The Best Woodworking Clamps for Table Tops
One of the most common woodworking tasks is gluing together multiple boards to form one large panel. It’s rare that I always have the perfect size board on hand so it seems I’m always gluing together a panel, and it isn’t limited to large projects like table tops. If I need a board wider than about six inches, there are pretty good odds that I’m going to have to do a glue-up. With this being such a common operation, it’s no wonder why woodworkers tend to stock up on clamps specifically for panel glue-ups. At the same time, clamps are expensive and we’re not all lucky enough to have a wall filled with them. When you need to be selective, which clamps are best? In this article, I show you the different panel clamp options, why you want them, and why you don’t. Hopefully, this will help you to make an informed decision when making your next purchase.
No clamp manufacturers or sales companies have sponsored this article so the opinions are solely mine. I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases from clicked links.
Parallel Clamps
To many people, parallel clamps are gold standard for panel glue-ups. If you watch online woodworkers who have large workshops and a lot of fancy tools, you’ll probably notice many use parallel clamps. Not only do they work well at providing fairly even clamping pressure against the board’s edge, they also look pretty nice hanging on the wall when not in use. These clamps usually have a large, rectangle clamping face. The face is flush with the clamp’s bar, meaning there are no gaps that could prevent you from gluing together thin boards.
It’s not all sunshine and rainbows; there are a couple downsides. There are several parallel clamp manufacturers, giving you a range of prices. All that being said, parallel clamps are an expensive option compared to the alternatives. Another drawback is the lack of flexibility. They are a fixed length, and while it may make sense to some to simply buy a super long clamp that can be used for both small and large projects, it’s not practical. Try gluing together a wood box with a four foot long parallel clamp and you’ll soon know what I mean.
If you are in the market for parallel clamps, here are ones to consider. The main players in the parallel clamp market are Jet, Bessey, and Pony Jorgenson. All are great and offer clamps of different sizes, typically 12” intervals.
Jet Parallel Clamps
While I have not personally used Jet, none of my woodworking counterparts have complained. In fact, they often site the smoothness of the clamp’s movement along the bar as a major plus. They are a comparable price to Bessey; however, they are not as readily available since Bessey is sold in more places. When buying Jet parallel clamps, the entry point is fairly pricy; however, the cost between a 12” vs. a 31” long clamp is only a few dollars. I recommend going with the 24” or 31” version.
PROS:
Slide-glide trigger makes it easy to move the clamping head
Rail stand on the end is moveable
CONS:
Expensive compared to others
Bessey Parallel Clamps
Bessey is a leading clamp manufacturer for a reason. They get the job done. Unlike Jet, Bessey focuses on clamps and not a lot of other tools. This means they have a lot of clamp options. Let’s face it, many woodworkers like to have one clamp brand in the shop. It’s no wonder why so many have Bessey. On top of the endless variations of clamps, Bessey is great at thinking about the little things, such as rail protection pads that help keep glue from sticking to the rails. The number of accessories alone make these a top pick.
PROS:
Cheaper than Jet
Rail protection pads
Lots of accessories
CONS:
Expensive compared to some brands
Pony Jorgensen
Pony clamps is in a renewal after ceasing operations in 2016. It was a sad day for many woodworkers. Pony was making clamps in the United States since 1903. Personally, the first parallel clamps I bought were Pony 36” parallel clamps so the brand hold a special place in my heart. Typically, Pony costs a little less than Bessey, but also doesn’t have the available accessories either. I have to highlight the handle on these clamps. It’s fantastic and helpful when quickly working before glue dries.
PROS:
Cheaper than some brands
Great handle
CONS:
No frills
Pipe Clamps
Pipe clamps are an old-school favorite for many woodworkers. I primarily use pipe clamps for normal glue-ups in my shop. They don’t look pretty. In fact, they look down right ugly, which only adds to the appeal. They are no frills clamps that get the job done. Pipe clamps are really a set of clamping jaws that you add to your own 3/4” diameter steel pipes. Though not as commonly used, there are pipe clamp versions made for 1/2” diameter pipes too. Because you are not buying them to a specific length like with parallel clamps, pipe clamps are a cheap and flexible solution for gluing together wood panels. When facing a large project, you only need to slide the clamp head off the pipe and slide it onto a longer one. It’s that easy.
