Old timer told me to stop using pipe clamps for glue-ups

Guy named Jerry at the lumber yard said I was ruining my joints. Been doing it for 5 years. Finally tried cabinet clamps with cauls last month and holy crap the difference in squeeze out. Anyone else stubborn about changing old habits?

4 comments

4 Comments

oscar74314d ago

Karen's dead right about picking the tool for the job. Its the same with most things in life really. My dad still uses a flathead screwdriver as a pry bar and a chisel, sure it works but theres a cleaner way that leaves less damage. Pipe clamps have that same feel to me now, they get the job done but a good set of parallel clamps with some cauls just gives you more control and less cleanup. Took me a while to switch over too, but once you see that even squeeze out its hard to go back. Like switching from a beat up old hammer to a nice one that doesnt wobble on the head.

angela68714d agoTop Commenter

Wait hold on, you've been using pipe clamps on fence panels for YEARS? That's wild to me lol. I've seen those things twist and flex under real pressure, especially out in the sun. I can't imagine trusting them for something that big without a backup plan. Did you ever have one pop off on you or just slip?

karen_roberts415d ago

Fair enough but pipe clamps have their place. Been using them for years on fence panels and they work fine for bigger glue ups where you need even pressure across a long surface. Switched to cauls for smaller cabinet joints and that's definitely cleaner. Pick the tool for the job I say. Pipe clamps aren't junk just because they aren't fancy.

carr.elliot15d ago

Wait, you've been using pipe clamps for years on fence panels? That's wild. I've seen those things bend like crazy under real pressure on longer glue ups. @karen_roberts4 you must be a lot more careful with yours than most folks I know.