don't really have use for a wooden clamp.
Ralph, let me put in a plug for hand screws. They may seem archaic, but besides their uses as a vise substitute, as many here have pointed out, they really excel in applying pressure to a broad area, or stock of uneven thickness. With all the many situations that come up, I rate them as equally valuable and necessary as other pro quality bar clamps and deep engagement clamps.
Damn you, I'd managed to not think about picking up more clamps at Harbor Freight, now I have to check the flyer and see if any of their bar clamps are on sale, lol.
I'm surprised you don't have any of the one handed postal grip kinda clamps. The good quality ones are fantastic, I have some Jorgensen ones that I love
Clamps are a lot like friends, only wood workers have a lot of clamps... Spring clamps are great for bending thin peices on a form but thats about all i use them for (cuz you need so many they're the only ones cheap enough to be feasible : )
I do disagree about hand screw clamps for me they're great because the big ones have a huge throat depth and can sit flat flush to a surface. The clamping force they can bring is very large given they're a wooden clamp. You can also clamp strange shapes items because of the way the jaws can be aligned.
9? I have hundreds, yes hundreds.From small 1 inch 'c' clamps up to 7 foot bar clamps. 1 inch and under 'c' clamps. 25 pipe clamps. 70 bar clamps from 6 to 48 inches. 50 1 3/4 opening spring clamps. 3 drawers of 4 inch and under 'c' clamps. and, a lot more. When doing mutiple parts, I have used 100 clamps. and this doesn't include the 60 spring clamps i keep to secure tarps on my garage sale tables.
c clamp is best for "metal" work or mounting points for machinery (aka holding down grinder temporarily). using it for wood, it makes awful dents in your workpiece. i see few that swears by irwin or equivilant ratcheting clamps. keep in mind those are modern version of F style bar clamps. no point to swear by modern equivilants. just manufacturer gimmick to tell you buy mine, mine is bestest.
Made the rookie mistake of spring and c clamp...spent a lot of money on bad investments. Should have gone with bar clamps from the outset 😒 if you can't afford it right away, save up - don't compromise with something that will "just about do" - get the right tool for the job even if it means saving up a month or two
I believe there is no cheaper way than a rope tied at the ends, to hold the piece and with your foot to hold the piece, as "Grandpa Amu" does in his channel. (Chinese channel).
G clamps are my most used clamps for metalworking, great for welding as well as work holding on the mill. I also use his "hand screw" style clamps, steel ones ofc, for work holding.
C clamp I thought they were called G clamps because they look like a G (especially if you consider the screw on the clamp) and when I was doing Engineering in college that's what all the teachers used to call them
Thanks for always thinking of the average woodworker, those of us who have a limited budget and limited workshop space. As you know, many if not most of RUclips woodworkers have moved to enormous shops stocked full of insanely complicated and expensive tools. You are one of the few who remembers his roots and supplies the regular woodworker with projects that we can do. Keep it up, my friend.
If you have one in your area, Harbor Fr. sells Bessey-style clamps very reasonably. I've been using them fine for a long time now. They're not amazing, but at the end of the days it's a sufficient clamp for between $2-10 a piece.
@@bear8046 Almost all of my clamps are from HFT. I have about 10 of the "Quick-Grip" style that I got on sale for around $3 each. I use those all of the time...
I lived beside a carpenter who started to renovate his house. After 10 years of looking at an unfinished side I asked him if he'd bitten off more than he wanted to chew. He said, "I like my job, but found out that I really only do it for the money. If I knew a carpenter I'd get it finished." We laughed and I gave him a beer.
I used to change my brake pads in highschool and when I was home from college. Then I moved to DC and didn't have anywhere to do it. I took it to a chain brake place which happened to be next to a Home Depot. The guy calls me out and says he can't get the piston back in so it all needs to be replaced. I laugh and tell him not to touch anything, then run over to Home Depot, come back with a C-clamp and pushed the piston back in. I told him I've changed my pads and rotors about 10 times and the only reason I'm here is because I don't have a driveway so just change the pads and rotors. He wasn't very happy.
Seconded, for some reason they just always seemed to fit perfectly in the limited space between the knuckle smasher linkage and the forehead denting support above it.
Just a tip. You can join the pipes together with a coupling fitting (instead of another clamp). Super cheap and cuts the number of pipe clamps in half.
@Iain Botham No a coupling is the name I would use in UK too. A Socket is fixed at one end, eg wall or look at a mechanics toolbox. Keep it clean please!