Just like with other types of clamps, there are negatives with pipe clamps. They are heavy in comparison to other styles. The clamp head is short and stubby compared to a parallel clamp. I also don’t find these the best option when gluing together thin panels, let’s say approximately 1/8” thick. Pipe clamps tend to apply pressure slightly upward, meaning thin panels can bow during glue up. I get around these by using cauls. Despite these downsides, the pros are too good to pass up. It’s easy to fill a shop with pipe clamps. Alternatively, if lacking space, you can stash different size pipes in a corner and just keep the clamp heads available for quick access.
Bessey Pipe Clamps
Bessey pipe clamps are durable and easy to use. They have two main versions, a traditional style and a H style. The traditional version is sits lower to the workbench. The H style has a larger base. It stands up taller and is more stable. If ever in the need, Bessey pipe clamps use replaceable pads, though in all my years of woodworking I’ve never needed to replace one due to shop use.
PROS:
Durable
Stable feet
CONS:
Don’t slide easily across the length of the pipe
Heavy
Pony Jorgesen Pipe Clamps
Pony pipe clamps are about as old school as you can get. They have been around a very long time and for good reason. Like Bessey, Pony offers both a traditional and H style clamp. The traditional styles look a lot alike. The H style does have more variance. Pony pipe clamps have wider feet compared to the Bessey. When comparing the clamping face, Pony clamps are wider and taller than Bessey. They are also more expensive.
PROS:
Well built
Large clamping surface
Stable base
CONS:
Expensive
Pads sold separately
Specialty Clamps
If parallel and pipe clamps aren’t for you, check out a couple of the one-off clamps available. These are made for gluing together panels, but in a slightly different way.
Aluminum Bar Clamps
I often use these aluminum bar clamps in the workshop. They’re very light, yet are durable enough for the job. What makes these clamps different is the clamping head and how it’s positioned. One end of the clamp locks into notches in the bar. Since that end has to be positioned in specific spots, the other side has an extra long screw to ensure you can clamp any size board. While this took me a minute to get used to, it hasn’t been an inconvenience. They have a tall clamping surface and apply clamping pressure more evenly than pipe clamps. Because of this, and the fact that the clamp surface goes all the way down to the bar, these are great for thin panels. The bar notches make it more difficult to remove glue squeeze out. These clamps are also slightly lower to the bench than pipe clamps, making it little tougher to clamp cauls across the panel.
PROS:
Very light
Large clamping surface
Perfect for thin panel glue-ups
CONS:
Clamping head takes getting used to
Harder to keep clean from glue
4-Way Panel Clamps
If you really want to specialize in gluing together panels, check out a 4-way panel clamp. These are unique because they apply pressure from four different sides, thus the name. A typical clamp applies pressure one way. These have a saw pattern that locks a clamping mechanism in place. As you tighten down the clamp, the top and bottom bars squeeze onto the panel, plus the far end pushes against the board’s edge. These are a great all-in-one solution, allowing you to avoid using cauls to keep a panel flat. While good at what it does, there are drawbacks. It’s a one trick pony. While I often clamp pipe or parallel clamps vertical onto my bench, that’s not possible with these. They are also expensive, There are versions like pipe clamps, in which you can buy the hardware and then supply your own top and bottom bars. These save a little money, but are still a bit costly.
PROS:
Keeps panels flat
All-in-one solution
CONS:
Not versatile
Very expensive in comparison to other types
The good news is you have multiple clamping options to choose from. If I was giving advice to a new woodworker, I’d recommend picking up pipe clamps before spending money on other styles. While it can be argued that pipe clamps are not the best option, this is subjective and based on your preference. What isn’t subjective is the cost. Tools are expensive and the cost savings is substantial in comparison to other types. For a new woodworker, this means money freed up for other tools and that’s never a bad thing!
