What are clamps and how to choose them?

What are these - clamps, what they are used for and how to choose for metal, pipes - these questions are regularly faced by people who begin to engage in plumbing or joinery. The variety of these tools really amazes the uninformed person: forged furniture, wood, plastic, metal screw and other varieties are widely represented on the market. It is worth talking in more detail about what should be taken into account when selecting them and what are the secrets of working with clamps.

To fix the part in a certain position during the carpentry, locksmith work, you need a holder capable of gripping with a given force. This is precisely the task that the clamp performs. - a device that allows the master to free his hands for other manipulations. Clamps are used to perform fastening functions when you need to fix a part or product in a given position, allow you to ensure tight compression when gluing surfaces, replace pliers and pliers.

The clamp looks like a vertically located screw or smooth base, fixed on a frame with a reciprocal platform. By adjusting the position of the movable element, you can increase or decrease the pressure on the clamped object. The main material for their manufacture is metal, but there are also wooden, plastic options. The elements of household or locksmith appliances used to attach them to the surface of the desktop are also called clamps. Such details are in a vice, mechanical meat grinders, old table lamps.

The clamp has a simple and reliable design. It almost never breaks down and has a long service life. The tool consists of the following parts.

• Frame fastening. It serves as a reciprocal element against which the fixed part is pressed. Can be G-shaped, C-shaped or S-shaped.
• Movable element with "heel". Like a tripod, it can increase or decrease the distance from the platform to the frame.
• Screw or lever. He is responsible for fixing the clamp in a given position, allows you to adjust the compression force. Lever models have a faster fixation; with less effort, the compression is quite intense. The clamp handle moves in 1 touch.
• Springs. They are in "clothespins" - pincer clamps with 2 handles, working on the principle of secateurs.

The design of the clamp remains unchanged for a long time. It is quite effective even without making any changes.

The purpose of the clamps is quite diverse. it locksmith and joinery is quite successfully used in the construction industry.

They are used in a wide variety of fields and activities.

• For sheet metal... The clamp is used here as a vertical gripper, such equipment is used mainly in the warehouse area and in production

• For assembling furniture... The same carpentry tool is used for frames and for wood in any of its configurations. Clips are mainly used when gluing elements. A joinery clamp is also needed for a furniture board.

• For artificial stone. Vacuum clamps are used here, allowing you to glue the sides and wall plinth, to create an anti-overflow system.

• For doors. Here clamps are used to install boxes in the opening with the possibility of straightening curved corners.

• For gluing parts. The clamp provides a tighter and more uniform connection, as a result, the adhesion of materials is more efficient. End models allow you to glue the decor to the front edges of furniture.

• For formwork. Here the clamp acts as a supporting element.

• For floors, for laying laminate. The clamping element used when tamping the planks is also a clamp, although it looks more like a bracket.

• For drill... Here the clamp acts as an external accessory for electric or hand tools.

• For lighting devices. Clamp lamps are widely used as a necessary addition to the work of architects and other people working with blueprints.

• For hairpin... The metal clamp provides easy fixing of threaded products to ceiling and other supporting metal structures.

• For the bus. Here, the clamps are used to make the saws easier to work with. For the correct use of guide rails in electric tools, the choice of F-shaped or quick-clamping models is recommended.

• For ventilation. This type of beam clamps is made of metal. It is used when laying various utilities, it helps to fix fasteners on supporting structures without drilling holes or welding.

• For stretch ceilings. Here, pincer-shaped clamps made of plastic are used in sizes of 100, 150, 200 mm. With the help of such a clamp, the canvas is hung in the corners of the room before heating, usually 6 products are enough for the room.

The scope of application of clamps is not limited to this. Craftsmen even use them to fix sheet materials and oversized loads on the trunk of a car. In any case, one cannot do without it in a home workshop.

The classification of clamping mechanisms is quite extensive. Here you can find furniture clamps-clamps and "pistols", pliers and double-sided models. All of them deserve the utmost attention. It is worth considering the classification and types of clamps in more detail.

