Pipe Clamp Buying Advice
George VondriskaHow many clamps do you have in your shop? How many of them are pipe clamps? There are so many forms of pipe clamps in the marketplace, this video will help you understand what they’re all about, and how to choose the best one for your shop and your woodworking.
Traditional style
Bessey’s Traditional Style pipe clamp offers a stable foot that pushes the clamp and handle higher off the table, That makes it easier to spin the handle as you tighten the clamp. A hex head on the spindle lets you advance the clamp with a driver. Clamp pads are included.
H style
The H-shaped base makes these clamps very stable, and extra high above the work surface. Pads are included.
Deep reach
Deep reach clamps are great for reaching beyond where conventional pipe clamps will get you. The throat depth on these is 2-½”. Use these clamps for face-to-face glue-ups like you’d do for turning blanks, or for clamping cauls over veneer.
Gluing up panels
A very common clamping scenario is edge gluing boards to make wide panels. Check out the great video and tips we have on this topic.
More info
For more information on these clamps visit the company’s website or call (800) 828-1004.
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It's always nice to see the latest most expensive pipe clamps you can buy. However . . . I've got some 50 yr old Sears clamps that work fine. Put 2x4's under the bottom and you've got your finger room and a lighter clamp. The rubber pads a cute for a while and then fall off. You're better off using strips of softwood that spread out the pressure and protect the project better. Forget 1/2"pipe clamps! These bend too easy and would be out of balance with a 3/4" pipe opposite the 1/2". The last point, you can never have enough pipe clamps. Old woodworkers hanging it up will gladly sell you their's at significantly less the new and they'll get all their money back and the years of use.
A couple of other advantages to mention. You can buy various lengths of pipe to create a clamp of virtually any length. I also use couplers to put a couple of pipes together to create something longer if I do not have the length I need.