Woodworking Clamps | Top 10 clamping tips
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- čas přidán 12. 06. 2024
- Woodworking Clamps. In this video Rob Cosman reveals his top 10 woodworking clamping tips to help you do a perfect woodworking clamp job.
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If you liked this video cehck out Rob's wideopn on edge jointing at czcams.com/video/tD1gSAYMTYQ/video.html
Rob, hard to believe that this topic has only gotten 133 comments over two years, because it is so first principles important! Here is my two cents regarding #3. When clamping a slab, most times ripping to width is done post glue-up. This affords me the opportunity to put a slight double bevel on the outside of an edge board, which is no trick to do lickety split on the jointer, no setting of fence needed. Just two passes on the edge with a slight eyeballed lean gets me a good enough tent shape on the board edge. Back to the clamp-up, the screw end of the clamp almost always has a swiveling foot to allow centering the pressure, and the double bevel on the far end centers pressure with no fumbling of pads. All the best, you are still my hero, Rob!
The half round sticks is just perfect!
Nice. I learned something today. Thanks.
The half dowel trick is excellent!
I have been a novice woodworker for over 25 yrs. The information you've shared was so simple yet profound. Your style is very easy to follow. Great job!
Rob, there's not one video you've produced that I haven't learned something from. Outstanding.
Rob, thankyou for this presentation, I benefitted from this . . . Chris . . . Norwich, England
MAN you are a good teacher. Putting a little dip in the middle of the board edges is new to me. Thank you for this video and for the always-substantive content.
Coffee, breakfast, and another great tutorial from Rob! Any better way to start my day? I mean for real though.
Orange Juice?
Great knowledge....! Thanks
Wonderful lesson, thank-you!
you bet
Very good video. I need a wood vice. You make things look so easy.
Great surface quality illustration with the piece of pencil lead in tip #8 ! That was cool.
thanks
I don't like your work - I LOVE it! Always so practical and doable. Thanks for what you do for the woodworking community Rob!
Thanks Madd Brad.....Great name, I think!
There are SO many great uses for tape. Thanks for all these tips!
Tape....the woodworkera greatest friend
Very informative. For a beginer like me, can you please make a video or perhaps explain during a live where to start when purchasing clamps. The size, how much, quality...
Thanks
Great tips Rob.
you bet
It’s always good to go back and review some basics. It’s the little things that make the biggest difference.
Well said
Great tips!
I was waiting for you to solve the problem of a clamp always being 1" too short.
there you go
Thanks!!!
I was surprised not to see any panel clamps. I just started buying them and they are becoming my favorite. Great video. Thank you Rob.
I have never found I needed them
Funny you mention over tightening... My first job was in a millwork shop and I remember cranking those bar clamps so tight I'd go home with bruises on my palms. After learning more, I've often wondered how strong those glue joints were after I squeezed all the glue out. Would be interesting to test.
Alot of good info thanks
glad you liked it
If you live in a country where Lidl is present, the Parkside quick grip clamps are very good and cheap.
Thanks for sharing those tips.
you bet
Thanks, very useful 👍👍👍
you bet
As always great tips learned from years of experience. Thanks.
Glad to help
Rob, beautifully explained.
thanks
Dear Rob, thank you for your exceptional tips.
you bet
When I started, I bought a bunch of large Bessey clamps in a sale. I used them when building my first table out of oak and they certainly worked well. However, over the years I've found them increasingly useless due to the fact that they are so heavy and the force they apply too great for anything I'd need. This is largely down to the fact I am much better at planing and generally always being square. My first table was probably squeezed to within an inch of its life, now I just bring the surfaces together like you did in the video. I've still got my Bessey clamps and they're the only thing big enough for the wider glue ups I somtimes do, and it's noticeable how much more stressful they make the process due to their weight. I really must sell them and buy some medium weight clamps instead!
