Clamps and Types of Clamps
By: The Working Man


There are many kinds of clamps that will help you to hold a
project while you are working on it. Clamps are specifically
designed to hold something in place for long or short
periods, and vary widely in size, shape and strength.

Clamps can also be used to secure tools or projects to a
surface, secure a straight edge for the purpose of sawing or
routing a work piece, or to hold parts together for a long
period while glue dries.

Steel clamps are strong and have been the standard, but
composite or aluminum clamps are also strong yet lighter and
so are often considered more useful for general usage.

Here are some basic rules that you should follow when
clamping things together:

- Remember to always use a piece of scrap wood or some other
scrap piece between the work piece and the jaws of the clamp
to prevent damage to the piece you are working on.

- When you position a clamp, close the jaws of the clamp
until they feel tight. If you are gluing, some glue will be
pushed out around the joint. This is a sign that you have
tightened the clamp enough.

- When gluing be sure to apply pressure at right angles to
prevent the pieces from slipping.

- Moderate pressure should be applied to the project. Be
sure to not over-tighten; otherwise uneven pressure will be
applied. Forcing two pieces together can damage the project.

When using a power clamp or other clamp that automatically
tightens, be sure that your fingers are clear of the clamp
before you tighten it down. Otherwise you can pinch your
fingers in the clamp. Always wear thick sturdy gloves to
protect your fingers and hands when working with clamps.


Types of Clamps - G Clamp, Hand Screw Clamp, Sash Clamp,
and Pipe Clamps

The G Clamp:

This is one of the most used clamps. It is very versatile
and can be found in most tool boxes. They come in a variety
of sizes and can be used for a variety of jobs. You can use
a G clamp for jobs from clamping a work piece to a surface
while you work on it to holding two pieces together as you
cut, glue or solder them.

The jaw opening of a G clamp ranges from one inch to over
eight inches in length. The screw of the clamp has a swivel
head and this makes the clamp able to sit on irregular
surfaces.


The Hand Screw Clamp:

The hand screw clamp or toolmakers clamp is made from metal
and is used mainly for metalworking. They are not used
typically to clamp small items.

Hand screw clamps that are made from wood are usually used
in furniture repair. The jaws are adjustable and can fit
different angled materials.


The Sash Clamp:

This clamp has an adjustable fixed jaw and a flat bar. The
fixed jaw adjusts with a screw and the jaw can slide and
lock into a position along the bar. This adjustable design
is so that it can fit to the project you are doing.

These types of clamps are usually used for big projects like
table tops, sash windows and even doors. Typically more than
one clamp is used at a time for these big projects.


The Pipe Clamp:

The pipe clamp is mainly used in the USA and is similar to
the sash clamp, but the pipe clamp uses a round shaft
instead of a flat bar. The length of the pipe determines the
length that can be used. These pipe clamps can be lengthened
usually by adding longer tubes.



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