new face frame clamp

This is a interesting solution to a common problem. Like you I have had similar problems with my Kreg system but, as a hobbiest, I have endured the sanding. But this looks like a way to eliminate some of this. I will have to put this on my ever growing list of things to do.

Thanks for the post.

-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.

I made a pair of these, by accident, once when I was welding. Of course the plate was a lot bigger :]
Good idea, Mrtrim. I’ll have to try this. I’ve been clamping my pieces to the workbench to try and keep them flush.

-- Tim -- http://tmuli.com

scott , thanks ive endured the sanding a long time myself . i tend to look at things in black and white , it either works or it dont . i hate things that works sometimes or most of the time but sometimes dosent .
i love the pockethole system but never been happy with their clamps

Great solution!

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

tim , ive had a few of those accidents myself ! !

thanks gary

Have you looked into one of these? http://www.amazon.com/Kreg-KLBK-Large-Bench-System/dp/B0007VYL34/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1204901262&sr=1-6

You recess it flush in your bench top. Gives you the ability to really put substantial pressure on the joint so it wont move when you screw it together. They also make this http://www.amazon.com/Kreg-KKS1000-Klamp-Table-Top/dp/B000SRI4DU/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1204901416&sr=1-9 But it sounds like your doing allot of work on-site so these might not be practical solutions for you.

-- David, South Windsor, CT "I love the smell of sawdust in the morning"

I installed the large clamp system in my workbench and all my joints come out dead flat even with each other.
The plate and clamp system allow you to put a lot of pressure and surface area over the joints.

-- Those that say it can't be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

david and jeff , yes ive considered the bench clamps just because they looked like they will certainly do the job
however i do a lot of on site work and also the frames are so large the only practical way i could use them was either a 30 ft. bench or 3 separate benches . thanks guys

Norm Abrams (New Yankee Workshop) recently did a new series on kitchen cabinets where he used a pair of Vise-Grips with added 1” round pads to clamp and hold flush the rail and stile. Then he added the Kreg Jig and the screws pulled the joint tight. Looks like the Vise-Grips were factory made too, so they shouldn’t be too hard to find.

I keep hearing only good reviews on this Kreg system. Looks like I might need to add one to my shop in the near future.

-- Bob Vila would be so proud of you!

dadoo , yes those are what ive used , i think they came with the pockethole set . in my opinion they suck ! lol
the system itself is great , if you get it youll wonder why you didnt get it sooner !

Great post Trim, thanks for the info.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

thank you grumpy

So what I’m seeing here is that I should buy the jig and bit but not the kit. OK. Your clamp I imagine, is used upside down, with the tines against the unfinished side of your project. The wider base therefore gives you a larger clamping/holding area? OK…Good idea. And it will save me $20.00 with which I can put into screws.

-- Bob Vila would be so proud of you!

dadoo, the difference in the clamps besides the larger face is thiers has one tine in the back thats supposed to hold both stile and rail at the same time where mine has 2 one on the rail and one on the stile independantly . and that is what i see as the main improvement

Trim…. It looks like you could start producing and selling this idea.

-- Chris

chris thx ,but im dont think ill take it that far !lol

top , your right , i used to do a lot of welding also . thats where i got the idea . thanks

Darn good Idea Mr T .

I’m stealin that one right awaY! <g>

Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

glad you like it bob , proud to share it with ya ! thank you

I once quoted a product for Baxter International and was asked not to change it. But to manufacture it as manufactued before. Well needless to say we had to change things to improve the last design and to be able to purchase parts in the US. Well to make a long story short, we change most the product to fit our ideas and to be able to manufacture it in the US. The customer later told us that when a design is given to and oversea manufactueras they copy it as is. But US manufactuers have to improve the products. That’s creativity and your idea is just that. Thats why your the lead dog. Keep up the good work. And thanks for taking the time to share your great ideas.
By the way we got the job and producted about 5000 peices at 1700.00 each over 5 years.

-- Dominic, Trinity, Florida...Lets be safe out there.

thank you dominic , im not however the lead dog and thats exactly what qualifies me to make that statement !! lol

Nice work MrT. Do the fingers on the clamp leave indents on the rails and stiles? That might not matter since they would be on the back side against the cabinet. But, if you added a small pad to each one, would that be better?

Dadoo, you might want to get the entire kit so you have all of the pieces to work with. I bought the master kit, and have used almost all the pieces so far in building a cabinet. It works great for plywood connections. The problem I am having is the face frames splitting. David and others have noted a couple of additional things to try that should help. So far, I really like the jig. It is much faster than the old glue and clamp method, and even the Domino method too.

-- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com

thanks bill , yes ive thought a pad on the back tines would be much better , however i think they should be mounted in a way they could swivel to ensure one edge dosent apply all the pressure and be versatle to accomadate different thicknesses of material . i agree you should buy the kit . as i recall it wasnt much of a kit when i bought mine but now you get several different tools with it