parallel clamps

kd6vpe · Post by **kd6vpe** » Tue Sep 08, 2009 8:41 pm

I keep seeing these types of clamps used to glue up panels. I have 3 woodriver 4 way pressure clamps from woodcraft that sorta work. They are really hard to setup. I was wondering if the cabinet maker parallel clamps are a better choice of clamps. I have read you can never have too many clamps but I would rather have the right ones than too many of the wrong ones.

cincinnati · Post by **cincinnati** » Tue Sep 08, 2009 9:40 pm

I have a stack of parallel clamps. They do help in getting things square with less effort. They are not cheap. I grab them when I see them on clearance.

I have Stanley that I got for $12 each and like them a lot.

I also have the older style Bessey.

I do not own the JET brand but they get very good reviews.

Bessey also makes a lighter duty brand that I own. They work well on small projects like boxes.

Woodcraft sells their own brand that is said to be made by Bessey.

a1gutterman · Post by **a1gutterman** » Wed Sep 09, 2009 1:34 am

kd6vpe wrote:I keep seeing these types of clamps used to glue up panels. I have 3 woodriver 4 way pressure clamps from woodcraft that sorta work. They are really hard to setup. I was wondering if the cabinet maker parallel clamps are a better choice of clamps. I have read you can never have too many clamps but I would rather have the right ones than too many of the wrong ones.

Do you mean Double Bar Clamps?

BigEd · Post by **BigEd** » Wed Sep 09, 2009 7:52 am

I own 3 of the Shopsmith double bar clamps and I love them. I wish I had a dozen. They are not easy to use and you don't really get the benefit from edge gluing with biscuits or dowels because if they are off you'll never pull the boards flat. But, for plain edge gluing, they are great. (Sometimes need 3 hands

)

Ed

kd6vpe · Post by **kd6vpe** » Wed Sep 09, 2009 8:09 am

Yes BigEd I was meaning double bar clamps I don't really know all the right terms for this hobby yet. And this is true I have used them for edge glueing and they are good. Now you have me thinking the biscuits may have been off so now I will just go back and cut the top apart and re-think the way I glue them back up. Boy table tops are not an easy thing to do.

shydragon · Post by **shydragon** » Wed Sep 09, 2009 9:11 am

I have two of the larger SS double bar clamps, and just recently purchased two sets of hardware from Rockler to make two more. I like them for edge glueing when creating larger panels. They help keep everything flat, then between those I use the parallel clamps. I only have 6 of the parallel clamps, so in case of the fireplace mantle top, I was using bar clamps, also. I keep buying clamps when they go on sale, but I still don't have enough.

a1gutterman · Post by **a1gutterman** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 12:15 am

shydragon wrote:I have two of the larger SS double bar clamps, and just recently purchased two sets of hardware from Rockler to make two more. I like them for edge glueing when creating larger panels. They help keep everything flat, then between those I use the parallel clamps. I only have 6 of the parallel clamps, so in case of the fireplace mantle top, I was using bar clamps, also. I keep buying clamps when they go on sale, but I still don't have enough.

Who does???:D

iclark · Post by **iclark** » Thu Sep 10, 2009 1:34 am

I got one of the woodriver version of the double bar clamps with one of my SS. (the previous owner was retiring from home remodeling and moving out of the state)

this clamp is terrible and always tilts one way or the other when I try to tighten it on a board. when I took it apart, I realized that the 2 bars did not quite match. not sure of the right term here, but the "hooks" on one of the bars were closer together than the ones on the other bar. I am hoping that if I take one of the bars apart and remount the hooks that it will be okay. doing that hasn't made it even close to the top of the to-do list yet, though.