Holding Together a Woodwork with Clamps

(photo: soundsultan )

Clamps are fastening devices, aimed to secure objects together. In the realm of woodworking, they are quite useful in tightly holding pieces of wood, preventing unwanted movement.

Clamps are oftentimes used to hold woodpieces, as other operations on the woodpiece is done. Drilling and sawing are among the woodworking excursions a clamp “supports”, as the said operations require the woodpiece to be securely steady. The other common use of clams is to hold together pieces of wood, which had just been glued together.

In Australia and the United Kingdom, clamps are often referred to as cramps.

Joints, particularly biscuit join setups and mortise joints, are commonly held together by clamps during their “glue strengthening” period of construction. As certain types of wood aren’t ideal candidates for nailing, gluing them would be the best course of action. Jointing them adds more strength into the structure, and gluing them finalizes that structure.

Through the application of inward pressure, a tight hold is established by this fastening device, the common of which is known as the G Clamp, or C Clamp

The G Clamp is simply a U shaped piece of metal, with an adjustable holder on one tip, some on both. Positioning the piece, or pieces in question, in between the device’s opening, then adjusting the holder, constitutes the whole successful operation of the clamp. Looking at the tool from the side, the clamp appears to look like the letter G, thus the G Clamp name.

A variety of clamp types exist for different types of clamping needs. The G Clamp is simply the most common type of clamp, visible in most woodworkers’ woodshops.

Some clamps are geared to establish a permanent hold, and the most common are Wire Rope Clamps and Hose Clamps. For temporary holds, the most common clamps are Band Clamps, or Web Clamp, Bar Clamps, F-Clamps or Sliding Clamps, Bench Clamps, Cardellini Clamp, Gripes, Handscrews, Mitre Clamps, Magnetic Clamps, Pipe Clamps, Sash Clamps, Set Screws, Speed Clamps and the Toggle Clamp.

By understanding how a G Clamp, or C Clamp, successfully operates, one would get an overall understanding on how all temporary clamps operate. The differences between clamp types come in when their clamping size is considered, the types of material shapes they clamp, as well as the materials these clamps are made to hold together.

All in all, any woodworker would know how valuable a clamp is. As an assistant, clamps securely hold woodpieces. As glued wood strengtheners, they are superstars.