Woodworking clamps are an essential tool for any woodworker, whether you are a professional or a hobbyist. These clamps allow you to secure and hold pieces of wood in place while you work on them, ensuring precise cuts and joints.
With so many different types and sizes of clamps available, it can be overwhelming to choose the right ones for your projects. In this guide, we will provide an overview of the different types of woodworking clamps, their features, and how to choose the best ones for your needs. We will also review some of the top woodworking clamps on the market to help you make an informed decision.
TOP SHELF SUMMARY
- Top Shelf - Woodworking Tools, WETOLS Corner Clamp 2pcs
- Next Best - WORKPRO Bar Clamps for Woodworking, 6-Pack One-Handed Clamp/Spreader
- Editor’s Choice - JORGENSEN 2-pack Ratchet Bar Clamps
- Consumer Favorite - Milescraft 4009 FenceClamps
- Best Bang For Your Buck - Bessey LM2.004 LM General Purpose Clamp
- Best For Length - Bora 50" Parallel Clamp Set
Why You Should Use Woodworking Clamps
Woodworking clamps are an essential tool for any woodworker, providing precision, safety, efficiency, and versatility in your projects. These clamps allow you to secure pieces of wood in place while you work on them, ensuring that your cuts and joints are precise and accurate. When working with power tools, it is important to keep your hands clear of the cutting area to avoid accidents.
Woodworking clamps allow you to hold pieces of wood in place without having to use your hands, increasing safety. Using woodworking clamps can also help you work more efficiently by allowing you to focus on your work without having to constantly adjust and hold onto the wood.
There are many different types of woodworking clamps available, each with their own specific features and uses. This allows you to choose the right clamp for the job, making your woodworking projects easier and more efficient.
How We Picked The Best Woodworking Clamps
The search for the best wood clamps was no easy task. We spent countless hours researching, reviewing, and testing until we were sure we had the best of the best. We wanted something that could hold tight and last for years, something that could be used for a variety of projects, and something that would give our work the perfect finish.
We finally settled on a selection of clamps that fulfilled all our criteria. They were easy to set up, had a sturdy design, and could handle a variety of materials. These clamps are also lightweight and easy to carry, so they're perfect for both the workshop and the job site. And with best clamps for woodworking, you can be sure your projects will look professional and beautiful every time!
TOP SHELF
Top Shelf Features
The WETOLS Woodworking Corner Clamp is a high-quality clamp designed for use in a variety of woodworking projects. It is made of durable aluminum alloy die-casting and features an ergonomic design with an anti-skid, rubber-covered handle for comfortable use.
The single-handle jaw of this clamp can be rotated in two ways, making clamping more convenient and holding work pieces precisely. This clamp is suitable for professional and DIY use and can be used for a range of purposes, including welding, framing, drilling, doweling, woodworking, making cabinets, installing furniture, and creating box and picture frames.
Top Shelf Details
The WETOLS Woodworking Corner Clamp is a durable and versatile clamp designed for use in a variety of woodworking projects. It is made of high-quality aluminum alloy and features a rubber-covered handle for comfortable use.
The clamp has a maximum clamping range of approximately 2.75 inches (70 mm), a jaw width of 3.74 inches (95 mm), and a jaw depth of 1.4 inches (35 mm), allowing it to accommodate a range of materials including metal tubes, steel rods, wood, and thick glass. It can be used to connect two different thicknesses of wood blocks at a right angle and is suitable for professional and DIY use. It is important to note that the clamp has a maximum jaw opening of 70 mm and may not be suitable for thicker rods or blocks.
It is also important to pad thin glasses with tissue, towels, or leather to avoid cracks or scratches. The clamp should only be used as a temporary device and should be removed once the job is completed. It is also important to keep the metal clamp away from children as it is heavy and may be dangerous for them. The clamp weighs approximately 1.56 pounds and has dimensions of 14.21 x 9.13 x 2.44 inches.
Next Best
Top Shelf Features
The WORKPRO bar clamp is heavy-duty tools designed for use on construction sites or in woodworking projects. These clamps feature a reinforced nylon body and high-quality hardened steel bars, providing excellent impact resistance and durability.
The quick-change button design allows these clamps to easily be converted into spreaders as well, simply by pressing the red button, reversing the jaw, and reinserting it. These clamps offer a strong clamping force of up to 150 lbs, as well as a metal ratcheting mechanism, making them suitable for holding pressure for extended periods.
