Looking for wood clamps

[Norcal]

One source of good quality clamps like domestic Jorgensen, as they are made by the ChiComs now, is estate sales, thrift stores, & yard sales, you can never have too many clamps.

 

[Uncle murph]

I'm new to woodworking, and need to start a clamp collection.

Suggestions on where to build it up/look for sales/etc?

Yard sales,old US made stuff that is twice the quality at fraction of the price of anything new.

 

[niget2002]

When I first started woodworking, I picked up 1 or 2 new clamps each time I started a new project. Then I asked for more clamps for a few years at Christmas.

I still don't have enough clamps. I'd like to order some of the bessey bar clamps. I just need to save up to do it. Right now I mostly use regular bar clamps for bigger glue ups. I have a bunch of the F style clamps. Some are harbor freight. Most are others I've picked up along the way.

I also have a ton of spring clamps. Those work really well for small projects. You can also cut up a bicycle inner tube and make edge banding clamps for gluing edge banding or face strips onto plywood.

 

[Meursault74]

I also have a ton of spring clamps. Those work really well for small projects. You can also cut up a bicycle inner tube and make edge banding clamps for gluing edge banding or face strips onto plywood.

do you have something like this?

1 in. x 15 ft. Ratcheting Band Clamp

Amazing deals on this 1In X 15Ft Ratcheting Band Clamp at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

I bought one of those after I had I been using something similar I had made out of cut wood blocks and some rope.
Funny enough I don't think I've used it. Used the jury rigged one a bunch of times. Now that I buy something I haven't had a use for it.

I've also used bicycle inner tube as well for other tasks, but that's because I've kept them after getting a flat that couldn't be repaired. I used to have a pile of them. Bike inner tube new will probably will cost more than that HF clamp these days.

 

[niget2002]

do you have something like this?

1 in. x 15 ft. Ratcheting Band Clamp

Amazing deals on this 1In X 15Ft Ratcheting Band Clamp at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

I bought one of those after I had I been using something similar I had made out of cut wood blocks and some rope.
Funny enough I don't think I've used it. Used the jury rigged one a bunch of times. Now that I buy something I haven't had a use for it.

I've also used bicycle inner tube as well for other tasks, but that's because I've kept them after getting a flat that couldn't be repaired. I used to have a pile of them. Bike inner tube new will probably will cost more than that HF clamp these days.

Just used a ratcheting band clamp last weekend to glue up the 4 sides of a box for the record holder I was making.

I used tape to hold the box together during the glue up. Then I put the ratchet ******** it to pull everything tight. Works really well if you're using mitered corners. Nice thing about it is you can slightly squeeze corners together to make the box square if it starts off a little 'off'.

I had worse luck using it if I didn't miter the corners. But for those cases, I usually use brad nails to hold things together.

 

[toolmiser]

I would also suggest maybe 3 "pipe clamps-3/4" size. They give you a lot of flexibility. Others may disagree, but I prefer name brand, and quality clamps. I appreciate the difference. It's taken years, but garage sales, estate sales, other used sales have gotten me lots of good quality clamps.

 

[Pen & Wrench]

I have Jorgensen Pony and Bessy 3/4" pipe clamps and Irwin parallel clamps, a good collection of various sizes of C Clamps and some other types as well, but the ones I reach for the most are my Irwin Quick Clamps, or DeWalt counterparts. You will want the ones with 600b lb clamping force, even though they have a 300 lb clamp as well. They can be set up to spread or clamp. They come in various lengths up to 50 inches. You need all types of clamps but these seem to be my go to clamps for lots of uses.

 

[Majeztic]

I just picked up some more of these small Bessey clutch clamps for $30 at Home Depot which is a decent price.

BESSEY Clutch Clamp Set (4-Piece) GSCC4PK-C - The Home Depot

This special 4-Pack is a great way to expand your clamp collection, as you can never have too many clamps. Each 4-piece package contains 2 each of the 6 in. GSCC2.506 and 12 in. GSCC2.512 clamp. The BESSEY

www.homedepot.com