Don't ever let my wife see this!!! I have her convinced I need more clamps!! My favorite and most used are the F style clamps from Harbor Freight, good prices and dam useful!
I find the old wooden clamps to be perfect for a drill press vise. Their flat sides makes them parallel to the bit in a way that no other clamp can do. I also find the spring clamps useful for quick holding things for repairs, or holding up a sheet for spraying varnish. However, I don't see much use for them for wood working per se. I also think there are clamps, and clamping techniques that are perfect for niche applications, and if you're doing those applications, then you should get those clamps. The clamping tables + staves I see with luthiers is a perfect example. As is a vaccuum clamp when working with veneer.
Agree. There are those cases when an odd clampng angle make these the perfect choice. Also, when you need to clamp to a clamp - right angle-style. These really work!
I agree with much here, except the wooden hand clamp: they can - as was shown in the video - hold a piece of stock vertical, great for holding on a drill press, etc.. they are non-marring and can spread tremendous force over a larger area than a clamp with a small foot. And at around $10 ea at Harbor Freight, they are a great investment.
I use quick clamps to avoid straining my hands (think carpal tunnel syndrome). For some reason, the twisting to tighten normal bar clamps really bothered my hands.
You can never have _too many_ clamps, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have enough of them. After all, “enough” is just what you need to complete the project.
I just recently started woodworking at 75 years old with inexpensive 30 year old power tools, a garage to work in, and a limited budget. I have a few bar clamps from 6 - 24 inches. However, I needed to clamp 6 feet. So I took a 3 foot 2X4 and drilled a series of 1" holes through the 2X4. Now I can insert the far end of each clamp in the appropriate hole to span the 6 feet and tighten the screw end.
Oooh... gonna have to disagree with ya there buddy... spring clamps provide constant pressure and consistent pressure when gluing up small project parts. As the pieces dry, they can contract - some pieces, that amount can be considerable. Only spring clamps provide consistent pressure the entire drying process. For me, an example would be clamping gunnels on small boats and laminating archery bow limbs. For others, it might be clamping small laminates or inlays on furniture. For larger projects, they won't be strong enough but for small projects or small parts of large projects, they outshine any other. Iron bar clamps can leave unwanted ebonizing (black stains) on your projects when glue comes into contact with them. Either wax the hell out of them or consider those aluminum square stock clamps. Still enjoyed this video. Come to think of it, I think you do a great job on all of your videos - good mix of information and entertainment - exactly what I want out of youtube.
Need a longer pipe clamp... get threaded (female) pipe couplers (like black-black-pipe-fittings-521-204hn-64_1000.jpg) and screw two lengths of pipe together. Then you don't need as many of the clamps, just more pipes
But aren't the couplers on the outside of the bar? During a normal glue up the workpiece is resting on the bar. That doesn't work if you have a bulge in the middle.
@@Jehty_ For the example shown by Steve (2:45) a coupler would work, require fewer "clamps", and the bulge would not be in the way. For clamping flat stock that was wider than the pipes I had could handle, I used scrap boards across the pipes, but not on the coupler to eliminate the bulge. Not perfect, but if you only need long pipes occasionally, it works great.
@@markhanoi1478 Probably lol. I'm a little new to the world of clamps. Previously I used my meat hands to hold things together. One of those should work just fine though.
@@markhanoi1478 most F style clamps can't exert enough pressure with the round wooden knob. The cross bar on the c-clamp screw can even have a force multiplier added. Not woodworking, but I've changed many bearings with c-clamps that F style clamps just couldn't do.
@@TEDodd Yeah true, although they do make F-clamps with different types of handelbars. In most cases though, I can get enough force on an F-clamp to make a lasting impression on wood, which in general you don't want. Often high clamping force is required when people try to do things in a wrong way..... so when ever you feel the need for high clampforce, maybe rethink if you can do it in a other way ;-)
I’m just sad that I’m the US you called it a C clamp, whereas in the UK we call it a G Cramp and you didn’t get to make a joke about it cramping your style...
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I was sent here by Rex Krueger, cant wait to binge all your content :)
I love the fact that Rex lists only 5 clamps as really necessary, and 2 of those are on Steve's overrated list! Just goes to prove the point that everyone is different and it all depends on what you want to focus on.
The ideal number is always the amount of clamps you have. Plus one.
Exactly. Plus a couple more, just in case.
Yep. You are always one short.
you sound like a cyclist
@@phillippeforster241 yes, I am more of a cyclist than a woodworker :)
If you have enough clamps, you're probably doing something wrong.