I compltely understand your journey, as I said I use the squeeze the live out of my glue-ups
That 45 degree stress clamping spread angle is excellent info for clamp spacing. I'm just learning about actual woodworking as opposed to finish carpentry. A while back I made some winder stair treads by gluing multiple red oak stair treads together with pipe clamps after running the butted edges through a tablesaw (I don't have a jointer). It worked out well but there were a lot of things I think I got lucky on after watching some of your videos. Getting the panels flush at the edges was challenging. That third hand clamp method would have really helped me. For glued panel edges, you or someone mentioned running the adjacent panels with the table-sawed edges flipped so any slight cut angle out-of-squareness would be supplementary. I didn't know that at the time either but must have squared the blade up close enough.
Great tips, Rob~! You're right on about it taking a while to accumulate a decent amount of clamps. I'd be afraid to figure up how much I've spent over the years. And YES, buy good quality clamps~! Also, Black Friday shopping has saved me a lot of money.
I agree with you 100%
Pura vida Rob great information about clamping technique pura vida
thanks
👌👌👌
You should do a video with comparing or recommending a face-vise or any vise for a budget, $150.00 and under or something like that! Kinda how you do videos on other plane brands and seeing how they stack up with others! Love your videos by the way! I’ve learned so much from you and the guys, I re watch videos all the time in case I missed something!
Thanks for the idea!
Thanks for this video, different than all these video about the greatness about the parallel clamps. Your video clearly show you can live without them
I never felt the need for a parrallel clamp, I dont even own one
Any video on clamping corners. 90 degree joints
Great video! The ideas that you share are always so helpful and practical. What are your thoughts on panel clamps and how they apply pressure to wide and narrow boards? When to use them and when not to?
I have never found a need for them
12:00 Bands: I rarely have to do just one band; usually it's several on the edge of shelf boards; etc. So I do them in pairs, back to back, with the bands in contact with each other. The clamps then go from the (non-banded) edge of one board to the other board, and the clamping pressure is easily properly distributed to the two joint surfaces.
Yes that a great tip, I wish I would have mentioned that in the video
those are some really good tips.
One last tip. Your finger is not a good glue spreader for CA glue. Found that out the hard way.
Rob, do you ever use parallel clamps say from Bessy or Jet? They seem to work well with panel glue ups.
Finally something to do with all of those dowel cut offs in the bottom of my bin.
there you go
I’m new to woodworking. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I checked the show notes in the description and saw a reference to the store, but there’s no reference to specific tool you used for planing. I do not own a plane yet, but the pencil lead demonstration wants me to give planing a try. If I’m only going to buy one plane, or if I’m going to specifically buy one plane for getting a smooth edge on the board before clamping the glue-up, which brand/model plane do you recommend?
Good video Rob. Where do you find those "light duty" clamps, or what are they called? I like the mechanism, and I'd like to try them but can't seem to fin them anywhere
I've been using the 'quick grip' medium duty jorgensen clamps recently. They seem to be quite effective, easy one handed operation when needed. Before that I had a stack of Bessey F clamps but in certain operations especially where I only had one free hand they become a pain to use.
I really like them for light duty stuff, too
Thanks Rob, good tips I use have to remember. Question; did you reserve your bench top, looks like New!
Reserve my bench top??? I am careful what I do on my bench top, every now and then I have to reflatten it.
Masking tape works great on sheet goods too like MDF for glueing up miters. We go through multiple boxes of tape every week making parts for our kitchens but it works so well we never found a better way.
got to love tape
👍👍👍
👌
Great tips, do you recommend the butterfly joint where you plane both edges at the same time so doesn't matter if you are planning square on the edge to the face?
