99% of Beginners Don't Know Which Clamps to Buy and AVOID!

I think Harbor Freight review averages are pretty reliable and the Pittsburgh bar clamps have worse reviews the longer they get, specifically the 36 inch. I think the shorter ones are good but maybe avoid the 36 inch. The Walmart are more expensive now and I think the Pittsburgh are way better. Different clamps I know but still.

Harbor Freight’s BREMEN squeeze clamps
(375 lb) are great, as good as DeWalt & Jorgensen at about 60% of the price. 6”, 12”, 24”, & 36”.

my shop is my unfinished garage; to store them, I just took a 2x4, cut it to fit between the studs, and pocket holed some screws. short clamps <24 inches at the top, larger clamps below.

which is better: parallel clamps or pipe clamps?

could you do a video on odd types of clamps like band or rubber or any other you can think of? im often gluing together odd shape of wood that im re purposing and wondering whats the best for what.

What are your thoughts on the ancient sash clamp?

No mention of strap clamps which are invaluable for gluing up boxex and the like.

The Bremens are fantastic. I have scads of them at different sizes for a fraction of the price of the "good" ones.

This is a bit older, so somebody may have mentioned it already, but HF's 12" and 18" F-clamps are great for the money. You can't develop enough pressure on them to make them flex, and they're really inexpensive. I've had one strip out its threads, but for the money, it's okay. I think I have about a dozen of each.

Did you router out your stars on your flag. If so do you have any recomendations on where to get the router templates? Thank for any info.

HF's new style f clamps are fantastic!
F clamps, any brand, are not meant for extream clamping pressure. If you are bending them you are over tightening them.
Ive been a cabinet maker and furniture builder and finisher for over 40 years and own over 200 different clamps. Im replacing all my f clamps with HF.

MOAR CLAMPS, SIR!

Pole clamps?

Greetings from Lebanon!
I'm a beginner woodworker and I'd like to have your opinion on which bench plane should I buy first.
Thank you Matt for all of your amazing videos 🥰

Great video- very helpful cheers! Might have to get some of those angle clamps..

I have some panel clamps from Rickler and would 100% recommend picking some up. A little pricey but wait for a sale or get their coupons. It’s like 1 piece of mail every month. Definitely would recommend them for flat and even glue ups!

Not to harp, but you called pipe clamps “bar clamps” many times and never correctly as a pipe clamp. Bar clamps are different clamps. HF shorter f clamps are best bang for buck. Longer f clamps should come from Bessey or Jorgensen, or equivalent quality. Dubuque clamps are some of the best in the business, lightweight, parallel quality, reasonable cost. I have over 300 clamps and decades of building things.

which clamps do you think would work best to put together a prefab gazebo to hold to roof pieces in place while you work to get the 4 panels in place? and how many would I need?

For cutting boards, do you use a certain glue? Is the glue non toxic?

I find myself reaching for the Irwin quick clamps more than any of the others unless it’s 24” or more then it’s the best.

Best clamps are piher clamps . Made in Spain and put bessey to shame

The harbor freight clamps weren't even at 90.. on the parallel

I just bought a kreg clamp and it was $50. They are NOT not expensive.

For the pipe clamps, is it better to use steel pipes or cast iron pipes?

Bench saws and slides etc

Here is an other clamping device, extremely efficient and very affordable, which I heavily use when doing dowel-thru joinery : wood screws.

Thank you for this really helpful video! Do you, (or anyone reading this), have any recommendations for clamps for my 59 year old weak hands? I'm trying to camperize my minivan and I know I need to essentially build a variety of boxes and shelves. Thanks so much!

If you ever get into being the voice in audiobooks, please let me know. I could listen to you speak all day.

This is a ME problem but I'm a victim of paralysis by analysis. I haven't made the first thing yet but here I am watching my 3,000th video on clamps. TBH though, this is the best one I've seen and will def use the links to purchase.

My Jorgensen F-Clamps bend just as bad as the HF ones even without a lot of pressure.

Another beginner woodworker here. I use squeeze clamps and F clamps, but I'm wondering why the clamping distance (I believe it's called the throat) is the same for every clamp. I often have need of clamping something that reaches further than the distance covered by either style clamp. Anyone know?

1 Corinthians 15:1-4

Awesome 😊. Any opinion on Circular band clamps ??

Thanks. I’m buying clamps this month.

I actually like my Bremans more than my Jorgensen Parallel clamp. Even the Bremen quick clamps are nice. Not a harbor fraight guy at all.

Would the corner brace be better than a corner clamp? Is there a corner clamp you would recommend?

Why has no one reviewed Rockler's parallel clamps?

That shirt pocket edit was smooth

Short harbor freight clamps are fine.. stay under 16 inches and you are good

Im totally a beginner however I did work in construction before I decided to do this sort of thing at home and I definitely skipped those "quick-grip" style clamps, I remember using them once or twice and I hated how they seem to just slowly release on what theyre gripping (they were the irwin brand ones).
Id say just go straight for small f-clamps as the cheap 300mill ones will just clamp down on anything with insane strength, youll get good at using them one handed, also i think people underestimate a ratchet strap as a beginner, longer clamps are expensive and if youre clever with the geometry you can clamp it from certain angles to account for it trying to rotate a piece its going over and pulling out of square.

Even before buying clamps, you need a shirt with the magic pockets! (Miracle pockets if you aren't into magic ones)

Personally I prefer the Jorgenson squeeze clamps as you can combine two to get one that is almost twice the size. Can't comment on the other types as right now all I have are squeeze clamps and the Betsy strap clamp.

I like this video and I think it’ll be helpful for a lot of people. That being said, I completely disagree that beginners should buy squeeze clamps (the bar style) first… or at all. I hate them. I get that they’re cheap, but they don’t provide enough pressure to be useful. I feel like it would be more cost effective to buy pipe clamps (you called them bar clamps) first because of the versatility. Or just buy more F-clamps.

The other type of squeeze clamps are awesome though

Good video. As an elderly woodworker with many years behind me. If you have to tighten your clamps so much that they bend, then there must be something wrong with your joints.

I own about 70 clamps, including C, spring, beam, hand screw, and one-hand ratchet type. They are all cheap, off-brand clamps and I have used them all frequently for many years without ever having one fail to perform perfectly. Check out cheap clamps in the store and if they feel like decent quality and the action feels usable, I say buy it.

Hey Matt, those f clamps from harbor freight I had the same issue with them.. however the short ones are worth the money. Because they aren't long enough to bend. Just a thought my friend.. thanks for another great video..

Also those kreg face clamps, they are nice. But may I recommend the armor tools self adjusting face clamps. You can adjust a little finger screw as far as how tight they clamp. But once you set them you don't really have to mess with it again just unclamp and reclamp. Anyhow take it easy.

I’ve been a follower for you for quite some time and enjoy your content videos. However, I have one issue with this video. The Harbor Freight F clamp twist. I’ve used these clamps for quite some time without having an issue. What you showed was from over-clamping. When doing glue ups, apply only enough pressure to allow an even squeeze out. Then add a gentle touch more. If your joints are properly done you don’t need any more than that. If you crank way past the squeeze out you start compressing the wood fibers. Panel glue up does not require gorilla force.