If you are person who is doing woodworking, you are aware of the importance of having a good clamp, especially when gluing wood together or holding something down so you can safely work on it.
As you are reading this, you probably have dilemma which model is right for you.
And, we assure you that you are at the ideal place, as we are not going to speak about the products’ best features, but would emphasize its disadvantages so that you can know which one is not suitable.
A well-informed buyer will be able to choose the ideal tool and we hope that you will use these reviews to find a model that suits your needs.
Spoiler Alert - Check out my top choice here >>
Top Rated Woodworking Clamps
* Ratings are based on Editor's own opinion.
3 Best Woodworking Clamps Reviewed
#1. Bessey 2.5-Inch Clutch Style Woodworking Clamp
Top Pick
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The best of the best woodworking clamps is the Bessey GSCC2.524.
This is a 2.5-Inch clamp designed for people who value quality but do not want to spend too much either.
You will get a tool with a sturdy cast-iron frame and great protective pads, which keep the clamp from scratching your project.
With the 24-inch clamping range the woodworker will be able to deal with medium-to-large pieces of wood.
Furthermore, they will be kept secure during heavier cuts or other intense processes.
What users appreciate much about these clamps is that they are easy to use and quick to reposition.
The little time is spent on assembling them, and you can immediately start your business.
We have to mention that these are not heavy-duty clamps for industrial work, but the very efficient tool which should be included in woodworker’s collection.
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Pros
- Cast iron frame
- Protective pads
- Clamping range
- Easy to use
Cons
- Not designed for heavy duty
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Our runner up is the IRWIN Tools Quick-Grip 4985502.
This is a powerful set of clamps, designed for small and medium-sized projects.
What users appreciate is that the tool comes with eight clamps in four different models usable for variety of tasks.
Additionally, it has quick releases, so that you can easily and fast set your clamps.
Nevertheless, not all of the clamps in the collection are useful.
Four of them are hand clamps, designed to work on thinner woods while two are 6-inch clamps and two are 12-inch clamps, which are not that large.
The tool is not suitable if you are looking to work with a very tall or very think stack of lumber.
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Pros
- Power
- Easily used
- Comes with four models of clamp
#3. Bessey LM2.004 LM Woodworking Clamp
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The Bessey LM2.004 LM General is also the model worth consideration.
You should know that not all clamps do well with oddly-shaped materials.
The model boasts slim design enabling you to work on the most-awkwardly shaped pieces.
What you get is a sturdy wooden handle, nicer than a plastic equivalent.
The tool comes with a sturdy steel frame, making this tool powerful despite its small size.
There is no need to worry about it breaking if you drop it.
Also, the frame cannot come apart due to overtightening.
As it is the last on our list, there have to be some downsides.
Actually, it only has about 4-inches of nominal capacity.
This means that you are limited in what you can clamp down with it.
It is definitely not a tool for heavy- duty construction, but it can be a great choice for small to medium tasks.
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Pros
- Wooden handle
- Fast
- Steel frame
- Size
Woodworking Clamps: The Ultimate Buying Guide
As you have gone through our reviews, we hope that we have given you some ideas about the downsides of different clamps, so that you can avoid those which are not suitable for you.
If you still have unanswered questions and have no idea about which model is the right one for you, we are offering our buyer’s guide packed with good general information about clamps.
What should I know about the clamping power?
The first and foremost, you need to pay attention to the clamping power, being that it is the most important feature of a clamp.
Clamps are designed to hold things in place for an extended period, and if that is not achieved by the clam you choose, then you will not be satisfied with it.
What you need is to get a clamp that has the power you need for your projects.
The factor that can affect the power of the clams is the material from which the clamps are made and we can suggest that the steel and cast-iron clamps are both the most durable and strong.
The second factor is the mechanisms that keep the clamps engaged and if it is made of plastic, you are suggested to avoid it.
Whether the material is good or not can be found out of you read the complaints in reviews about certain product.
How important is the size?
The size of clamps is important and you need to make sure that you get clamps that are large enough for your future projects.
What you do not want to get are clamps that would not be large enough to get the task done, as well.
Many people buy too large clamps which is not considered wise.
The bigger clamps are harder to maneuver them into the right position on smaller projects.
People whose projects are smaller should keep this in mind.
We have to mention that there are two different measures when shopping for a clamp.
The “nominal opening” represents the distances between the two gripping surfaces on the clamps, while the “throat depth” is the distance from the rail to the outside of the clamps.
Is maneuverability significant?
What you should know about the maneuverability in clamps is that it almost always comes at the cost of power.
This means that if you get the lighter clamp, the inferior materials have been substituted into the mix, which will lower the maximum power.
It is true that making clamps smaller can make them easier to move around, but the fact is that smaller clamps are not that strong.
People like them because they are easier to fit into tight spaces.
If you need the clamps with the most maneuverability, you should look for hand clamps but have in mind that they have the lowest clamping power and the smallest capacity.
In case you are going to work with something bulky, you will need to have the clamps that would have enough strength to get the job done.
Protection
The protection is quite important when working with tools, especially due to the fact that clamps have the potential to stretch or damage the very surfaces they use to hold.
A bare-metal clamp is something that has to be avoided, being that the risk of damage is higher.
It is also possible to damage a surface with a clamp with a rubber or plastic-coated protective pad, but the possibility is lower.
The coatings are designed so as not to damage the surface with your clamps.
The damage is only seen after you unclamp the clamps, so this is something to be considered.
How to know which one is the best for me?
Whether certain model of clamps will be the right one for you depends on what kind of projects you are going to need clamps for.
You should think about all the future projects that you will be doing in a few years.
It is true that this will increase the price of the tool, as you might be working on more demanding projects one day, but will also highly increase the value of your purchase by using it multiple times in the future.
If you plan to work with them constantly, investing in a set of clamps that are more durable and efficient is a wise decision.
You will spend a bit more money, but yow will be more satisfied with your purchase.
Conclusion
All in all, it can be said that the Bessey GSCC2.524 2.5-Inch clamps are out favorite, and that is not only due to their strong cast-iron frame, but also due to their great clamping capacity.
The second model – the IRWIN Tools Quick-Grip 4985502 is powerful and easy to use while the Bessey LM2.004 LM General can be found at low price and exceptional maneuverability.
Each model has something to be appreciated and it is up to you to determine which one to get.
Sometimes a set that you will love does not have to be the most expensive one.
I hope you liked my article about Woodworking Clamps, if so, please share or comment.
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