Woodworking Hand Tools – Spring Clamps
- on 10.27.08
- Woodworking Tools and Reviews
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I love to watch all the do it yourself shows on television and I admit I envy all the tools those guys have. I mean, just how many routers does one guy really need? Seriously, the one thing I really envy is all the clamps they have, some basic bar or pipe clamps, and some specialty clamps. My shop and budget do not allow room or money for those specialty clamps. In my shop I have found one set of specialty clamps to be invaluable. These I use when ever I miter corners I have found that Spring Clamps are the answer to woodworkers’ prayers. 
The beauty of the Spring Clamps is that it will hold the pieces at any angle. I have tried to use “corner clamps” which only work at a 90 degree angle. Well, some didn’t even do that, as the castings were very roughly finished, so the angle was anywhere from +/-5 degrees from 90 degrees. I also have tried to use multiple pipe clamps, I didn’t have enough hands to adjust everything and hold the work at the same time. Spring Clamps are installed using a set of special pliers that open the pre stressed springs, included in the kit. Simply open the springs, place over the mitered joint, and release. The ends of the spring grab the wood and hold it while your glue sets. To remove them simply open the springs again. I found another use for the Spring Clamps when I installed a shop built, newel post in my house. I wanted a Craftsman style newel post, so the design consisted of several layers of mitered blocks around the post. I used the spring clamps to hold each mitered joint in place while the glue sets.
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