Glue-up sequence?

[Chris152]

What's the order of clamping this setup?

If I clamp the mitre clamps first, the quick grips can't put effective pressure on the joints. If I tighten the quick grips first they move out of alignment. So what I've been doing is putting minimal pressure on the mitre clamps, getting the quick grips into place with a little pressure, and tightening in turn gradually. The joints come out ok (they don't need to be really accurate as they're just supports for ply), but it feels a bit hit and miss, and I'd be less happy if I was glueing up mitres for a picture frame etc.
Is there a better way to do this? (edit - without having to spend more money...)
Thanks
C

 

[Racers]

Band clamps are good for frames like that one.

Pete

 

[Chris152]

Something like this?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stanley-ST0831 ... B001DZVNE8

Would you say I'm using the wrong kit, or just kit that's not as good for the job?

 

[AndyT]

Two other solutions:
Use a board, bigger than the frame, eg an offcut of flooring chipboard. Drill holes outside the frame, hammer in some thick vertical pegs, then use wedges between the frame and the pegs, tightening them round the frame in sequence.

Or glue on triangular blocks at each mitre so that one small ordinary cramp will draw up each mitre. When the glue is dry, saw and plane off the blocks.

Both methods use scrap wood rather than extra bought cramps.

 

[AndyT]

Just reread your post. If these are supporting ply, could you fix a pair of opposite sides onto the ply, then use clamps across the other pair, squeezing the mitred ends in between the fixed ones?
If the ply isn't stiff enough on its own, clamp it all down onto some scrap.

 

[Chris152]

Just reread your post. If these are supporting ply, could you fix a pair of opposite sides onto the ply, then use clamps across the other pair, squeezing the mitred ends in between the fixed ones?
If the ply isn't stiff enough on its own, clamp it all down onto some scrap.

That's a good idea, Andy. I'd been wondering if I need to make the support first and then attach the ply, and this method could get it all done at once.
That said, a friend's asked me to make up a picture frame that will involve regular mitre joints, so I might look into the band clamps. The good thing about the mitre clamps is that they seem to keep things nice and square, maybe there's a way of combining them.
Thanks!