The C Clamp comes in handy when needing to lock down a bench top tool. They can provide far more pressure then a bar clamp can which helps to keep things from moving when the motor of the tool spins up. Also 9 clamps is only enough for smaller projects :) I used 16 of them the other day doing a bunch of small glue ups.
I I think the types and numbers of clamps you will need will vary according to your type of shop. I’m retired and downsizing to a workshop that fits in 1 cubic metre of space when packed away. I have standardised on the pocket hole joinery for everything and this enables me to use the minimum number of clamps, similar to Steve. It also means I don’t need an assembly table since joints are finished one at a time. If a carcass is not square (very rare) I simply loose here and tighten there until all is well.
If on the other hand you prefer box or dovetail joints then you will need more clamps and an assembly table to glue up your carcass in one go. Be sure to clean up excess glue dripping into your clamps before the glue dries - modern glues are a bitch to remove from clamps once hardened.
Hi Steve. Good to hear from you. I have only bar clamps and have been able to complete one or two projects over time with them. I am very happy for the success your courses are making. You deserve all the best life can give you. Thanks so much for the tips and for sharing this video. Greetings to you and your family.
Thank you Steve, I think the same about you named overrrated clamps. Thank you a lot for all the know how you give us in this channel.
I agree with your essential clamps, but I would add the sliding grip clamps and the wooden parallels that you say are overrated. I have been a shop teacher for 24 years and my students and i use them constantly. We use them to hold panels down when they are sanding. We use them when the students are gluing up panels. If the boards are not dead level we put cellophane tape on the jaws and use them to level the boards. We also use them in conjunction with the drill press when drilling round stock.
This is exactly the video I was looking a few months back. There are a few other videos in youtube about this subject but they limit themselves to describe the billion types of clamps there are and saying everything is equally important and useful.
Everytime I hear "clamps" I think of the robot mafia antagonist in Futurama. "It's gonna be clamp this, clamp that. Bada-climp, bada-clamp!"
I use c clamps all the time! To secure my pasta maker to the countertop when I'm making homemade noodles! But never for woodworking.
lol I rarely actually build with them - they’re really good for attaching to sheets and debris and winching and dragging them
Or a jewelry working station onto a bench/table, lol
C-clamps are good for compressing the caliper when changing brakes.
Andrew Richter really they’re best used for purposes other than those which they were designed for
Or hoisting sheetgoods with a pulley outside a building.
Looks like I’ve got the essentials plus one c clamp I’ve never used. Thanks for curbing the temptation for needing... err wanting more!
I use the hand screw clamps more often than pipe clamps. The clamps that I use the most are parallel clamps and bar clamps (F-Clamps). I know the parallel clamps are more pricey, but I find them very useful. I have 4 two 40" and two 28". I agree that my spring clamps and C-clamps see little use.
I have many different types of clamps. My go to clamp is a 6" vise .grip "C" clamp with swivel pad. I agree with you on most of the other clamps. I really enjoy your videos. Keep the good work going.
I agree with you when you’re talking about wood projects. Now here’s the thing, if you’re working with mechanical devices a c clamp is often essential to getting the job done. For those of us with experience in these things we often weld a nut to the bottom of the screw just below the handle. This allows you to utilize another tool to speed up turning the screw as well as allowing you to dramatically increase clamping pressure to nearly that of a press. Now as far as spring clamps go I see your point but they are great for light duty fast clamping. A good for instance is clamping a plastic sheet around a piece of wood for steam bending. If you ever do vacuum clamping for things such as fiberglass resin infusion into the fabric you’ll love having spring clamps. Here’s the thing... if you’re focusing on simple wooden projects like boxes and tables etcetera then the clamps you mentioned are ideal, but if like me you work on just about everything then a more diverse tool set is necessary. So I guess I’m saying you’re right but you’re limiting yourself. Why not keep an open mind and buy the tools that can work for many different types of jobs?
Jason Lee because this is for woodworkers. Vascular surgeons use different clamps too, but I don’t need those.
I only say this because there are many times wood projects have metal components inside. An open mind and a full tool box can make wonders happen. There are also times that a piece of wood twists after cutting it to fit and before you actually do the assembly. W strong c clamp may be the beat solution.
nice video . my place is very small and limited so pipe clamps is something I don't have yet. bar clamps really useful and strap clamp also .
