Clamps
Clamps are accessory tools to hold workpieces together, e.g. for pressing a wood glue joint, or in a fixed position, e.g. on top of a workbench. They usually consist of two jaws, of which one may be fixed and at least one is adjustable. Vises can be very similar (depending on your use case).
You can never have enough clamps! Whenever you need more or bigger ones for a project, buy some...
The CoMakingSpace's clamp selection can be found on the clamp cart in the wood workshop.
F-Clamps
| ToolInfoBox F-Clamps | |
|---|---|
| |
| Synonyms: | bar clamps, speed clamps; DE: Schraubzwingen, Schraubknechte |
| Type: | fastening tool |
| Material: | e.g. wood, metal |
| Used with: | corner clamping jigs |
| Location: | clamp cart (wood workshop) |
| Access Requirements: | read this section |
| Similar (More or Less): | cam clamps |
F-clamps consist of a fixed jaw at the end of a steel bar and an slideable jaw with a pressure point that is adjusted by means of a large screw.
We have several malleable iron (Temperguss) F-clamps spanning up to 2.1 m in the wood workshop.
Clamps are a temporary solution by design and are not made to withstand weather, for instance.
Lever Clamps
| ToolInfoBox Lever Clamps | |
|---|---|
| |
| Synonyms: | DE: Hebelzwingen |
| Type: | fastening tool |
| Used with: | T tracks; table saw (sliding table) |
| Location: | clamp cart (wood workshop) & table saw |
| Access Requirements: | read this section |
Lever clamps have a low profile, are often compatible with T tracks and are less vulnerable to vibrations than screw-based clamps, making them a good choice for applications in jigs.
One-Handed Clamps
| ToolInfoBox One-Handed Clamps | |
|---|---|
| |
| Synonyms: | DE: Einhandzwingen, "Pumpzwingen" |
| Type: | fastening tool |
| Material: | e.g. wood, metal |
| Location: | clamp cart (wood workshop) |
| Access Requirements: | read this section |
These black one-handed clamps work in a similar fashion to a caulking gun where you "pump" to get the desired pressure.
- 70 × 100 mm (5)
- 40 × 50 mm (4)
Spring Clamps
| ToolInfoBox Spring Clamps | |
|---|---|
| |
| Synonyms: | A-clamps, "flexible clamps", muslin clamps; DE: Leimzwingen, Federzwingen, Musselin-Klemmen |
| Type: | fastening tool |
| Material: | e.g. wood, cardboard |
| Location: | clamp cart (wood workshop) |
| Access Requirements: | read this section |
We have a few small plastic or metal spring clamps. These are commonly used for thin glue-ups, hence their German name "Leimzwingen".
Cam Clamps
| ToolInfoBox Cam Clamps | |
|---|---|
| |
| Synonyms: | luthier clamps; DE: Klemmzwingen, Holzzwingen, Klemmsia-Zwingen |
| Type: | fastening tool |
| Material: | wood |
| Used with: | masking tape |
| Location: | clamp cart (wood workshop) |
| Access Requirements: | read this section |
| Similar (More or Less): | F-clamps |
Wooden cam clamps exert less pressure than metal F-clamps, but enough for most glue jobs. Due to this property and their ease of placement they are often used on delicate workpieces, such as instruments or fine furniture.
They are tightened by turning a cam lever in the sliding jaw. The jaws are lined with cork pads to avoid damaging the workpiece. Caution: wood glue sticks to cork and the wooden clamp jaws!
There are currently four cam clamps (approx. 40 cm) on the clamp cart. If you need more, it's not too difficult to make some cam clamps yourself.
Further reading: e.g. Wikipedia (DE). There are also bench hooks based on this clamp design now.
Corner Clamps
| ToolInfoBox Corner Clamps | |
|---|---|
| |
| Synonyms: | right angle clamps, right angle vise, picture-frame clamps; DE: Winkelspanner, Eckzwingen, "Winkelzwingen" |
| Type: | fastening tool |
| Material: | e.g. wood, cardboard |
| Location: | clamp cart (wood workshop) |
| Access Requirements: | read this section |
| Similar (More or Less): | corner clamping jigs |
These 3D printed corner clamps are based on a Thingiverse design and are especially useful for gluing boxes. Making these is a good use for some short M8 threaded rods you may have lying around!
Parts you want to clamp with these must be oriented at a right angle, but can be of different thicknesses as the inside corner is slidable.
We've made two 30 × 40 mm clamps - for bigger pieces, you may want to try corner clamping jigs.
Besides these small self-made ones, we also got some (3?) medium-sized Bessey WS3 from a friendly carpenter.