They also have non-marring, removable, and replaceable pads made of flexible material with a non-slip texture to enhance the overall clamping force. The quick-release latch allows for easy adjustments and locking of the wood clamps, and the ergonomically-designed handle and dipping plastic on the quick-release latch provide added comfort for the user.
Top Shelf Details
The WORKPRO Bar Clamps for Woodworking come in a set of six clamps, including four 6-inch clamps and two 12-inch clamps. These clamps are made with a reinforced nylon body and high-quality hardened steel bars, providing great impact resistance and durability.
The 6-inch clamps can be set to spreaders with sizes up to 11-9/64 inches, and the 12-inch clamp is also a spreader with sizes up to 17-21/64 inches. These clamps offer a powerful clamping force, clamping power with up to 150 lbs and a metal ratcheting mechanism. They are lightweight and sturdy, able to hold pressure for extended periods. The clamps also feature non-marring removable and replaceable rubber pads made of flexible material with a non-slip texture, enhancing the overall clamping force.
The quick-release latch allows for easy and quick adjustments and locking's of the wood clamps, and the ergonomically-designed handle and dipping plastic on the quick-release latch provide added comfort for the user. The dimensions of these clamps are 17.13 x 12.2 x 2.48 inches and they have a total weight of 2.41 kilograms.
Editor’s Choice
Top Shelf Features
The JORGENSEN Ratchet Bar Clamps Set is a versatile and convenient tool for woodworking projects. These clamps feature an exclusive patented feature that allows them to expand their opening capacity by joining two clamps together without the need for any additional tools or accessories. This makes them extremely flexible and adaptable for a wide range of projects.
These clamps can also be easily converted into spreader clamps, making them versatile and convenient to use. They have a comfortable one-handed clamping mechanism and are equipped with soft and durable plastic pads, a contoured comfort grip, and a quick release lever. These features make these clamps easy to use and comfortable to hold, even for extended periods of time.
Top Shelf Details
The JORGENSEN Ratchet Bar Clamps Set is a high-quality tool designed for use in woodworking projects. These clamps have a throat depth of 3-1/3 inches, a maximum opening capacity of 12 inches, and a normal load limit of 300 lbs.
They are easily converted into spreader clamps, making them versatile and convenient to use. These clamps also feature an exclusive patented feature that allows two clamps to be joined together to make a clamp with more than double the opening capacity of a single clamp. This makes them extremely flexible and adaptable for a wide range of projects.
The clamps are equipped with protective pads and a contoured comfort grip, providing added comfort and protection during use. The clamps have a total weight of 4.45 pounds and dimensions of 22.13 x 9 x 2.13 inches.
Consumer Favorite
Top Shelf Features
The Milescraft 4009 Fence Clamps wooden hand screw clamps for woodworking projects that allow you to attach auxiliary fences to your existing fences without interference. These clamps can be used in pairs for sacrificial fences, half-fences, re-saw fences, and as stop blocks, among other fixtures.
They are lightweight and compact, with a range of travel and non-marring rubber clamp pads. The set includes two clamps, which should be sufficient for most projects. These clamps are versatile and easy to use, making them a convenient choice for attaching auxiliary fences to existing fences.
Top Shelf Details
The Milescraft 4009 Fence Clamps are an essential tool for woodworkers who need to secure auxiliary fences to existing fences. Made of aluminum and steel with a silver color, these clamps have dimensions of 5.5 x 5.5 x 1.45 inches and a weight of 0.88 pounds. They have a range of travel from 1/2" to 5-3/4" (12mm to 146mm) and fit into a 3/8" hole in the top of the auxiliary fence.
The clamps also feature a non-marring clamp pad to ensure maximum clamping force can be applied. These clamps are a reliable and convenient tool for securing auxiliary fences to existing fences in woodworking projects.
Best Bang For Your Buck
Top Shelf Features
The BESSEY LM2.004 LM General Purpose Clamp is a reliable and convenient tool for a variety of woodworking projects. It features lightweight zinc die-cast jaws that can create up to 330 pounds of clamping force and a serrated rail for a secure grip. The large ACME thread allows for quick, smooth operation, and the non-marring plastic caps on the pressure pad make it suitable for delicate projects.