Yes, agreed, Steve, C clamps are something of an anomally - I own just the one - purchased thirty years plus ago. These days, I rely solely upon my pipe, as well as bar clamps of varying sizes]; spring clamps - I have three - two smaller versions of the one you featured, & an all plastic monster that comes in ( for occasional use); I own two strap clamps - squaring up box glue ups - the straps are nice & long, so I can wrap them about the larger builds - I wouldn't be without them. Another excellent presentation !! :D
Agreed - We have an assortment of old C-clamps and, unlike other clamp styles, lately we are finding them damaged and unuseable and unrepairable when the threaded shaft is bent.
Arbor press, or, tape some small hardwood blocks to a bench vise and straighten the screws. Arbor press the 'Cs' to straighten them. Put the clamp in a vise and twist the C till straight. I love to find old rusty bent C clamps. I buy then for a buck or 2 and sell them for $ 10 to $15
I always seem to need a clamp that’s 2 inch longer😕 so I go buy 4 more clamps
Get pipe clamps, that way you’ll only have to buy 4 more pipes.
@@mm9773 Unfortunately, you only find out they are too short in the middle of a glue up ;)
@@k.b.woodworker3250 That's what nipples are for, just add on another section....
I've only got the set of bar clamps (trigger action type instead of the screw type; personal preference). I've never felt the need for any others. Though I do have a few smaller C clamps that I used for semi-permanently holding stuff down; that's all they're good for.
Ok after watching this episode, I ordered 4 of those pipe clamps 1/2 inch. 4 Berrel style. And today I bought 2 of those piston style squeeze clamps. So my total collection is now 10 clamps.
I've done a lot of welding in the past. Different clamps useful there. The humble ViseGrip is your best friend. Anything with a spring will eventually get toasted right quick. As for woodworking, totally agree really all you need is a couple bar clamps and a few pipe clamps.
I have 4 bar clamps that were my father's, a 3" C clamp and a couple of 1" C's, and this little plastic clamp that seems to be a cross between a C clamp and a spring clamp. I love the last one because it has a quick release and isn't too hard for me to use like other spring clamps, but it's too small for most things. For what I have done so far, these clamps have served me, although it has been touch and go a few times. Do I need more clamps? Oh, yeah!!
Having 1 arm/leg, there is no such thing as too many clamps for woodworking.
It's at the point now, where I'm having to make my own clamps.
I am even buying used scissor jacks just for the threaded rods so I can make a full wood clamp edge around my workbench.
(My favorite type of grip clamp, the Bessey DuoKlamp... they are so amazing for my simple, inexpensive medium duty clamps. The worst clamps I own... Irwin Quick Grips... they simple are not worth the money... but their clamp accessories are GREAT!!! I use them on Harbor Freight clamps, and I can beat the clamps to death.)
I prefer bar clamps, they’re usually what I use the most. I don’t have pipe clamps, but I have something along those lines, it’s not an F clamp, but just a thicker aluminum bar clamp that I love the most. I also dislike C clamps. I use them only when I have to. And I want to like spring clamps, but I experience the same issues with them that you mentioned.
Nice video!
I will say though, C clamps have their usefulness - just not maybe in normal wood working, haha! I found them extremely helpful back in the days when I helped with theater stuff - constructing stage platforms and the like. You'd use the C clamp to hold things in place while getting it all bolted or screwed together, and in those situations, where you might be needing to put together big sections, at different angles, it was helpful. You had to be sure to remember to take the clamps OFF before the toe-nailing though! (The only serious injury I ever had working on a set happened when I forgot: and hammer blows WILL knock a C clamp loose no matter how tight you've got it. I was lucky and had only a mild concussion...!)
I've never seen bar clamps at all but I'll be looking for those pipe clamps...I'm planning to mostly do very little, finicky stuff. Making storage for teensy jewelry making materials, specifically...so I figure the pipe clamps, and short lengths of pipe, will be pretty close to ideal for me.
And I'm a cheapskate too, why d'you think I subbed to your channel? Us folks with a tight budget need all the good advice we can get!
I think you need to invest in some quick grip clamps. They are probably the most used clamps I have. I agree that pipe clamps are probably the most cost effective clamps and they work well but I wouldn’t waste my money on 1/2” pipe. I have a couple of them but I rarely use them. The vast majority of mine are 3/4” and I love them. I also have a lot of aluminum pipe for them and that is way better than black pipe. No black marks from the pipe and no rusty pipe either.
I use the wooden screw clamp constantly, both at the drill press and the router table. Especially if I'm cutting box joints or dovetails.
