Essential Woodworking Clamps: The 6 You Actually Need

There is an old woodworker’s saying: “You can never have enough clamps.”

It’s true. But if you walk into a hardware store today, you’ll see a wall of 50 different types, ranging from $5 to $500. Which ones do you actually need to build a table? Or a cutting board?

The “Digital Forge” Clamp Tier List

1. Pipe Clamps (The Heavy Lifters)

These are the workhorses of the shop. You buy the clamp “heads” and attach them to standard black iron pipe (usually 3/4”).

• Pros: Infinite length (just buy longer pipe). Cheap. High clamping pressure.
• Cons: Heavy. Can leave black stains on wood if you don’t use pads.

2. F-Style Bar Clamps (The Daily Drivers)

You will reach for these 90% of the time. They are quick to adjust, lighter than pipe clamps, and perfect for holding things down to your bench.

• Trigger Clamps: Great for one-handed use, but less pressure.
• Screw Handle: More pressure, but requires two hands.

3. Parallel Clamps (The Pro Choice)

If you are gluing up panels (like a table top), these are the gold standard. The jaws stay perfectly parallel, which keeps your boards flat. They are expensive, but worth it for fine furniture.

Clamp Management Tips

1. Alternate your clamps: When gluing a panel, put one clamp on the bottom, then one on top, then one on bottom. This balances the pressure and prevents the panel from bowing.
2. Use Cauls: Scrap pieces of wood placed between the clamp and your project to prevent dents.
3. Wax Paper: Glue doesn’t stick to wax paper. Put it under your glue lines to save your clamps (and your sanity).

Starting your tool collection?