A thought on clamps

When I first started buying "real" woodworking clamps a few years ago (like my Bessey clamps),  I went with the theory that since I was spending so much money on clamps, I should buy the longest ones that I could.  After all, you can clamp a small object with a 40" clamp, but you can't clamp a 36" piece with a small clamp.  Seemed to make sense.

So, I bought mostly long 40" Bessey clamps for a couple of years. 

The thing is, those clamps are REALLY long (and heavy).   Clamping a small object with a big clamp in a workshop with a low ceiling tends to be quite an effort.   After I poke the ceiling, knock stuff of the bench and drop everything on the floor, the long clamp works very well...

I now find that my small number of 24" and 30" clamps are my favorites. 

Another lesson learned.  Good clamps are expensive, but if you are like me, you will end up wanting both long and short clamps.

As a wise man once said, "you can never have enough clamps."   I will change that quote slightly.  You can never have enough GOOD clamps.

Comments

[Stacy]

Curious. I just came across your scanner=light table. Where did you find the bulb kit you used for it?

Thank You =)

Stacy

[Matthew Sanfilippo]

It was from Home Depot. Nothing more than a cord with a normal light socket on it sold for use in a garage or shop as a hanging light. I then used a compact florescent bulb to keep the heat down.

Matt