Irwin trigger clamps are my favorite, they adjust fast, and release fast. I have the new ratcheting clamps for some things, but they are more limited. Irwin is my go to. Can you have enough clamps... depends. it you're doing a lot of drawers, there are never enough clamps. There are days I think I have too many, there are days I know I don't have enough. What i need now is a couple of extra 36" 600 lb. trigger clamps. 4 more should do it. Pipe clamps are easy, and I have enough. Keep shorter (36" length) sections of pipe along with a bunch of nipples, and you will always have a long enough clamp.
I use spring clamps and C clamps daily!...but never in the shop. Like you said, they are perfect video production clamps. When you need to hang a light from a joist a C clamp will become your best friend!
I would have agreed with you until I started making hollow wood surfboards recently. Can always use more clamps, and spring clamps are essential for bonding on the deck (not a fan of making cheap spring clamps from pvc pipes).
I'd have to say spring clamps are not overrated.
They aren't supposed to be used for glue ups or such jobs. They are essential for the "extra hands" jobs. I use them all the time to hold something in position when I can't spare a hand and they are also quick to move around. They aren't intended for jobs where you need a lot of pressure or extended holding time.
When you use spring clamps for what they are intended for, I find them to be quite essential.
Sprinkle some salt between the wood in your glue during the glue up and the salt bites into the wood keeping it from slipping while the glue dries. It doesn’t take much and makes a huge difference in slippage.
G Clamps (I think you call them C clamps over the pond in USA) are good if a lot of pressure is needed and can hold fence's in place and stop blocks when you being rough, alright clumsy. Pipe clamps are hard to get near me but can get cheap quick clamps. Those one handed pistol grip ones! Not needed over 3ft yet but we can get cheap sash clamps for that (square ones ) . The clamp you need but have not got is the one that's 1" bigger than the biggest you got free!
A couple of the “specialty” clamps from Kreg are nice. The one you showed with a pin on one side and flat, round face is nice for holding a pocket joint in place during assembly. I also like the one-handed clamps for quick set up. But, to your point, neither are essential.
That tool tip was cool. Real NASS like.
One of my most used clamps is painters tape.
Hand scree clamps dont come undone when used to hold something that is vibrating.
They are also clearly recommended when using various router table jigs.
C clamps are great if you do other things besides woodworking. I have one large one just for doing brake pads on our vehicles, I've tried using woodworking clamps for that task and they slip off and just dont work. Also good for welding. Just for woodworking though you can skip em.
I don't know if 40 years is enough woodworking experience.
for the last 15 years i have have managed with only one or two! i used the old rope clamping trick. never come across a project where i couldnt use it or a board with wedges. however i recently bought a set of 20 bar clamps as they were on offer. i have used them as they are faster than the rope method, but did i really NEED them? probably not.
Just bought 2 50in dewalt clamps $42 each. Thinking I might grab 2 more and then I should be good..hope
Nothing beats the hand clamp
Hilarious sens of humor! 😂 Agreed on the clamps. Only other one I use regularly is a couple 90° clamps for a right angle that's not a part of a box.
I find trigger clamps really helpful. A little pricey, but so much easier to set up than bar clamps.
Hey Steve, you should make a nice handle for bessey!
I use pipe clamps for the majority of glue ups in my cabinet shop. I disagree that 3/4” is too big. The smaller 1/2” diameter can bow and touch the wood if you put significant pressure on it.
Those bar clamps are actually “F-style” clamps. Real bar clamps are more like pipe clamps but with a rectangular bar instead of the pipe.
You also left out quick grip clamps. They don’t usually have the clamping strength of the others but it’s great to temporarily clamp something with one hand until you can get more clamps on it. Or if you need to set and remove the clamp a lot like for a stop block.
I pretty much just use the handscrew clamp as an auxiliary clamp. I can use it to hold pieces on edge for assembly or planing. You can also clamp it in the middle of a long board to have something to hook a shorter clamp to for glue ups.
Foreigners call F clamps G clamps.
I think the 9 clamp approach will certainly get you through 90% of project parts. I don't think I use more than 9 on any given glue up, etc. BUT, when I'm gluing up 3 drawers, or more than one picture frame at a time, more clamps saves you time. You can clamp everything up and go to bed. With just 9, you'd be swapping them out every hour or so as glue sets. Is it doable and a great start? Absolutely. But if more can save a lot of time if you have multiple parts.
Fun fact, in New Zealand I was taught C clamp is called G clamp and bar clamps are called F clamps. Anyway great video as always, I love my strap clamp!
And in the UK
I thought you Commonwealthers used G cramps instead of “clamps”. Or has that fallen out of use?
