We researched the best woodworking clamps available online, evaluating ease of use, quality, sturdiness, and overall value. Our top choice, the BESSEY Clutch Style Bar Clamp with Composite Plastic Handle, stands out for its ergonomic design, versatility, and durability. Here are the best woodworking clamps. A versatile bar clamp like this 36-inch model from BESSEY easily clamps material together. This version offers strength and durability, with strong powder-coated cast-iron jaws tipped with non-marring pads, a nickel-plated bar, and an improved comfort-grip handle. And most importantly, it clamps like a champ. The spring-loaded clutch plate slides along the bar smoothly and easily, and then locks in place right where you want it. Once locked in place, the jaws won’t slip, even if you shake, jar, or drop the clamp. This light-to-moderate duty clamp is 36 inches long and has a 3.5-inch throat, which is the maximum depth of the jaws extending from its bar or frame. It exerts up to 1,100 pounds of clamping pressure, which is more than enough for most DIY projects. The clamp itself weighs 4.5 pounds. It’s a must-have for any carpentry or woodworking shop, whether professional or hobbyist. Price at time of publish: $30 These handy clamps have cast-iron jaws with non-marring, protective tips and an ACME threaded spindle. The clutch-disc design is easy to adjust and holds very securely once locked into place. The clamps have high “feet” that provide lots of clearance and stability. These clamps have a throat depth of 2.13 inches. The clamping force varies depending on how far apart you set the jaws. Price at time of publish: $25 The clamp has up to 100 pounds of clamping force, a maximum jaw opening of 6 inches, a 2.43inch throat. It’s a great all-purpose clamp that you’ll reach for over and over while working with wood or other materials. Price at time of publish: $17 Every woodworker’s tool box should have a few of these clamps, which come in handy for holding all sorts of pieces together while glue or other adhesives dry. It is also perfect for holding metal pieces in place while being welded or drilled, or for general-purpose clamping. The large swivel pad helps reduce the risk of damage to the surface of the material being clamped. Price at time of publish: $19 This face clamp from Milescraft has round, oversized clamp pads that apply evenly distributed pressure and thumb screws that make it easy to adjust the clamp. The clamp has a 3-inch throat and opens far enough to clamp materials up to 2.75 inches in thickness. It provides up to 300 pounds of clamping force. Price at time of publish: $19 The quick-release clamp has a throat depth of 2.5 inches along with a maximum opening of 6 inches. It has up to 150 pounds of clamping pressure. However, one unique feature of these Jorgenson clamps is the ability to join two clamps together for more than double the maximum opening width. Price at time of publish: $18 The clamp has sturdy, aluminum construction that is very durable. The T-handle is easy to adjust and the movable jaws hold your piece firmly in place from both sides. The clamp also has mounting holes so you can fasten it to your workbench to serve as a vise if desired. Price at time of publish: $25 The clamps all provide up to 150 pounds of holding pressure. When used as spreaders, the 6-inch clamps extend up to 11-9/64 inches and the 12-inch clamps extend up to 17-21/64 inches. All of the clamps have a large, anti-skid gripping pad that won’t mar the surface of the material being gripped. Price at time of publish: $45 C-Clamp: Also called a carriage clamp, these basic clamps resemble the letter “C” and come in a range of sizes, although 4, 6, or 8 inches are the most common. These are useful for holding narrow boards or wood pieces together while glue or another adhesive dries. Bar Clamp: Also called an F-clamp, due to its shape, the bar clamp opens much wider than a C-clamp, allowing you to hold much larger workpieces together. There are bar clamps as small as 6 inches, but most woodworkers find that 24 to 36 inches is the most useful for large projects. Pipe Clamp: Also called an H-clamp, these are sets of clamp heads that allow you to use them with any length of pipe needed to create a clamp that’s just the right size for your project. These are handy for a wide range of tasks, including holding edging in place while an adhesive dries. Trigger Clamp: This is basically a bar clamp that has a trigger for quick and easy opening and closing of the clamp, even with just one hand. Pinch Clamp: Also called a hand or spring clamp, these simple clamps are useful for holding delicate materials together. Corner Clamp: This is a specialty clamp that’s designed to hold pieces together at a 90-degree angle. It’s a very useful clamp if you are building picture frames, drawers, or similar items. Face Clamp: These clamps are something like a pinch clamp, but with a square shape and wide pads that clamp securely without marring a delicate surface. They are useful for holding delicate pieces in place for gluing or drilling. Clamp/Spreader: These are bar clamps, usually trigger-style, that can be reversed to apply outwards pressure to hold pieces in an extended position, as well as used for clamping pieces together.
Size
Clamps come in a wide range of sizes, allowing you to choose which best suits the size of the material you are clamping. There are a few numbers to consider when it comes to size:
The overall length of the clamp.The jaw opening size, which is the maximum distance the jaws can separate. This determines how wide of an object the clamp can hold. Often, it’s the same as the overall length, but not always.The throat, which is the depth of the clamp, measuring from the frame of the clamp to the tip of its jaw. This measurement determines how far the clamp can reach into the material being held.
Clamping Force
Clamping force is a measurement of how much pressure the clamp can exert when fully tightened. Too much pressure may split or damage the wood and too little pressure might prove ineffective for the job. Look for the clamping force in the specifications of any clamp you’re considering.
Material
The material that the clamp is made of will determine its durability. There are light-duty clamps made of resin or anodized aluminum, while heavy-duty clamps will typically be made from drop-forged steel or cast iron.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This article was written by Michelle Ullman, the tool expert for The Spruce. She has extensive experience not only in writing about all things related to the home, but also in carrying out various DIY projects, including landscaping, painting, flooring, wallpapering, furniture makeovers, and simple repairs around the house and yard. Keep your brackets away from moisture and temperature extremes to avoid damage. For this roundup, she considered dozens of wood clamps, evaluating each for clamping power, durability, ease of use, and value. She also considered feedback from customers, both positive and negative. Carl Lewis, qualified joiner and owner of DIY website thediyfix.com, provided further input.
