what is your go to clamp

I started with Bessey H style pipe clamps, and they are still my favorite for many tasks. They do an excellent job of keeping panels flat during glueup. Then you will need some clamps that have a longer reach on the jaw. For that I use Bessey K body Revo clamps. They are a little pricy, but worth the money in the end.

I avoid F style clamps because they are usually flimsy with small handles, although there are some exceptions.

If I were buying new clamps I might consider these:

http://www.harborfreight.com/36-in-aluminum-bar-clamp-60539.html

They aren't too heavy nor too pricey. Adequate
for a lot of work I think. I don't own any. I have
a lot of heavier bar clamps in different styles and
believe me, the weight is an encumbrance much
of the time as most work doesn't require really
heavy clamping pressure.

If I were buying new clamps I might consider these:

http://www.harborfreight.com/36-in-aluminum-bar-clamp-60539.html

They aren t too heavy nor too pricey. Adequate
for a lot of work I think. I don t own any. I have
a lot of heavier bar clamps in different styles and
believe me, the weight is an encumbrance much
of the time as most work doesn t require really
heavy clamping pressure.
- Loren

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Your right abot the clamping pressue , I see clamps that say they give 600 Lbs. or more pressure but I really can't think of a time in woodworking that you are going to need that much pressure. I mean really do you even need 100 Lbs. of clamping pressure. As long as the clamp will stay straight and not warp it should be good .

12 inch parallel clamps get the most use in my shop, along with the 6 inch f clamps from Harbor Freight. I must have 20 of those. So handy and cheap.

12" K body Bessey and 1"or 2" Pony spring clamps depending on what the job is and what is required..

I probably use my Bessey 20" F clamps the most. They're totally beefy and great for most things that don't include gluing panels or larger table base assemblies.

I have and love my Bessey K body clamps. I got about 25 of them used for a great price many years ago. However, if I were buying clamps now, I would go with these. They are light and the price is quite reasonable IMO. Re the size, it depends on the work you want to do. I find that I use 24 and 36" most frequently.

I just bought 4 of the Irwin clamps that Wahoo posted.
Have not put 'em to work yet, but they seem to be adequate.
Bill

I use pipe clamps because the pipe is free. Use a little wax paper and your good to go.

I have a lot of clamps, and I use Jorgenson F-clamps far more than any other clamp in my shop. Like these.

For assembling furniture, my favorite clamps, without a doubt, are Jet Parallel Clamps. I end up using the 24" ones the most, but have some longer ones as well (I also have Bessey and Peachtree Bessey copycat clamps. I only buy the Jets during their annual December 1/2 price sale. Otherwise, I think the Peachtrees are the best value).

I have several Bessey Pipe Clamps that I generally save for long clamping jobs. Right now I have the aprons and legs of a desk clamped up with 50" pipe clamps.

I have Irwin Quick Grip Clamps that I use obsessively, almost every day, for all kinds of non furniture related clamping. I find them very handy.

My least favorite clamps are F-style clamps. I have several and tend to use them only when I have run out of other options.

I have and love my Bessey K body clamps. I got about 25 of them used for a great price many years ago. However, if I were buying clamps now, I would go with these. They are light and the price is quite reasonable IMO. Re the size, it depends on the work you want to do. I find that I use 24 and 36" most frequently.

- AandCstyle

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I like these. The heads do not appear to be riveted on like the HF ones (the pins work loose over time). Also made in America. I like that too.

I only wish they made a 50 or 52". Being exactly 48" is the problem I have with the HF ones I have now. Just an inch too short to be fully useful.

Thanks for the link.

I have a lot of clamps, and I use Jorgenson F-clamps far more than any other clamp in my shop. Like these.

- bondogaposis

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I have several of these and use them alot, as well. I recently found some similar ones while at HF and they seem to be built a little heavier and are half the price.

Anyone have hands on experience with those Lee Valley aluminum clamps? They do look interested meg.

I have a lot of clamps, and I use Jorgenson F-clamps far more than any other clamp in my shop. Like these.

- bondogaposis

I have several of these and use them alot, as well. I recently found some similar ones while at HF and they seem to be built a little heavier and are half the price.

- timbertailor

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I don't recommend the HF F-style clamps. Since I posted my review, mine are in an even sadder state. For what I paid for them (I have about 24 of them from 6" to 24"), I still find use for them. The biggest concern is that the bar is bending, particularly on the 18" and 24" clamps. I don't find a need to apply a large amount of pressure, so it's acceptable. But they're not my first choice of clamps to use.

I have a mix of various brands and types of clamps.

Bessey kbodys, pipe clamps, 6-24-36 f bodys
Jorgenson pipe and f body
Craftsman pipe and fbody
Irwin quickgrips 6-12" (use a lot for everything)

I picked up a few of the aluminum HF clamps a short while back and really like them. while glueing up some of my workbench top they were light and quick to set up. Got some decent pressure applied too. Next time im near HF (1hr drive one way) ill be grabbing a few more

I use quick grips most, then spring clamps, C clamps, F clamps, and pipe clamps; in that order.