I've never seen a bar clamp (either the end or the pipes) available here in the UK for some reason. They're certainly not available in the big DIY stores (B&Q). Frustrating as they seem to be a very cheap option for nice long clamps.
I use Irwin brand and is worth the money..
You can use the spring clamps in your home gym 😁
I agree about C Clamps. I cannot stand them. I notice you did not include Quick Release "squeeze clamps." I like those alot, although they are not as strong as pipe and others you have mentioned. But man! the convenience.
I have seen you use your pocket hole clamp many many times Steve
For a little while I was in the "clamp of the month" club... and got a few Bessies... then a few pipe clamps.. and a buttload of F clamps.
I do have 2 parallel wood clamps which I rarely if ever use, and I have 1 C clamp... for my brake jobs when I need to compress the caliper.
Love my Kreg clamps, for quick drill press jig positioning. (Rockler, I know you tried to copy them, but I don't like your version. Having said that... let the wars begin!)
what about quick grip trigger clamps? Do you use them? In my own research, most experienced woodworkers usually use and recommend these. What size and how many would be the minimum to start with?
Nice video! Do you recommend quick action clamps?
So you talked down the wood clamp a bit at the end. And I'm thinking "oh dear, I was certain I have been thinking about/looking into getting one of those. I was certain I'd actually seen that they were quite useful". And then I take another look at the project I'm starting next week which is your lumbar rack - and you use a wooden clamp, so now I'm going to figure out a way to hold the pieces in place while they glue without a wooden clamp - to see if you are right in this video, that you don't really have use for a wooden clamp.
Ralph, let me put in a plug for hand screws. They may seem archaic, but besides their uses as a vise substitute, as many here have pointed out, they really excel in applying pressure to a broad area, or stock of uneven thickness. With all the many situations that come up, I rate them as equally valuable and necessary as other pro quality bar clamps and deep engagement clamps.
It's Labor day weekend and I live 2 minutes from a Harbor Freight. HELP ME ... PLEASE!!!
Don't do it! The feeling will pass. Have another beer!
Don't buy the plastic clamp ones, they are junk. The metal screw ones are pretty good as well as the bar clamps.
Just do it! 20% off!! 25% off!!! Hoard those clamps! don’t listen to Steve! Haha he’s right tho. You probably don’t need a ridiculous amount of clamps
I live 45 miles from harbor freight. my wife will be out of town Sunday. guess where I am going with a 25 percent off coupon?
Damn you, I'd managed to not think about picking up more clamps at Harbor Freight, now I have to check the flyer and see if any of their bar clamps are on sale, lol.
I'm surprised you don't have any of the one handed postal grip kinda clamps. The good quality ones are fantastic, I have some Jorgensen ones that I love
100% agree
Clamps on sale at harbor freight this weekend! Lol
Love it
Clamps are a lot like friends, only wood workers have a lot of clamps...
Spring clamps are great for bending thin peices on a form but thats about all i use them for (cuz you need so many they're the only ones cheap enough to be feasible : )
I do disagree about hand screw clamps for me they're great because the big ones have a huge throat depth and can sit flat flush to a surface. The clamping force they can bring is very large given they're a wooden clamp. You can also clamp strange shapes items because of the way the jaws can be aligned.
9? I have hundreds, yes hundreds.From small 1 inch 'c' clamps up to 7 foot bar clamps. 1 inch and under 'c' clamps. 25 pipe clamps. 70 bar clamps from 6 to 48 inches. 50 1 3/4 opening spring clamps. 3 drawers of 4 inch and under 'c' clamps. and, a lot more. When doing mutiple parts, I have used 100 clamps. and this doesn't include the 60 spring clamps i keep to secure tarps on my garage sale tables.
Still like my c clamps, for some of my other applications. 👍
Irwin quick grip. Best in my opinion.
What do you think of parallel clamps?
c clamp is best for "metal" work or mounting points for machinery (aka holding down grinder temporarily). using it for wood, it makes awful dents in your workpiece.
i see few that swears by irwin or equivilant ratcheting clamps. keep in mind those are modern version of F style bar clamps. no point to swear by modern equivilants. just manufacturer gimmick to tell you buy mine, mine is bestest.
Made the rookie mistake of spring and c clamp...spent a lot of money on bad investments. Should have gone with bar clamps from the outset 😒 if you can't afford it right away, save up - don't compromise with something that will "just about do" - get the right tool for the job even if it means saving up a month or two
Agree. Nice haircut btw! Lol
Tut tut tut you forget the family " what to give dad for his birthday"...;) clambs, glue and power tools.