That's known as "match planing" 😁 It's a decent technique....... but make sure your plane is long enough to keep the edge straight or itll cause problems. If the bevel on your edges is too great then they can slip and slide in the clamps, cauls will stop this and keep them flush enough 😁
I have never heard that called a butterfly joint. Typicallt a butterfly jount is using a "Bowtie" shape of wood to join two boards together (normally used for repairs). But no, do not like to match plane, I prefer my edges to be dead straight. I feel my chances of getting a dead flat panel are best with dead square edges
Rob, how do you clamp thin pieces flat to the bench for cutting rabbets, dados or groves? I have a 3/4" part I'd like to cut a groove in, but the fence of the plane is higher than 3/4". Obviously I need to raise the piece onto a board, but what is your recommendation for doing this so that it clamps securely? There must be a jig or something you use. Thx
Any suggestions for edge gluing thin boards, like for an acoustic guitar top or bottom? I'M referring to the two book matched pieces that are jointed and the glued together for top and back of the guitar. By the way, thanks for the great information as always.
Hi Alan, you might want to check out crimson guitars, Nebula series. Ben Crowe gives a really helpful section on glueing edge banding. Hope this helps. Regards Jim UK.
Makes me want to sharpen my plane.
sharpen away
I remember when you put ahmeds tape to the test, nice time saver!
Cant beleave I went all this time never using it...duh
Thanks for the video, Rob. Some lesser known but very useful tips here. Question: On tip #10, what is the advantage of the automotive painter's tape as opposed to regular blue painter's tape?
It’s stronger so it doesn’t tear as easily when you’re putting downward pressure on it. You can also use regular tape doubled up. Prep the pieces you need before you start the glue up.
@@_cb336 thank you
Clif said it all...think of it as super strong paintes tape
First. That third hand clamp tip is a good'n. And I'm also thinking you don't sleep.
Only when I need to
I've only been woodworking about 3 or 4 years, but I have 4 bessey F clamps and i think 6 of the harbor freight ones, and honestly they work exactly the same as long as you take care of them and provide some lubrication. I don't have bar clamps yet, and when I needed to glue up something larger, I bought a couple of the extruded aluminum bar style clamps as well. These ones I regret buying. Maybe not regret, as they did a job I couldn't have done otherwise, but they're not great. Especially when I make cutting boards, the screw end of the clamp doesnt stay parallel to the bar, when you tighten it down the top leans back which makes the wood want to bow up in the middle. Cauls help, but I really need to get something better lol
If you want good aluminum bar clamps the ONLY ones to buy are Dubuque Aluminum Bar Clamps, you wont have that problem with them
I’ve watched this video as well as your “Top 10 Tools” and looked at your website but still can’t seem to find a link to your favorite clamps? Looking for the medium-duty that you said have served you the best. What brand and size would you recommend? We’re trying our hand at cabinets.
Galvanized 1/2 inch pipe for pipe clamps. In my area the galvanized pipe is nearly the same price as the black pipe. The galvanized pipe will not turn your glue squeeze out areas black, and the glue seems a little easier to clean off.
are most of those 24" medium duty Bessey clamps?? is 24" the most useful size?
I do wood work I love doing Birdhouses
As you mentioned, clamps are expensive. When gluing panels, I like to use a spring-jointed caul. One clamp in the middle of the glue up is all it takes. Now, with your idea, I will rout a round over on each side of my caul to send the force down the middle. Eureeka! Thanks Mr. Cosman.
When using cauls your method you should realy put a slight hump in the middle of the top and bottom caul so the max pressure in in the muddle of the panel.
@@RobCosmanWoodworking, my take is that Garth is talking about edge pressure with fewer bar clamps.
Excellent video! Unfortunately, not all painter's / masking tape is manufactured to the same standard. Can you share the name of the brand(s) you use and recommend? Thanks in advance.
3M....we also sell it on our site
When I started woodworking I had no idea the strength of glue and didn’t trust it. Even hearing Rob say it’s stronger than the wood itself just didn’t sink in till I used it. That caused me to clamp down till my hands were purple. It the joint is good the glue will do the work with a little pressure.
