When you need to attach two wooden workpieces, you apply glue to one surface of each and then paste them together. But unlike paper, glued wood pieces can never stick to each other on their own. Even when the glue dries up, you may witness the pieces coming apart, which can be pretty annoying. To prevent this, you need to apply pressure on the outer wooden surfaces to increase adhesion and ensure the workpieces stay attached. Since pasting glued pieces is a common practice in woodworking that demands a lot of effort, we have rounded up some of the great spring clamps in 2023. They generate high clamping tension to keep the wooden pieces attached, eliminating the need to apply manual pressure.
Although spring clamps are designed to keep things attached, they don’t all work the same way, and choosing the right clamp can be a challenge. Keeping this in mind, we have curated a complete buying guide to help you find high-quality spring clamps that will meet your needs head-on.
Spring clamps are shaped similarly to pliers. They have two handles with curved jaws bulging outwards. At the junction of both handles is a spring coil, which is elastic. When you press the handles, the physical force compresses the spring and creates a high tension force. Due to this, the jaws open, and you can fit your workpiece between them.
Once you are satisfied with the positioning of the jaws and workpiece, you release the handles. The spring coil expands when the pressure is removed but doesn’t revert to its original length because the jaws don’t close fully. The jaws hold the workpiece in place due to the clamping tension force developed in the spring coil.
Most spring clamps are made from nylon since it is lightweight and long-lasting. Some clamps also have a steel body with zinc coating to prevent rust and corrosion. Although steel has much more longevity, it is heavier than nylon, so you might have to struggle a bit when using the clamps. Handles and tips are usually made with PVC because it is easy to hold and won’t leave scratch marks or abrasions on your workpiece.
If you are not comfortable with PVC handles or want a heavy-duty clamp set, go for a product with TPR handles. Not only is the material highly durable but it also resists wear and tears from mechanical forces well. Lastly, the spring coils are constructed from tempered steel to withstand continuous compression and expansion according to the application of pressure.
Spring clamps should have ergonomic handles to ensure hand fatigue is kept at bay. If they have a straight and stiff structure, the edges will put a lot of pressure on the inside of your palm. As a result, you will have to apply even more force to open the clamp, which could ultimately cause your palm and fingers to hurt. We also recommend looking for spring clamps with anti-slip handles so you have better control handling the clamps.
Jaw opening is the length between jaw tips when you press the clamp handles. Comparing premium spring clamps, the jaw opening can range from 2.5”-6.5”. The larger the opening is, the thicker the workpiece you can use with the clamps.
Most spring clamps feature a pivoted jaw tip to ensure they can flex and adjust their alignment according to the surface structure. For instance, if the workpieces have even surfaces, the jaw tips will have a parallel orientation, but when the objects have an uneven surface, the clamp’s jaw tip will orient itself according to the surface angle.
Featuring a heavy-duty nylon body, this spring clamp from Tolesa is known for its excellent strength and durability. The fiberglass reinforcement and high finish surface make it resistant to mechanical wear and tear, ensuring it can last you a long time, while the ergonomically designed TPR handles prevent pain or cramping in your hands.
The clamps are equipped with a tempered steel coil that produces 30 lbs of clamping tension to keep all pieces firmly attached, with jaw pads that can be adjusted according to the surface structure. The jaws open up to 3 inches, so you can easily use the clamp to hold extra-thick workpieces. Due to its unique design and robust construction, this spring clamp is indeed the best overall in its class.
If you are looking for spring clamps of varying sizes, consider this pack which contains three different sizes to help you securely keep everything in place, from photos to wood pieces. All units have durable and sturdy nylon construction that lasts a while without suffering any kind of mechanical damage. They are also reinforced with pivoting pads that not only adjust to uneven surfaces but also protect the workpieces from scratches and abrasion. The variety of sizes available in one package makes this the most versatile spring clamp set on our list.
Get this pack of 24 spring clamps if you need to keep large workpieces in place or have multiple projects going on at the same time. With heavy-duty construction, each unit is highly durable and won’t get damaged due to wear and tear. The PVC-coated handles help reduce fatigue as you clamp something together with multiple clamps. Since the jaw tips are made with PVC, they don’t cause scratch marks or abrasions, keeping your workpieces pristine. The 2.5” jaw opening lets you attach workpieces of different thicknesses. This is the highest quantity of spring clamps in a single package available on our list, which makes it ideal for professional workshops.
Featuring a heavy-duty nylon construction, the spring clamps from Frichom are known for durable, robust construction. The clamps stay in place without slipping off, ensuring the workpieces remain attached. The round-shaped handles allow you to easily grab the clamp and press them without any hassle, and their anti-slip feature keeps fatigued hands at bay. Thanks to the high-quality spring coils, the clamp produces 3.5 lbs of force to keep everything attached. The clamp is equipped with flexible and rotatable grippers, offering better adjustability with respect to surface evenness. Overall, we think you’d be hard-pressed to find a clamp with more robust construction.
Workpro has certainly outdone itself with this set of spring clamps. Featuring a stainless steel body, each clamp is built to last for a long time and can easily hold various types of workpieces together. The zinc-coated surface resists corrosion and rust, and they also come reinforced with PVC tips and handles to ensure the workpieces stay safe from scratches and your hands don’t tire out. In addition to this, the strong tempered steel springs make opening and closing the clamp jaws hassle-free. Overall we believe these spring clamps to have the best build quality on our list.
A: There is no rule that spring clamps need to be used exclusively with polished or chiseled wooden workpieces. They generate enough clamping tension to ensure the pieces stay together without displacing them.
A: If you choose a spring clamp with robust construction and higher clamping tension, it will last you for years. If the selected spring clamp is not made from high-quality materials, it could even stand to snap during the first use.
A: Spring clamps come at various price points, typically ranging from $8.99 to $34.99. The price is based on multiple factors such as higher quantities costing more than lower quantities, and better materials and construction costing more than flimsy materials.