What brand is that strap clamp?
I believe there is no cheaper way than a rope tied at the ends, to hold the piece and with your foot to hold the piece, as "Grandpa Amu" does in his channel. (Chinese channel).
1959, agreed that dude is da man!
Oh and Jorgensen one handed EZ clamps. So much better than the quick grips.
The answer is always MORE!
Aren't C-clamps more of a metalworking thing?
Bruno Guedes not if you’re building a boat.
G clamps are my most used clamps for metalworking, great for welding as well as work holding on the mill. I also use his "hand screw" style clamps, steel ones ofc, for work holding.
C clamp I thought they were called G clamps because they look like a G (especially if you consider the screw on the clamp) and when I was doing Engineering in college that's what all the teachers used to call them
Emm, your kreg pocket hole clamp?
Something tells me Steve does not have a dungeon in his basement.
Thanks for always thinking of the average woodworker, those of us who have a limited budget and limited workshop space. As you know, many if not most of RUclips woodworkers have moved to enormous shops stocked full of insanely complicated and expensive tools. You are one of the few who remembers his roots and supplies the regular woodworker with projects that we can do. Keep it up, my friend.
I dunno about over rated, but clamps are definitely OVER PRICED!!!
If you have one in your area, Harbor Fr. sells Bessey-style clamps very reasonably. I've been using them fine for a long time now. They're not amazing, but at the end of the days it's a sufficient clamp for between $2-10 a piece.
@@bear8046 Almost all of my clamps are from HFT. I have about 10 of the "Quick-Grip" style that I got on sale for around $3 each. I use those all of the time...
Considering you'll probably own them forever, I just suck it up and buy'em.
Agreed. I think a good rule of thumb is a dollar per inch
Two words, Harbor Freight.
3:29 If only you knew a woodworker that could make you a replacement handle ;)
I lived beside a carpenter who started to renovate his house. After 10 years of looking at an unfinished side I asked him if he'd bitten off more than he wanted to chew. He said, "I like my job, but found out that I really only do it for the money. If I knew a carpenter I'd get it finished." We laughed and I gave him a beer.
"I mean seriously, clamps can be super expensive... and, I'm a cheapskate."
Liked, followed, subscribed, build Steve Ramsey idol, pray to it daily.
Only thing I use a C-clamp for is compressing the piston when replacing brake pads.
I used to change my brake pads in highschool and when I was home from college. Then I moved to DC and didn't have anywhere to do it. I took it to a chain brake place which happened to be next to a Home Depot. The guy calls me out and says he can't get the piston back in so it all needs to be replaced. I laugh and tell him not to touch anything, then run over to Home Depot, come back with a C-clamp and pushed the piston back in. I told him I've changed my pads and rotors about 10 times and the only reason I'm here is because I don't have a driveway so just change the pads and rotors. He wasn't very happy.
Seconded, for some reason they just always seemed to fit perfectly in the limited space between the knuckle smasher linkage and the forehead denting support above it.
Just a tip. You can join the pipes together with a coupling fitting (instead of another clamp). Super cheap and cuts the number of pipe clamps in half.
great tip, Don, thanks!
The harder part is finding really good pipe clamps. His video looks like harbor freight, and they suck. (love their cheapo F-style though)
Agreed ; Double Ended Female Pipe Connector , [ 1.50 $ ] . YYZ , Mohawk-Planker . Did 12 ' Table End Cap's That Way & Worked Perfectly .
@Iain Botham No a coupling is the name I would use in UK too. A Socket is fixed at one end, eg wall or look at a mechanics toolbox. Keep it clean please!
The Irwin clamps I have are great. And you don’t need to use threaded ends at all.
Don't ever let my wife see this!!! I have her convinced I need more clamps!! My favorite and most used are the F style clamps from Harbor Freight, good prices and dam useful!
Irwin quick-grips are my go-to on pert-near every project. Depends on what you're making and how often you make it!
They are good, but depending on what you typically make, they don't go large enough for bigger pojects, and they're also kind of expensive.
I find the old wooden clamps to be perfect for a drill press vise. Their flat sides makes them parallel to the bit in a way that no other clamp can do.
I also find the spring clamps useful for quick holding things for repairs, or holding up a sheet for spraying varnish. However, I don't see much use for them for wood working per se.
I also think there are clamps, and clamping techniques that are perfect for niche applications, and if you're doing those applications, then you should get those clamps. The clamping tables + staves I see with luthiers is a perfect example. As is a vaccuum clamp when working with veneer.