Its almost against our nature. we all want to squeeze the life out of that joint
I use mainly parallel clamps top and bottom. You didn’t mention those. I would never set a glue up directly on my table like that.
I dont use parrellel clamps, never really found a need for them and didnt want to spend the extra money
Sight down your bar when you begin to turn the screw, and watch it bend without any hesitation. the feet of "parallel" clamps are never parallel under any pressure whatsoever.
I'm really into woodworking,I think you are a great guy and a great teacher. Sir, I have to bail out on you brother. I think I have vertigo or something. I'll see a doctor about it. The camera your team uses makes the background shift around. The unsteady feeling it projects is not doing me any favors either, kind of getting me sick. Perhaps I will listen to your channel in the future. I respect how much you have your Sh! together and skills.I love your shop too.💔🧰🔨📐
Wow I am really sorry about that, No one else has ever said they are effected that way
So for decades I've heard of the advantages of spring joints. Do you ever recommend using this? I have done this but only on Pine glue ups "spring the joint and one clamp" and its worked out so far.
Planing a hollow into the edge, or "spring joint", was his tip 9 😁
when i trained, my gaffer taught me to spring any joint over about 1200mm. i have tops over 30 years old with noa sign of end cracks.
@@TaylerMadeyour gaffer taught you well...... a hollow is always better than a belly, so best to aim for a hollow in the first place 😁
Yes I do and I have a video on using them. czcams.com/video/tD1gSAYMTYQ/video.html
RC tips are nearly always 'this is the best practice'. As in... If you're not using these tips you're not getting the best glueup results. (compared to so many tips from others that are cute or even kinda clever but are typically more for show or for filling out the need to have a video this week rather than being truly useful)
Better clamps. Better joints. Better woodwork. Papa John's.
Is there a reason Rob took all of the caps off of the Bessy clamps? Did he just lose them over time, or was it intentional? I'm always worried that the metal could dent the the wood. Also, could Rob do a section of a video some time about how to get squeeze out out of tight corners. I often end up with small little spaces, especially internally, where the interior finish won't take because I couldn't get the squeeze out removed without spreading it, due to the small, tight, generally corner space.
He mentions that the caps can slip. They’re also plastic and minimally compressible, and in some critical clamping situations even that small amount of deflection can be a problem. Cut some thin, soft wood pieces or half dowel and put them under the clamp pads to protect your work. For interior squeeze-out, you can always mask off the joint. It’s a pita, but sometimes you have to do it. If the finish isn’t so critical, the old straw trick works great. Use a plastic drinking straw pushed into the corner and run it along the glue line. The glue ends up in the straw like magic. If you’re not getting all the way into the corner, sharpen the straw to a point, like a quill pen.
Miles, I mostly dont like the plastic caps that come with the F clamps, I like the more positive grip you get witout them. I take them off but save them as every now and then I run ito a situation where I do want to use them
With F clamps you can also use plastic soda pop lids
Good idea if you have lost your plastic pads
Thank you
I would purchase stuff from you directly but I don’t use credit cards and my debit card will only work in the USA
Of the 10 tips I will remember 11 : use razor sharp tools, think twice, measure thrice, remember what Rob said and clamp once!
Who makes the very large f clamp?
Bessey
Very good tips, unfortunately, tip #9 came up a little bit too late, I learned it the hard way.
Sorry to hear that
Top of the muffin to ya
and to you
The way you describe the advantage of using the half dowels seems strange. Yes, you get the force in the center of the board edge, but the angle of the force is not helped by the dowels, if the jaws tilts under pressure, the force will be just as angled as without the dowels. So, the dowels doesn't eliminate the need for altering the clamps. Or?
Make the piece in the shape of a triangle, force comes from the point, similar concept with the half dowel
Your Exit sign fell down
It did?
Better clamps, better joints, better glue ups, papa John's. .... wait that's not right..
good philosophy
Do you want to sell your pipe clamps. Lol
you pay the shipping and yes