The ergonomic wood grip handle is comfortable to hold, and these clamps are a lighter duty option compared to traditional c-clamps. BESSEY is a reputable German company that has been in business since 1889 and is known for their high-quality steel products. They first introduced their line of malleable cast iron bar clamps in 1936 and heat-treated, all steel L clamps in 1952, and have a long history in the manufacture of tin snips
Top Shelf Details
The BESSEY LM2.004 LM General Purpose Clamp is a versatile and convenient tool for woodworking projects. It has dimensions of 6 x 3.25 x 0.75 inches and a weight of 8.1 ounces. This clamp is designed with an F-style sliding arm and has an opening of 4 inches, a throat depth of 2 inches, and a nominal rail size of 19/32 x 3/16 inches.
It has a nominal clamping pressure of 330 lbs and a spindle diameter of 0.393 inches. The pad type is replaceable, swivel, and non-marring, with a swivel pad size of 7/8 inches. The screw size is 25/64 inches, and the maximum jaw opening is 4 inches. The clamp face is 7/8 inches wide, and the bar material is zinc die cast. The handle length is 3 inches and is made of wood, and the overall width of the clamp is 3-1/4 inches.
Splurge-Worthy
Top Shelf Features
The Bora Parallel Clamp Set is a reliable and versatile tool for woodworking projects. These clamps have a strong and even clamping force, thanks to their 3.5-inch-wide padded jaws, which provide constant and even pressure without damaging the material. The passive lock jaw stays in place when winding the clamp, and these clamps have a clamping pressure of 1,100 lbs (500 kg).
The parallel clamps have a rock-solid stability, which helps to deliver a superior finished product that you can be proud of. They are also easy to use, with a large, easy-grip handle that makes it easy to lift and slide the jaw up and down. The anti-slip bottom jaw keeps the jaw in place, and the padded jaws provide the perfect clamping pressure.
Top Shelf Details
The Bora Parallel Clamp Set is a comprehensive set that includes two 50-inch parallel clamps, designed to meet a wide range of clamping needs. These clamps have a 3.5-inch wide padded jaw that provides constant and even pressure without damaging the material, making them suitable for a variety of woodworking projects.
The clamps have a 1,100 lbs (500 kg) clamping pressure, providing too much pressure for most projects. They also have a 3.5-inch (89 mm) throat and come in sizes ranging from 12 inches to 50 inches, making them versatile tools for your clamping needs. The set has a weight of 16 pounds and dimensions of 5.5 x 2.5 x 57.5 inches, making it easy to store and transport.
Best Woodworking Clamps For You
Woodworking clamps are essential tools for any woodworker, providing precision, safety, efficiency, and versatility in a range of projects. There are many different types of woodworking clamps available like spring clamps, f clamps, pipe clamp, h style pipe clamps each with their own specific features and uses, allowing you to choose the right clamp for the job. Ultimately, the best woodworking clamp for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences, so it is important to carefully consider your options and choose the clamp that is best suited to your projects.
Click or tap the buttons to check the price on the best woodworking clamps for you!
TOP SHELF RECAP
- Top Shelf - Woodworking Tools, WETOLS Corner Clamp 2pcs
- Next Best - WORKPRO Bar Clamps for Woodworking, 6-Pack One-Handed Clamp/Spreader
- Editor’s Choice - JORGENSEN 2-pack Ratchet Bar Clamps
- Consumer Favorite - Milescraft 4009 FenceClamps
- Best Bang For Your Buck - Bessey LM2.004 LM General Purpose Clamp
- Best For Length - Bora 50" Parallel Clamp Set
Woodworking Clamps FAQs
Here are the most frequently asked questions about the best woodworking clamps:
Are bar clamps good for woodworking?
Bar clamps are a woodworker's best friend. They offer an incredible amount of clamping force when you need to glue two pieces of wood together, and the jaws are great for holding items snugly in place while cutting or routing. Depending on your needs, there are several types of bar clamps available – steel bar clamps, wooden bar clamps, spring-loaded bar clamps – each with its own benefits and uses.
Steel bar clamps provide the most strength and hold the greatest amount of pressure for gluing large items together; wooden bar clamps offer better control when clamping smaller pieces; and spring-loaded bar clamps easily adjust to fit any size item without having to open and close a lever every time.
