Parallel Jaw Bar Clamp Plans
“You can never have too many clamps” but you can get pretty darn close when you make a bunch of these for very little money. These clamps are designed to use low cost construction grade lumber and are very economical to build.
What sets these apart from other homemade clamps is the way the moving jaw locks on the bar – it uses a wedge instead of notches. This increases the strength of the bar (notches weaken it) and also greatly reduce the build time. Along with that, these are infinitely adjustable: just slide it closed on the stock you want to clamp and tighten it – the wedge locks immediately and securely.
You can make these any length you want to suit your needs. And since these are made from wood, they are a lot less likely to dent or damage a delicate glue-up. If made from softwood, they are incredibly light and easy to handle.
Feel free to look through the detailed build article for this project to see if it’s right for you.
The plans consist of:
- a materials list
- 5 detailed parts drawings showing all of the dimensions
- 7 assembly drawings that go through the build process step by step
The plans are easy to follow and all of the dimensions are in both imperial and metric, with the metric dimensions (millimeters) in brackets. Screw sizes and other hardware are in imperial units.
Please read these important notes before buying these plans.
