Clamps

They have parallel jaws so they clamp a larger surface area and keep it flat. At least thats the design

-- I've been blessed with a father who liked to tinker in wood, and a wife who lets me tinker in wood. Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

The ‘K’ bodies are marketed to apply equal pressure along the entire face of the clamp
with minimum ‘slipping’ or uneven pressure. They also offer (generally) a larger surface and deeper throats.

I’m pretty happy with the 48” and 96” pipe clamps. Clamps can go smaller, they can’‘t however grow.

A happy medium? From experience, about 8-10 longer clamps can get a lot done with some
imagination and the industrious use of cawls (sp?).

-- Still learning everything

The parallel jaw clamps that most folks buy are great because they stay square to the beam when under load, and have a deeper throat than pipe clamps. I think Jet has the best deal these days as well as some great features, like measuring numbers on the bar, easier to turn handles, adjustable foot that holds the clamps up at the end of the clamp, and they are threaded on the head to accept a 3/4˝ dog (at my dealer you have to ask for these, they keep ‘em behind the counter and give them to me for no additional fee) so you can set up a jig on a drilled bench top. Just my 2¢.

-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.

The happy medium is 4 more than you currently own.

-- Hope Never fails

I too wondered about the different clamps. I love my pipe clamps as they can be any length I choose and can be changed easily. The parallel clamps are in a league of their own though. They clamp a large area and close parallel. They are pricey, but are a one time purchase if taken care of. I’ve gotten some cheap pipe clamps that are tough to turn even when lubricated. They do get the job done in the end though. I have a couple pricier pipe clamps that have a more fluid thread.

-- Jeff, South Carolina

If you’re doing smaller boxes I recently picked up a couple of band clamps and I really like them. Something you might put on your list

Woodcraft band clamps

Not even God has enough clamps. Sometimes he borrows them from Noah. (Boatbuilders always have more clamps.)

Amazon seems to have the best deal on parallel clamps right now: $139

-- Happy woodworking! http://www.blakeweber.us

Minimum 6 of every type and every size, so you need to buy more pipe, because two clamps per project isn’t enough.

-- http://ye-olde-cabinet-shoppe.com/

I have 4 pipe clamps and was cursing last night becuase I needed two (probably 3) more!!!

I have lots of clamps it seems, just never enough of the ones I need to use. I find that at a minimum buy 6 of each clamp but 8 is a better number. This is my formula for weekend woodworkers. I personally go for 16 of each size.

-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://americancraftsmanworkshop.com

The #1 thing I look for on craigslist is clamps. I always wish I had more

-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org

Yeah, Blake – that’s the ticket! I love the 4 24-inchers I have. Maybe some day I’ll get 4 50˝ers, probably in dribs and drabs as I can afford them.

-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.

MsDebbieP bought herself a Christmas present today (2) 36” clamps… yippee.

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)