When I lived in the USA I discovered a line of sash clamps made for Harbor Freight, a US chain supplying DIY building and engineering products, mostly low-end quality. The clamps were  made from extruded aluminium boxing with an alloy head and shoe and whereas they were not at all a top quality, they were…

…well, nearly I have used inexpensive clamps for decades and the perfectionist 0or elitist amongst us might shun me for daring to compare the best with the rest but the problem with many clamps made from steel and heavy impact resistant plastics is usually weight. We recently aired the lever cam clamps favoured by musical instrument…

I grew up with cramps, the steel type and not stomach cramps, but cramps they were. When I was 15 the cramps we used, mostly Record and Woden, were sash and ‘T’ bar cramps and in my view worked to a level of perfection for that era and, until I began using alluminium ones, they…

These steel clamps from Screwfix UK are not too heavy though they are heavier than the alluminium box clamp I use daily. They are tidy and neatly made and it’s handy to have steel clamps because of the extra torque you sometimes need, especially on heavier work such as joinery. These clamps are relatively kind…

Interested in Good, Lightweight Clamps Cabinet making needs are just a little bit different than joinery clamps in that the extra strength needed for joinery is usually best attained with steel clamps. I like alluminium box-type claps because they so minimise the risk of damage when making fine furniture. Screwfix UK has two clamp types…

This post is for Matthew who asked me about the red sash clamps I use in my workshop. He saw them on the videos and in my book. This was my reply: Matthew, You can buy the 24″-48″ sash clamps in this style for between £7-£11, which I think makes them good buy. I will…