No matter which type you choose, all have adjustable heads so you can get them into tight spaces or adjust them as needed along uneven surfaces. Equipped with protective rubber pads that won't mar fine finishes or scratch delicate surfaces either, these versatile tools will quickly become an essential part of your woodworking toolkit!
How many clamps do I need for woodworking?
When it comes to woodworking, the number of clamps you need depends on your project. Generally speaking, most projects will require two or four clamps, and any larger projects might require up to eight or more.
The type of clamp you need also varies depending on the type of project you’re working on. If you’re dealing with large pieces that need a lot of pressure applied and holding force, F-style clamps are usually recommended. For smaller projects where precision is key, bar and parallel clamps will be ideal due to their ability to keep wood flush together when secured tight enough.
Finally, don’t forget about specialty tools such as c-clamps for extra support during tricky cuts or hand screws for delicate tasks like applying veneers or other exterior surfaces that require more subtle pressure than traditional clamps can provide. No matter what kind of clamp you choose for your particular application, making sure that the hold is secure should always be your first priority!
Can you over clamp wood?
Using too much force or pressure can cause damage such as splitting or cracking your workpiece so it's important not to go overboard here - You want just enough tightness that your joint doesn't slip or come apart but not so much that you risk further damaging your piece of wood.
To avoid this issue altogether and make sure you don't exert too much excess force on your materials, take care when setting up and tightening down your clamps so you know how strong/tight they should be beforehand.
Additionally, applying any kind of finish onto an already overly clamped object may be difficult as some finishes won’t adhere properly due to either surface deformation caused by over-tightening or buildups around areas where there is excess glue present from being glued tightly together with an excessive amount of clamping strength applied (which would also affect adherence).
Therefore extra time often needs added into processes involving extra clamping strength in order for a proper finish layer application afterwards!
How long should you leave wood clamped?
It depends on the type of wood and the desired outcome. If your goal is to use wood glue, then an optimal clamping time is usually around 30 minutes. However, if you are simply trying to shape or straighten two pieces of wood together without using glue, you may want to leave them clamped for several hours or even overnight for a better hold. Generally speaking, more complicated projects involving multiple pieces and intricate details might require clamping for longer periods of time - up to 48 hours in some cases depending on the material and situation.
When it comes to hardwood joining with dowels or other mechanical fasteners (like screws), a good rule of thumb is not only leaving your project clamped but also bracing it between large pieces so that any extra movement while it cures will not disrupt its integrity. Wood tends to move as it adjusts itself over time, so making sure everything stays secure until fully cured can have long-term positive effects.
In any case, regardless of what kind of joint you’re creating or the amount of time spent under tension due to clamping forces - be sure always make safety your priority! Don’t cause yourself unnecessary hazards by over-tightening anything too much and always wear protective equipment when necessary (gloves/safety glasses etc.). Let us know how your project turns out!
How do I know what size wood clamp to use?
Figuring out which size wood clamp to use can be a difficult task. However, with a little bit of knowledge and guidance, you can get it right every time!
The size of the wood clamp you will need depends on the type of material you are trying to hold together and the length of the joint area. The thickness and weight of the materials also come into play when determining which clamp size is right for your project. In general, there are three different sizes – small (1”–2”), medium (3”–4”) or large (5”-6'').
For small joints or thinner materials such as thin boards, softwood laminates or other delicate items, choose a smaller clamp that has enough pressure to hold things in place without putting too much strain on fragile materials. Small clamps usually consist of a single screw connected by two metal plates with some cushioning material between them - these typically range from 1 inch up to 2 inches wide.
Medium clamps are great for bigger jobs such as working on thicker pieces like hardwoods or multiple layers stacked one atop another. They usually range from 3 inches up to 4 inches wide and feature screws more than one screw so there's even coverage across larger projects for stronger grip overall.
Finally, if you're looking at something really big like broader frames with long joint areas that require extra stability, consider using large clamps ranging from 5-6 inches wide or even larger depending on your needs.
These have several screws spaced out over larger distances so they provide greater torque turn without having an adverse effect while also counteracting any degree variation throughout an extended piece allowing it stay in line through consistent tension levels all around its circumference until glued completely together permanently solidifying any form factor desired in terms of shape definition integrity durability each time better than ever before!