Agree. There are those cases when an odd clampng angle make these the perfect choice. Also, when you need to clamp to a clamp - right angle-style. These really work!
Plus one on the wooden clamp as a drill press vise.
I agree with much here, except the wooden hand clamp: they can - as was shown in the video - hold a piece of stock vertical, great for holding on a drill press, etc.. they are non-marring and can spread tremendous force over a larger area than a clamp with a small foot. And at around $10 ea at Harbor Freight, they are a great investment.
I agree about the drill press, especially pipe or dowels.
Agreed. None of his essentials can be used for that
Irwin Quik clamps are my favorites. I also buy Harbor Freight versions because they are cheap and have lifetime warranty.
Quick clamps are my clamp of choice for most projects.
Irwins are great but pretty expensive. I have a couple of those and like you I also have HF cheapos.
I use quick clamps to avoid straining my hands (think carpal tunnel syndrome). For some reason, the twisting to tighten normal bar clamps really bothered my hands.
Steve, you're a wood worker so why not fix that old bar clamp's handle?
He might be one clamp short while trying to repair the clamp
Haha. I was wondering how many other people had the same thought ;-)
You can never have _too many_ clamps, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have enough of them. After all, “enough” is just what you need to complete the project.
I just recently started woodworking at 75 years old with inexpensive 30 year old power tools, a garage to work in, and a limited budget. I have a few bar clamps from 6 - 24 inches. However, I needed to clamp 6 feet. So I took a 3 foot 2X4 and drilled a series of 1" holes through the 2X4. Now I can insert the far end of each clamp in the appropriate hole to span the 6 feet and tighten the screw end.
I use my C clamps mostly for metal work and welding, not for woodworking.
Oooh... gonna have to disagree with ya there buddy... spring clamps provide constant pressure and consistent pressure when gluing up small project parts. As the pieces dry, they can contract - some pieces, that amount can be considerable. Only spring clamps provide consistent pressure the entire drying process. For me, an example would be clamping gunnels on small boats and laminating archery bow limbs. For others, it might be clamping small laminates or inlays on furniture. For larger projects, they won't be strong enough but for small projects or small parts of large projects, they outshine any other.
Iron bar clamps can leave unwanted ebonizing (black stains) on your projects when glue comes into contact with them. Either wax the hell out of them or consider those aluminum square stock clamps.
Still enjoyed this video. Come to think of it, I think you do a great job on all of your videos - good mix of information and entertainment - exactly what I want out of youtube.
Need a longer pipe clamp... get threaded (female) pipe couplers (like black-black-pipe-fittings-521-204hn-64_1000.jpg) and screw two lengths of pipe together. Then you don't need as many of the clamps, just more pipes
But aren't the couplers on the outside of the bar?
During a normal glue up the workpiece is resting on the bar. That doesn't work if you have a bulge in the middle.
@@Jehty_ For the example shown by Steve (2:45) a coupler would work, require fewer "clamps", and the bulge would not be in the way. For clamping flat stock that was wider than the pipes I had could handle, I used scrap boards across the pipes, but not on the coupler to eliminate the bulge. Not perfect, but if you only need long pipes occasionally, it works great.
C-clamps where my only clamps in the very beginning, when i worked only with pallets, C-clamps saved my life.
a c-clamp makes for a heck of an improvised screw press. For when you really need to drive that square peg through a round hole, y'know?
Doesn't an F-clamp give your the same option? Same way of fixing as an F-clamp
@@markhanoi1478 Probably lol. I'm a little new to the world of clamps. Previously I used my meat hands to hold things together. One of those should work just fine though.
@@markhanoi1478 most F style clamps can't exert enough pressure with the round wooden knob. The cross bar on the c-clamp screw can even have a force multiplier added.
Not woodworking, but I've changed many bearings with c-clamps that F style clamps just couldn't do.
@@TEDodd Yeah true, although they do make F-clamps with different types of handelbars. In most cases though, I can get enough force on an F-clamp to make a lasting impression on wood, which in general you don't want. Often high clamping force is required when people try to do things in a wrong way..... so when ever you feel the need for high clampforce, maybe rethink if you can do it in a other way ;-)
You're like Bill Nye the Science Guy for woodworking. I dub thee: Build Nye the Woodworking Guy.
Except Nye is a fraud.
I’m just sad that I’m the US you called it a C clamp, whereas in the UK we call it a G Cramp and you didn’t get to make a joke about it cramping your style...