Depending on the purpose, the clamps can be small and large, long and short. Mini versions are commonly used in jewelry and other small jobs. The averaged parameters will be as follows:

• length - from 150 to 900 mm;
• width - 120-350 mm;
• the size of the working area (at maximum opening) - 10-600 mm.

The smallest grippers have corner clamps - no more than 10-100 mm, since the contact occurs at an angle of 90 degrees.

The base from which the tool is made also matters. Basically, the material for the manufacture of clamping mechanisms are ferrous and non-ferrous metals, but there are also wooden or plastic elements. It is worth considering all the options in more detail.

• Forged. The strongest and most durable are considered the most reliable. The classic F-clamps with screw clamping are made from ductile iron. These brackets provide maximum stability.

• Plastic... They are mainly used for the installation of stretch ceilings. They are made of polymers that are resistant to operational loads.

• Metal stamped... This category includes mass market steel products and heavy duty industrial products. For the installation of metal frames and supporting structures, clamps with anticorrosive galvanized or galvanized coating are used. Forged steel clamps are more reliable, but more expensive.

• Wooden. Designed for gluing parts made of soft and brittle materials. Made of hardwood.

• Cast aluminum. Lightweight, resistant to corrosion, but not designed for heavy loads.

These are the main materials on the market.

According to the principle of operation, all clamps are quite easily classified into conventional mechanical - with manual control, and advanced. The simplest one is screw, equipped with a nickle at the end of the threaded element and a handle. Has a body and a movable part. This is a universal model, convenient in everyday life and in the work of a joiner, locksmith. The improved eccentric design is easier to handle.

Magnetic clamps used by electric welders to fix the jointed workpieces. Most often they are used in corner joints. Looks like a polyhedron or an isosceles triangle with right angles. Magnetic inserts are located on the edges in contact with the metal.

Automatic or quick-clamping (pistol) clamp also known as trigger, rack and pinion. Its design is F-shaped, 1 jaw is fixed on the bar immovably, the second moves in free-wheeling mode or is locked in a given position.

Hydraulic and pneumatic power clamp - devices with the supply of force to the working surface using an element resembling a jack. Vacuum models used when working with glass, artificial stone, ceramics. They are equipped with a frame with suction cups and hand pumps to generate the required force.

Spring by its design, it resembles a pruner or pliers, has 2 handles and closing jaws. Clamping and expanding force is applied mechanically. Spacer used for the installation of laminate and type-setting floors. Universal loopback used when installing fiber-optic cable to supporting structures.

The forms of clamps are also quite varied. Among the most common options are the following.

• C-shaped. Plain clamps, also known as end clamps. Convenient for desktop use.

• F-shaped. These include all quick-clamping models and other long bar styles. The round "penny" is fixed in the horizontal plane.

• G-shaped. Simple and reliable, box-type, suitable for working with metal. Articulated swivel model is easier to control than adjustable by a screw

• T-shaped. With an original guide profile. Used in furniture production and window installation.

• Pincer. They can be with a ratchet or a spring. Also called "clothespins" for their appearance and flat lips.

• Hull. For clamping workpieces in a parallel or oblique plane. The swivel body clamp can act as a two-way expandable spacer.

• Clamps pistols. Automated framework models.

• Edging. Used for fastening materials along the edge.

• Corner... There are magnetic and screw. They are used to connect parts at right angles.

• Tape... Belt tensioned. Used in joinery.

These are just the most common types of carpentry and locksmith clamps.

On the Russian market, you can find clamps from European, Asian, American manufacturers.Most of them are well known to amateur and professional craftsmen. The best companies you can trust are worth learning in more detail. The popularity rating among brands - manufacturers of clamps includes the following brands.

