Updated on Sep. 26, 2024
When it comes to woodworking, you can never have too many clamps! The best woodworking clamps provide the strongest holds for every project.
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Clamps are one of the most essential and versatile woodworking tools. Clamps come in many different shapes and sizes, but at its base design, a clamp is a pair of jaws that applies pressure to hold two pieces of wood together. A clamp (or several clamps) will temporarily hold your project precisely in place so that you can glue, nail or screw the wood together without any shifting.
“Clamps are like an extra pair of hands, holding pieces together securely while glue dries. They ensure precise alignment, which is crucial for strong, professional-looking joints,” says Jeff Palla, President of Mr. Handyman.
Keep in mind: it’s not one size fits all when it comes to clamps. You’ll want to stock up on a few different types to tackle an array of projects. To help you start your collection, we’ve gathered the best woodworking clamps for every DIY project, both large and small.
We consider this highly reviewed set of WorkPro Bar Clamps one of the best woodworking clamps overall because the clamps are affordable, versatile and great for light and medium DIY projects. Made from durable nylon and heavy-duty steel, they last a long time, yet are lightweight and easy to handle. You’ll love the quick-change button design that instantly transforms the clamp into a spreader. Although they’re not made for big projects, it’s a great set to have for beginner woodworkers.
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The Bessey General Purpose Clamp costs roughly $7 and is one of the best woodworking clamps to add to your collection. It completes the same amount of work in one tool as a collection of 1-in., 2-in., 3-in. and 4-in. C clamps. The sliding arm design makes it easy to adjust the opening to fit your project. It may be small, but it’s mighty—with 330 pounds of clamping force.
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The Jorgensen 72-in Parallel Jaw Clamp has large plastic jaws that distribute clamping pressure evenly to assure square corners and prevent your cabinet boxes and doors from bowing or lifting, making it one of the best woodworking clamps for crafting cabinets. The built-in clamp stand allows for convenient one-handed use. One five-star reviewer says, “They worked very well in constructing the cabinet boxes and even better when I glued up the panels for the doors; very little warping! They made a tough job, for this amateur, much easier.”
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The Wen Quick-Adjust steel bar clamps are user-friendly and powerful with over 1,200 pounds of clamping force combined. Each clamp features a quick-adjust function to close the clamp without pushing any buttons and a convenient release lever to easily open the jaws back up.
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Kreg clamps (a specific type of C clamp) like the Kreg KHC Premium Face Clamp are mainly used for creating pocket hole joints, but they have several other useful applications. The wide face pads prevent surface damage and spread out the force of the clamping grip. The thumbscrew knobs are particularly convenient, permitting quick and easy adjustments to the jaw capacity with a few turns.
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This set of Tolesa Nylon Spring Clamps come in two different sizes, so you can work on a number of different projects with one affordable purchase. They’re made from heavy-duty nylon and include pivoting jaw pads that self-adjust to uneven surfaces. The tempered steel spring ensures maximum clamping power.
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The highly-reviewed C Casimr Corner Clamp clamps 90-degree corners and T-joints with ease thanks to its single-handed operation. Simply push in the spring mechanism to adjust the clamp to the proper size, and it assists with assembling two boards of different widths. The four-pack squares up all four corners of a box, picture frame or dresser drawer at once.
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The classic Pony Pipe Clamp is a popular choice among both hobbyists and professional woodworkers. The pipe clamp works with any length 3/4-in. pipe, to switch out the pipe length for any project and saves money because there’s no need to invest in several different sized clamps. The multi-disc clutch design ensures a secure hold at any point along the pipe.
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