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Tips

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Quick-Release Hose Clamp
by American Woodworker Editors Wednesday, February 10, 2010
I have a couple tools from which I frequently remove the dust collector hoses. I got tired of getting out my screwdriver and cranking out the adjustment bolt every time. After a bit of experimenting I came up with this quick-release solution that uses...
Easy-Tighten Bar Clamps
by American Woodworker Editors Friday, January 22, 2010
Bar clamps are great tools, but sometimes it’s tough to get a good grip on the small wood handle. To get extra torque, I drilled a hole in the handle and inserted a dowel. It gives me a lot more twisting oomph with a lot less hand strain. I drilled...
Inside/Outside Frame Clamping
by American Woodworker Editors Tuesday, December 8, 2009
I love making small picture frames but I had a problem keeping them square during clamping. I fixed my problem by making a pair of squaring blocks that I spring clamp to the inside of the frame parts before adding the band clamp. I also use outside corner...
Power-Grip Clamp Handles
by American Woodworker Editors Wednesday, November 25, 2009
I love adjustable clamps, but I used to have trouble gripping and tightening the handles, especially at the end of a long day. Glued-on pieces of drawer liner ($5 per roll at most home centers) make them much easier to use. Two or three wraps make a comfortable...
Eliminate Pipe Stains
by American Woodworker Editors Thursday, October 15, 2009
I learned the hard way that pipe clamps leave ugly black stains during glue-ups wherever they contact wet wood. Those stains are hard to sand out! Fortunately, I’ve discovered an inexpensive solution that keeps all my glue-ups pristine. For a couple...
Glue Squeegee
by American Woodworker Editors Wednesday, September 9, 2009
I stack-laminate boards to create turning blanks. Each blank contains numerous laminations, so I have to work fast during assembly. To spread glue quickly and evenly, I use a squeegee designed for silk-screening. You can buy one at an art supply store...
Mobile Clamp Compressor
by American Woodworker Editors Wednesday, September 2, 2009
I’ve got a pile of K-body clamps that I use all the time. This clamp carousel guarantees they’re always close at hand. It stores 18 clamps in a 2-sq.-ft. space, and I can roll them right to the job. My carousel consists of two 3/4-in. plywood...
Overhead Clamp Rack
by American Woodworker Editors Tuesday, August 18, 2009
by Frank Muhvich Storage space is limited in my shop, so my pipe clamps hang from the ceiling. I made this rack from 3/4-in. plywood and attached it to the ceiling joists with 3-in. decking screws. A center block prevents the handles from rotating when...
Glue-Free Clamps
by American Woodworker Editors Tuesday, August 11, 2009
by Mandy Houston Dried glue used to make my pipe clamps hard to handle and use. Now I give the pipes a light coat of paste wax from time to time. The wax makes dried glue pop right off. The bottom jaw slides more easily, too.
Double Duty Clamp Rack
by American Woodworker Editors Tuesday, August 11, 2009
by Brian Rajewski One sure thing about clamps is that they’re never close enough when you need them. That’s why I devised this rolling rack. Its 4-in. locking swivel casters easily plow through sawdust and over cracks and power cords (see...
Handy Clamp Storage
by American Woodworker Editors Thursday, July 2, 2009
I store my clamps under my assembly table so they’re always right where I need them. I made a frame to hold the clamps and attached it to the table’s base. The frame is made of 2x10 lumber with a 3/4-in.-thick back, so it’s sturdy enough...
Using Wet Wood
by Tim Johnson Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Q. I'm building outdoor furniture from rough cedar. When I cut the wood, it's soaking wet on the inside. Should I use polyurethane glue since it's a moisture-cure glue? A. Not when the wood is that wet. Polyurethane glue uses moisture to cure...
Spread Biscuit Slot Glue
by Tim Johnson Wednesday, February 25, 2009
4. Apply Glue With An Acid Brush Glue must be evenly applied throughout the biscuit slot to get the strongest joint possible. The easiest way? Squirt some glue into the slot and then run a glue brush, sometimes called an acid brush, through the slot until...
Don't Use Smelly Glue
by Tim Johnson Monday, February 23, 2009
Buying glue by the gallon costs less, but it may not be a good investment if you use glue infrequently. After a while, leftover glue can develop a bad smell. According to the folks at Franklin Adhesives, your best bet is to toss the old stuff and buy...
Grit-Free Benchtop Weights
by Tim Johnson Sunday, February 22, 2009
I keep a few landscape pavers handy in my workshop to use as hold-downs and weights when clamping is inconvenient. The only problem is that they leave grit behind with every use, and grit and woodworking don't mix. I solved this gritty problem by...

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