Used to clamp everything to the bench top like a madman, now I just screw a cheap stop block into the MDF and save 20 minutes per glue-up.

After wrecking my third project because a clamp slipped and I got glue squeeze-out everywhere, I realized for $3 worth of scrap wood and drywall screws I could just make a permanent fence system that locks stuff down way better than any clamp ever did - has anyone else ditched clamps for simple jigs?

2 comments

2 Comments

skyler_adams10d ago

Oh man, I've been there. I got so tired of clamps shifting or not holding right that I built a simple T-track system into my workbench with a few threaded inserts. Now I just drop in a stop block and tighten it down with a knob I turned on the lathe. It's not fancy but it holds rock solid and I haven't touched a bar clamp for glue-ups in over a year. That approach saved me more time than just about any other shop change I've made.

jana_ellis9510d ago

Threaded inserts in MDF strips out fast.