Lee Valley Assembly Clamps?

[tribalwind]

these looked kinda helpful, what do ya'll think ? $14 for 4 seems decent.
anyone made or bought something similar?

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...73&cat=1,43838

[LCHIEN]

$22 each - maybe not inthe same league but really good miter clamps I use for that same application. Not going to trust any little plastic clips to pull my warped frames together!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...lance&n=228013

[mschrank]

Just to clarify: I think the products referred to by Matthew and Loring are different birds.

The Lee Valley product is an "assembly" clamp...kind of "third hands" designed to help hold things in place while you dry fit, screw or clamp it with bar clamps. I don't think they are intended to hold a project together while the glue sets.

BTW-I've seen a similar assembly clamp (I think made by Jet) that is made of steel, but IIRC it's around $20.00 for one, so the Lee Valley ones seem like a deal.

[tribalwind]

yes definitely differnt birds mike' !

thanks loring,that one looks pretty sweet as well , flor the glue up stage.
what ive done for that stage is made a bunch of those triangular corner clamping guides, i got the idea off someone here who also built one of them ultimate tool station deals,(tundra,wolf?cant recall,was on webshots)
ill post a pic.

these interested me as 'third hands' like mike said.keep things straight so'ze i can reach for a drillgun without everything fallin like a house of cards (as usually does for me)

though i wish they came in a heavy duty variety that would let you throw bar clamps on them after instead of removing to put a differnt type of clamp in its place....these look to wimpy to put a clamp on.

[bigsteel15]

Just to clarify: I think the products referred to by Matthew and Loring are different birds.

The Lee Valley product is an "assembly" clamp...kind of "third hands" designed to help hold things in place while you dry fit, screw or clamp it with bar clamps. I don't think they are intended to hold a project together while the glue sets.

BTW-I've seen a similar assembly clamp (I think made by Jet) that is made of steel, but IIRC it's around $20.00 for one, so the Lee Valley ones seem like a deal.

"Third hand" is exactly what the intent is.
I have ordered from LV but haven't gone to pick-up my backorder yet. They were $16 CDN up here for introductory price so I bought 2 sets.
They sold out very quick at the store when they brought them out last month.
I think they wil be great for holding small caseworks together.

[Stormbringer]

The Lee Valley product is an "assembly" clamp...kind of "third hands" designed to help hold things in place while you dry fit, screw or clamp it with bar clamps. I don't think they are intended to hold a project together while the glue sets.

BTW-I've seen a similar assembly clamp (I think made by Jet) that is made of steel, but IIRC it's around $20.00 for one, so the Lee Valley ones seem like a deal.

Here's the Jet version. Amazon has a package of two for $17.74. I actually ordered them over the weekend but they haven't arrived yet. A bunch of positve reviews and their stronger build made me choose them over the Lee Valleys.

[Tequila]

I have a pair of the Jet's, and I'm not impressed with them. They work OK as a third hand for assembling knockdown furniture, but the springs are so stiff that it's a real pain to get them in place to begin with. They lift whatever you're clamping about 1/2" off the surface, so they come with extra outriggers to raise the rest of the object, but they only come with 2, so I usually end up having to hunt down some shims to get the whole assembly level.

I find they're far more trouble than they're worth, except in really unusual or awkward situations (like when I was trying to assemble a 7' tall Ikea cabinet alone - they did a fine job holding the top shelf steady enough to prevent the screws from pulling out of the MDF while I attached the second side.)

[Stormbringer]

I have a pair of the Jet's, and I'm not impressed with them. They work OK as a third hand for assembling knockdown furniture, but the springs are so stiff that it's a real pain to get them in place to begin with.

Yikes! And they'll be on my doorstep when I get home tomorrow. Does anyone know if Amazon charges for returns or do you just request a return label from them?

Thanks,
Greg

[LarryG]

Does anyone know if Amazon charges for returns or do you just request a return label from them?

If it's not their mistake, they do charge. I once ordered a set of $30 router guide bushings, found a set I liked better at about the same price, but discovered that it would cost me ten bucks (plus the legwork) to return the first set. Needless to say, I kept them.

[vaking]

Don't rush to return. I have Jets too and I like them. I believe that Jet's idea was that for the good size project you will need few of them, not just 2. If you have several pairs you would not be hunting more outriggers. I only have one pair and often wish I had more.

[Tequila]

Don't rush to return. I have Jets too and I like them. I believe that Jet's idea was that for the good size project you will need few of them, not just 2. If you have several pairs you would not be hunting more outriggers. I only have one pair and often wish I had more.

That's an excellent point, and one that I've often thought when I'm using them. Unfortunately I think it would take at least 2 more pairs, probably 3, to be really effective for assembly. With 4 pairs, you could assemble a carcass by yourself without anything slipping while fumbling for clamps.

The 2-pack really does give you just enough to see how they might be useful. A 4-pack would probably let you start to capitalize on their usefulness.


So Greg, don't return them, buy more!

[bigsteel15]

I got mine from LV on the weekend and used them for some simple box drawer assembly.
They worked great. the Jet ones do look a little more heavy duty though.

[MPod]

I have the jet clamps and like them. The springs are pretty tight on 3/4" material but then again with heavy 3/4 mdf, I want them to be.

I only have two pair and use mine whenever I am nailing or stapling 90 degree joints. Usually biscuited joints. Works great as a third and fourth set of hands.

Note that one of the springs overlaps the other. This helps align the boards at 90 degrees and gives you an open area for using your nailer on the other side. Hard to explain but you'll see what I mean when you try using them. Just remember that there is a correct orientation for the clamps and I believe the red vs black clamps have the overlapping spring on opposite sides.

I'd imagine a little paste wax would make them slide on easier but I haven't tried it.

[lcm1947]

Wouldn't this kit be as good if not better for all around clamping?

[Brian G]

Mac, I have some of those. They are sturdy, square, and work fine. I don't particularly care for the clamps, because I haven't figured out the coordination of holding the square in place with one hand, the board(s) to be clamped in place with a second hand, and then tightening the clamp with the other two hands that I seem to be lacking.

One other downside is that the thickness of the squares doesn't make using spring clamps easier.

I use mine often, but if I were to buy something similar I'd go with something like these. They have lower profiles and are just as strong.