WOODWORKING CLAMPS AND WORKHOLDING

#cauls
#extensions and deep reach clamps
#glue ups
#Handscrews
#Miters
#Odd Shapes

cauls

cauls FWW 0218 pdfp22 p22

• cover caul face in duct tape or packing tape so glue doesn't stick
• for panels up to 30" wide he uses straight cauls for flat panels,
  • less effective > 30" so he uses splines, biscuits or dowels for alignment
  • pair cauls at each end, if panel > 2 feet long use cauls in middle too
• edge banding
  • if edge banding< 1" wide need caul as edge banding will bend; use 2" thick caul
  • center clamp on thickness of shelf, not edge banding (that is flush with shelf on top but lower on bottom)
• dados
  • e.g. bookshelf; need opposite of spring joint to close center where clamp can't reach
  • Begin by making one pass across the first and last 2 in. of the caul's face. Make the second cuts 4 in. long, the third 6 in., and then make one pass from the middle to each end
  • 1 in. thick by 21⁄2 in. to 3 in. wide and as long as the width of the sides, putting a very shallow convex curve (no more than 1⁄16 in. per foot) on the face of the caul
  • alternately, put 1 or 2 business cards in center if using straight caul
• box joints, dovetails, etc
  • make special cauls that only push on the end grain
• through tenon
  • make a pad that fits around the through tenon
    

This Bessey FRK Window installation clamp is similar to the spreaders I bought to lift the tablesaw

Fortis Clamp Fortistrut-Q Clamp Review | Popular Woodworking
this is the one that mounts on uni-strut

FWW 253 bench puppies - bench dogs with odd shape for holding non-rectilinear workpieces; follow up on 2016-07 issues p11

2024-12-06 had a note "27 jaw stand lowest inside jaw" in google keep since 2024-03-17. Had something to do with making a jig to level workbench

shop-made miter vise Shopnotes 094 pdfp36 p 36

folding wedges to hold workpiece to work on edge

shopnotes 112 p39 - clamp racks - i like f style rack having pvc tubes

Drawer Squaring Frame jig PWW

simple wood jaws for machinist's vice

Am. Woodworker 2003-01 pdfp 25 benchtop tool bases to use with workmate

Am. Woodworker 2003-01 pdfp 44 space saving clamping rack

use brick weights dipped in plastidip

When not using a table and edge profiling, can screw cleats into bench if needed

dumbells for moxon vise FWW 268 pdfp52; "Turn your workbench into a wide jointer" is in same article; video; FWW page behind paywall
Alloy Steel Acme Lead Screw, Right Hand, 5/8"-8 Thread Size, 12" Long | McMaster-Carr    
Acme Thumb Nut, Right Hand, 5/8"-8 Thread Size | McMaster-Carr   
Carbon Steel Acme Hex Nut, Right Hand, 5/8"-8 Thread Size | McMaster-Carr

Popular Woodworking tip on using handscrew within handscrew to hold small pieces at router

FWW 0152 2001-11 p20 holding long work on edge in face vise, use hand clamp to support far end

2024-01-23 Popular Woodworking article on toolmaker's vises     part 1    part 2
part 2 shows it mounted in bench vise holding thin strip of wood so supported by bench (would be tough to use end vise and dogs on piece so small as it would bow)
can do same thing with handscrew

folding wedges (see PWW Feb 2002 p 24 for folding wedges with groove with spline to keep aligned), also slightly bowed cauls

tapered wedge to keep vise from racking FWW 0234 pdfp14

angle bars table big panel glue-ups FWW 0268 pdfp12

adjusting handscrews for even pressure "Popular Woodworking Feb 2007"   pdfp.57

Popular Woodworking December 2005 review of Gramercy Tools holdfast pdfp 58

PWW June 2002 pdfp37 Parallel-jaw clamps review

PWW Feb 2002 bench deadman

Clamping small miters with packing tape PWW Apr 2009 pdfp11 p18

support for mounting cabinets FWW 0189 pdfp16 like upside little bench with adjustable legs

creating curved cauls for clamping across carcass sides FWW 0185 pdfp92

drilling bechdog holes in bench top that hasn't yet been assembled (so it can be flipped over) FWW 0182 pdfp90

screw jack for adjustable height roller PWW 261 pdfp14

wedge system to hold boards on edge PWW 246 pdfp16

Handscrews

PWW Feb 2007 pdfp61

Popular Woodworking: $30 Leg Vise

FWW 108 pdfp 16 Push clamps to replace sash clamps for gluing wide panels

fww 266 clamp extension jaws p14

pipe clamp holder that can be put in vise for planing long boards FWW275 p12

Shop Made Toggle Clamp    (local .pdf)

clamp extensions

home made deep reach clamps

FWW 0245 p14 wooden extensions to f clamps - put 5 degree bevel on cleat to apply pressure towards center

Extending a clamp's reach PWW Oct 2004

Glue Ups

2024-12 Great Glue-Ups, Guaranteed   FWW 0234 pdfp44 see also "gear for glue-ups" on pdpf22

Holdfasts

FWW 0258 pdfp 80

Miters - clamping

good video on making miter clamping blocks from the Wood Whisperer
and a similar one from John Heisz

this PWW video shows 2 clamps across so toe and heel can be tightened - not sure if that is a good idea or not

Fine Homebuilding on Clamping Obtuse Miter Joints for 135 degree joints, would work for others too    local .jpg

another version that uses 2 clamps

design that fits in inside corner

Purchasing options - maybe not as useful

2025-02 I found this 2007 post that shows the Gross Stabil MCX, which now appears to be the Bessey MCX   Amazon
which handles 22.5, 30, 45, 60

It also shows the Gross Stabil GSP

These appear to be the GSP 12 Set or GSP12 or GSP8
It appears these are no longer available since 2005 when Bessey bought Gross Stabil

This Miter Clamp MaxiFix looks like it might be useful if holes on the back are ok

Odd Shapes

FWW 261 p46 use, clamping odd shaped workpieces

last updated:    Fri 2025-03-21 8:50 AM