Sash clamp, T bar clamp, bar clamp, or clamp heads?

[gounthar]

Hi,

I'm in the (looooooooong) process of building a workbench.
Even if I plan to use drawboring, I think I will need big clamps (at least for the bench top).
Would if be better to get some sash clamps, T bar clamps, bar clamps or clamp heads for this job?

This may sound like a dumb question.

 

[Racers]

Clamp heads are cheap and useful. I bought 4 of the Rutlands when they where on offer they are offer I wouldn't buy them at full price, I don't think they are as good as the Record 130s which appear on Ebay from time to time.

Pete

 

[Jacob]

Hi,

I'm in the (looooooooong) process of building a workbench.
Even if I plan to use drawboring, I think I will need big clamps (at least for the bench top).
Would if be better to get some sash clamps, T bar clamps, bar clamps or clamp heads for this job?

This may sound like a dumb question.

Forget draw boring you don't need it for a workbench. It's just a bit fashionable nowadays but it's really a specialised process for things difficult to clamp.
Otherwise any of the other options would do.

 

[marcros]

Use draw boring if you want to. There is a big fashion at the moment for only doing something if Pail Sellers recommends it. There are many way to skin a cat, it's not about the jointing method.

 

[No skills]

The cheapo sash clamps as popularised by Sellers are ok for light work and cheap enough to factor in a couple on each project you do (as I'm currently doing). If your doing large heavy duty projects often then lash out on some t-bar sashes instead, horses for courses as with anything else.

 

[No skills]

Of course theres also nothing wrong with using a few screws to help hold things together while the glue goes off, especially on practical things like a work bench. Unless your a bench polisher instead of a bench user that is

 

[John15]

I used clamp heads from Ebay for clamping the 5' length of my new bench sub-frame. They worked well but I was conscious of the timber's tendency to flex - fortunately no flexing on this occasion. For clamping the bench top boards, the cheap aluminium clamps worked fine.
Regards,
John

 

[gounthar]

Thanks guys!

 

[gounthar]

Got the bar clamps and the sash clamps, and boy, I am happy not to have paid the full price!
These are not good tools! (hammer)

 

[Mike.S]

As a follow up to the OP, the 'Wood Whisperer' has just published a general guide to clamps on YouTube here.

Might be of interest to less experienced wood workers.