• Stanley. An American company that has existed for over 175 years. The brand's tools are so reliable that they are used even during space expeditions. In the assortment you can find belt, angular. F-shaped, G-shaped, trigger clamps made of high quality steel and aluminum. The company manufactures most of its products for the Russian market in China.
• Bessey. German brand specializing in the manufacture of clamps for private and professional use. The range includes cast iron, steel, aluminum models, lever and high performance fixtures. The company produces all types of clamps, including those with gearboxes and manipulators, is rightfully considered one of the leaders in the world market.
• Wilton... An industrial company based in Chicago with over 70 years of experience in professional and hobbyist tools. The brand has repeatedly patented its inventions, initially specialized in the production of vice. Clamps of the brand are still widely used by artisans all over the world today. The main specialization of the company is F-shaped and C-shaped models of clamps.
• Matrix. German brand, represented in Russia for over 10 years. The company produces a variety of joinery and metalwork tools. F-shaped, pincer and quick-clamping clamps are of particular interest. The brand stands out for its loyal pricing policy, well-thought-out ergonomics of its products.
• Gross. A company from Germany that manufactures professional products. The brand confidently occupies a leading position in sales in the EU countries. Among the range of products, pincer and rack clamps are especially noted, which greatly facilitate the manual work of the master.

This does not exhaust the list of manufacturers, but choosing products from trusted firms, you can be sure that the purchased tool will justify the hopes placed on it.

Experienced and novice craftsmen often argue about which clamp is better to buy. In fact, the selection criteria for this tool have long been defined. It is enough just to pay attention to the following points.

1. Clamping force. The most powerful industrial models are capable of delivering indicators of 1 ton, but such a reinforced structure is not needed in everyday life. The simplest models have much more modest performance. On average, their clamping force is 20-100 kg. This is enough for most operations, even when working with machines in a home workshop.
2. Fixation method. It determines how exactly the change in the distance from the movable element to the edge of the part will be carried out. When performing work on weight or at height, it is better to choose quick-clamping clamps that allow the master to perform this operation with one hand. Screw models are suitable for use in the workshop, but not very convenient to use without a workbench and other fixtures.
3. Mass. It all depends on the purpose of the clamp. Those designed to work with milling machines can weigh up to 5 kg. It is better to choose household models in the range of up to 1 kg.
4. Materials used. The most durable clamps with a reinforced body are made from cast iron and other ferrous metals. They are quite massive, focused on holding heavy parts. Household models are most often made from combined materials. The combination of synthetic materials, polymers and aluminum casting has proven itself well. The finished product weighs less, is not afraid of corrosion in case of rare use.
5. Functionality. Not all clamps are the same. Some of them have both clamping capacity and the ability to be used as a spacer.To do this, they are equipped with pivoting jaws that can be guided inward or outward of the housing.
6. Corrosion protection. This moment is relevant only for products made of ferrous metals. To maintain a smooth ride for a long time, they are painted with powder formulations, and then periodically oiled and blackened. Galvanized clamps are effortless to maintain. As long as their coating is intact, corrosion does not threaten the instrument.
7. Additional accessories. They are optional, but they greatly facilitate the operation of the product. For example, models with rubber pads on the jaws allow you to work with fragile or soft parts, softening the impact at the point of contact. The included T-handle is also useful, allowing you to adjust the force when clamping the part.

All these points are important for choosing the right clamp, especially if the master is new to his craft. Experienced locksmiths and carpenters in practice comprehend the features of such a tool and no longer make mistakes when replacing it.

The use of clamps does not raise any particular questions. Regardless of the type of construction, they are used to clamp parts or objects, materials in a given position. It is enough to place the object between the jaws and then fix it.

Quick-release clamps are similar in principle to a pistol with a trigger... It is enough to use the lever, and the jaws will close with the required effort. Their convenience lies in the fact that you can do all the work with one hand. Pincer clamps have the same lever principle, but the compression force is controlled by a spring element. Working with them resembles using a pruner - this is not the easiest and most comfortable tool.

End clamps They differ in that they have a spacer not only on the sides, but also in the center, the downforce is created at 3 points. First you need to clamp the material itself between the jaws, and then use the third platform. This tool is mainly used for gluing decorative end edges.

In the next video, you will learn the rules for choosing and using clamps.