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Many people ask when they are amassing their woodworking selection of tools “What is the difference between woodworking clamps vs cramps?” I have done quite a bit of research on this and there are a lot of different answers to this dating back to the origins of the words woodworking clamps vs cramps in the 19th century. I still myself use the terms interchangeably but Wikipedia seems to have the best explanation I believe which states: A clamp is a fastening device used to hold or secure objects tightly together to prevent movement or separation through the application of inward pressure. In the United Kingdom and Australia, the term cramp is often used instead when the tool is for temporary use for positioning components during construction and woodworking; thus a G cramp or a sash cramp but a wheel clamp or a surgical clamp I quite like this explanation of clamps vs cramps so am going to stick with that for my own purposes. This is a great reference to the various use of clamps and cramps in woodworking which I hope you enjoy. Contents1 Clamps vs Cramps2 Design considerations3 Cramp costs4 Sash cramps5 Making your own cramps stands6 G-cramps7 Wooden-jawed cam clamps8 Quick-grip9 Edging cramps10 Edge press clamps11 Other clamps12 Masking tape Clamps vs Cramps Many arts and crafts pieces, particularly cabinets, had a logic of assembly that employed the simple strategy of assembling all components in one direction, with all cramp pressure being applied in one direction, too. When you consider the very short open assembly time of hot melt animal glue this simple logic makes a lot of sense. I sometimes shudder at the prospect of such an experience and remember asking a senior cabinetmaker how he tackled the problem. His answer was: teamwork… get as many pairs of hands to help as you can and then make sure that everyone knows what to do and when, as with gluing up you do not get a second chance. Design considerations With today’s new and unusual designs, assembly and gluing up must be given ongoing consideration during the detailed design stages. It is possible to predict a lot of potential problems as early as at the drawing stage. If you employ a radical construction, the value of a mock-up or a test joint gives you the opportunity to glue up and test the construction dynamically. It might even back up your product liability insurance if the construction is to be included in the making of a chair, for example. It will certainly enable you to work out the sequence of assembly, bearing in mind such important factors as directions of pressure and clamping blocks to distribute load efficiently. In short, the motto of gluing should be: plan and leave nothing to chance. Cramp costs While it is true that you can never have too many cramps, economics often dictate otherwise as cramps can be expensive. In reality, it is often necessary to compromise, and applying some thought and discussing your requirements…
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