Woodworking 101: What Makes for a Good Corner Clamp?
My kids and I were building a picture frame for the wife the other day. And I remember how the little one was all ready to hold the two rails together until the glue dried.
I let out a loud laugh when I saw what he was doing.
“How long will you hold that son?” I asked him in all seriousness when I saw that he was offended.
“As long as it takes,” he responded with utter determination.
I told him that if he got tired, my corner clamp will take his place. It made him realize that we had a tool to hold the corners while we built things. His awe and enthusiasm took me back to my woodworking lessons.
Back then, I didn’t know a mallet from a hammer. My folks just knew that I needed an outlet to put in all that extra energy. So I was put into a woodworking class. Any woodworker out there would know how fascinating it is to build things out of plain pieces of wood. It may take long hours and hard work but the final result is worth all the effort. Isn’t it?
One of the lessons my teacher gave us has stuck with me all these years.
“A woodworker can’t have too many clamps!”
Now I could go on and on about all the clamps I have in my toolbox. Or I could just tell you how to get one clamp to do the trick. Since everyone leads a busy life and we DIY handymen can do more with our time than reading stuff online. I have decided to do the latter. There are various brands of corner clamps such as: MLCS, Dr. Machinest, Wolcraft, Power Tec, Bessex, and Can-Do Clamp. However, we liked Tech Team’s the best https://www.amazon.com/Tech-Adjustable-Woodworking-Aquarium-Workshop/dp/B079SHZRBQ/ref=sr_1_103?s=power-hand-tools&ie=UTF8&qid=1539025665&sr=1-103&keywords=corner+clamp.
What Is a Corner Clamp?
A corner clamp is a substitute for your steady hands when they are required to hold on to the edges of your project. It supports the butt joints and T-joints to stand in place when you try to bind them together with glue or tools.
Here are the main things you look for in a quality corner clamp:
1. Perfect Angles
Good craftsmanship is all about accuracy and precision. One miscalculation can cause the whole project to crash down on you. That is why it is crucial that you get the angle alignment right from the start. This obviously means that when you are placing a clamp, it has to be fixed at the right angle.
You can’t really afford to fix the joints at anything but a precise 90-degree angle. Thus, your corner clamp must be able to fit this criterion. Moreover, it comes in handy to build T-joints too, so don’t think that it is only useful for the edges.
2. The Right Fit
Now, if you are a builder like me, you aren’t just making picture frames. You might dabble in some hardcore projects. You know things like cabinets and bookshelves. Maybe you are DIY-building your own entertainment center?
(Mine is still a work in progress but it is one of my pet projects!)
Anyway, the point is that your corner clamp has to be versatile. That is because you will be dealing with everything from wooden planks, glass to plastic. Hence, it is best to invest in a single corner clamp that can be adjusted according to your requirements.
For instance, my corner clamp opens up to 2.75 inches (70 mm). This threshold is terrific for both the big and small projects that you are planning to work on.
3. Last Man Standing
Corner clamps overcome the challenge of holding the wooden (or non-wooden) pieces whilst you work on them. If a clamp can’t stand on its own then it defeats the purpose of being a clamp. Talk about a rip-off!
Thus, it’s important that your clamp is a sturdy, reliable tool that can stand independently once fixed in the required area. This feature lets you place the fasteners or adhesive without breaking a sweat. Moreover, it must allow you to have access points on the edges it is holding. It is so that you can drill or nail the pieces together.
In a nutshell, the corner clamps are nifty tools that give you company during your DIY-projects. As I told my kid, it allows you to work on other things while the ‘glue dries’. In this way, you don’t have to waste time or energy holding the corners of your project.
Thus, my children finally understood that woodworking may be a hands-on job. But we do have a few hands-free tools that help us make it through. They thought that it was ‘very neat!’
Need a suggestion?
Are you wondering which clamp to buy? Might I nudge you in the right direction?
Try the Tech Team’s Corner Clamp. This Amazon product has all the right features that I was talking about. Furthermore, the best part is that it is lightweight and has chrome-plating. This makes it easy to use and durable for the long run.
How many clamps do you own? Do you have room for one more?
