Clamps

Clamp FAQ

What is a clamp?

Clamps are versatile tools that temporarily hold things in place until they’re permanently secured with nails, glue, screws or adhesive. Clamps are used in all sorts of professional (and DIY) settings including carpentry, woodworking, furniture making, welding, construction and metal working. There’s wood clamps for your carpentry, long clamps for those extended projects, and everything in between. They’re a great choice for any project—big or small.

What are clamps used for?

Clamps, well, clamp stuff. That is, they hold materials or objects securely in place while being worked on, drying, or setting. But picking the right clamp for your job requires a bit of careful consideration of what you'll be holding, the size clamp you need, and where you'll be working.

The C clamp or G clamp is your trusty sidekick in carpentry and welding, and are great at holding wood or metal pieces together. Need to glue or fasten pieces of wood? Then reach for a G clamp! Got a larger piece that's too thick for a C or G clamp? Then F clamps are the answer. And don’t forget about the unsung hero of decking—the deck clamp—that keeps your deck boards in check while you work your magic.

How tight should a clamp tool be?

You might be under pressure to get a job done, but you want your project tightened with just the right amount of force to avoid warping, or the material slipping out of the clamp’s grip. That means you need to vary the pressure to suit the material you're working with.

Too tight and you could risk weakening or warping your joint. Too loose and everything falls apart. For instance, with woodworking clamps, aim for 100 to 150 psi for clamping softwoods and 175–250 psi for hardwoods. Whether you're dealing with small clamps or bar clamps, the key is finding that sweet spot—not too loose, not too tight. That's the secret to a first-rate finish!