Pipe clamps may appear to be a simple piece of hardware that you can find in any workshop. However, pipe clamps is used to hold together a variety of items. Whether the items that must be held together are delicate or massive in size, pipe clamps can handle these different jobs.
Within hardware stores, you will find a variety of pipe clamp design. Each variety will have its own specific use for clamping various types of projects. If you purchase the wrong variety of clamp, the clamp will likely cause difficulty with the glue-up of the projects that you are constructing.
However, if you understand the varieties of clamps that are available, you will save yourself time, money, and the need to ruin project. Each clamp variety has differences in its design that will allow them to complete specific jobs in a workshop. The differences between clamps include the design of the jaws of the clamp, the way the clamp place the necessary pressure onto the workpiece, the reach of the clamp, and the number of hands necessary to position these clamps.
Some clamp varieties are used for glue-ups that require long pieces of wood to be held together, while other clamp varieties can be used in tight areas of workpieces. In the workshop, there are a variety of clamp types. Each type of clamp will have a specific use for the clamp, a few feature of the clamp, and a reason why the clamp is included in the workshop tools of woodworkers.
Common Varieties of Pipe Clamps for Woodworking
1. Parallel Jaw Clamps
Parallel jaw clamps, also known as cabinet clamps, are considered to be some of the best clamp varieties that exist in woodshops. These clamps maintain the evenness of their jaws, no matter how far they are opened. The evenness of the clamp allow even pressure to be applied to the workpiece that is being constructed.
These clamps can be used to complete glue-ups on drawer boxes or large panels without damaging the edges of the panels. These clamps feature heavy steel or plastic jaws with soft pads that prevent damage to the workpiece. The main disadvantage to the use of these clamps is their bulkiness.
These clamps are not helpfully in tight workspaces, but are some of the best clamp varieties for glue-ups that require even pressure and evenness in the workpiece.
2. C-Clamps
C-clamps get their name from their distinct shape. These are some of the oldest clamp designs, as well as some of the most common clamp varieties in workshops today.
The design of C-clamps allows for a great deal of force to be distributed over a small area. These clamps are helpful for glue-ups next to the edge of a workpiece or clamp to areas that do not require the use of many C-clamps around the same project. The main disadvantage of C-clamps is that the pressure that they apply to the workpiece is also concentrated over a small area.
Because of this, cauls must be used when clamping to soft woods to avoid damaging the workpiece. However, these clamps are present in most workshops because of there power.
3. Pipe Clamps
Pipe clamps allow for a woodworker to turn a simple length of black iron pipe into a bar clamp.
These clamps come with two end assembly that are to be threaded onto the length of pipe of the woodworker’s choosing. These clamp varieties are ideal for glue-ups on large tabletops or for doors for workshops. Additionally, the screw on one end of the clamp will allow for the clamp to press against a movable jaw on the other end of the clamp.
These clamps have the additional feature of allowing for a glue-up of projects with a lot of reach, though some loss of strength in the clamp. Because of the low cost of these clamps per inch of strength, woodworkers often purchase them in both professional workshops and weekend garages.
4. Spring Clamps
Spring clamps may appear to be simple clamps to hold onto workpieces; they resemble giant clothespins.
These clamp varieties are used for light projects or glue-ups that require a second hand to hold the workpiece in place. Because the clamp features a strong spring, the clamp will maintain pressure on the workpiece without the use of any screws. Spring clamps are ideal for glue-ups on veneer, when holding templates during routing tasks, or even for clamping into position small miters while the glue sets.
However, spring clamps cannot replace heavy clamps for large projects. However, spring clamps are unmatched in their convenience.
5. Band Clamps
Band clamps are used in workshops to secure workpieces of irregular shapes.
These clamps use fabric or nylon straps that are tightened with a ratchet to hold workpieces in place. These clamp varieties are used for glue-ups of polygonal workpieces or projects with compound angles in their structure, such as the legs of chairs. Additionally, the even application of pressure from band clamps avoids distortion of the workpieces that is glued up.
The main disadvantage of band clamps is that they cannot hold heavy workpieces. However, the use of band clamps is common in glue-ups of delicate workpieces that need even pressure to glue up properly.
6. Quick-Release Bar Clamps
Quick-release bar clamps are also referred to as one-handed clamps.
These clamps allow for the jaw to be slid along the bar clamp, but also allow for the jaw to be locked open or closed with the squeeze of a trigger. This quick-release feature frees one hand from the clamp to complete another task with the workpiece. Once the glue-up is complete, the release tab on the clamp allows for the clamp to be opened quickly.
Quick-release bar clamps are more faster than other clamp varieties for glue-ups. However, they have less pressure strength than other clamp varieties, so they are only appropriate for medium-sized projects.
7. Deep-Throat Clamps
Deep-throat clamps are an extension of the C-clamp variety.
Their design allows for the screw to apply pressure to the workpiece several inches away from the edge of the workpiece. These clamps are especially helpful for glue-ups where the center of the workpiece must be clamped while the edge may be held by another clamp. Deep-throat clamps are the most common clamp variety to feature a deep throat to apply even pressure to the workpiece where needed.
Additionally, deep-throat clamps are more costly and heavy than standard C-clamps. However, they are helpful in projects like laminating the curves of a workpiece.
8. Toggle Clamps
Toggle clamps are commonly bolted to workpiece jigs or fixtures.
These clamps allow for the clamps to be flipped into place to hold workpieces. Workpiece jigs that are created by woodworkers for table saws or routers use these clamps to hold the workpiece while freeing both of their hands to make the cut on the wood. The design of a toggle clamp’s linkage system creates an over-center system that locks the clamp tighter as the clamp tries to open.
These clamps are installed once into a workpiece jig, but are otherwise out of the way when not in use. These clamps are specifically used for only a few projects in the workshop. However, they have become a crucial tool in workshop setups.
Each clamp variety was created to solve a specific problem that can occur in the workshop. Therefore, the most seasoned woodworkers will own a variety of clamps of each variety. It is up to the woodworker to understand the problems that can occur with their projects and to purchase the appropriate tools to solve those problems.
By purchasing and utilizing a variety of clamps of each variety, woodworkers will be able to complete their projects with calmness and precision. These clamps will hold the workpieces together and hold the entire project together. Additionally, the clamps will do so one glue-up at a time.
