I'm going to be doing some non-fine-woodworking joinery with SPF, and/or possibly plywood, in the not-too-far-distant future. Probably miters. Possibly use biscuits. (Just acquired a lightly-used Porter Cable 557 Plate Joiner.)

I approached getting into fine woodworking years ago, so clamps I got. But never acquired corner clamps. Tried using the reviews on Amazon as a guide, but I'm pretty sure many, if not most of those are polluted by shills.

So, those of you who do woodworking: What do you like for corner clamps, and why?

The old standby is the Bessey corner clamp if it fits what you need. It is sturdy. Lots of plastic 90 degree braces to use with other clamps for constructing boxes.
A lot depends on the project size and shape.

Watch out, clamps are like Sigs, you never have enough.

You have a good tablesaw? If yes, simply make a good crosscut sled and cut you own corner supports. I have a dozen of these hanging on the wall to use with casework.

Have done a lot of woodworking for the past 40+ years. Have very few “corner” WW clamps that I hardly ever use.

If needed how about a wood cube tucked into the desired corner, one C clamp with screw vertical, a second with screw horizontal? Both clamp block, each clamp hits a vertical or horizontal piece?

Mitered joints are my LAST choice for connecting corners. Mitered with a biscuit, definitely better, but still... eh

I did do some fragile molding to make fake raised panels for a formal dining room. Used 45* miters there. Laid them on grocery bag paper when gluing. Intentionally got glue on back of wood and paper. Clamped to a flat board. When dry I cut the paper off, leaving it on the back of the wood. Helped strengthen a typically weak butt joint.

There are spring clamps just for 45* mitered joints. Look something like a capital “C”. They work, leave little marks in the wood and are pretty easy to use. Still, the joint, by design, isn’t a very good one.

quote:

Originally posted by sig operator:
The old standby is the Bessey corner clamp if it fits what you need.

Perhaps I'll give one of those a go, then. They're not expensive.

quote:

Originally posted by bigdeal:
You have a good tablesaw? If yes, simply make a good crosscut sled and cut you own corner supports. I have a dozen of these hanging on the wall to use with casework.

I have a good tablesaw. (Delta 10" Contractor's saw. Spent hours flattening the table and aligning with a TS Aligner Jr.) Don't have a cross-cut sled, drill press or band saw.

"45 minutes and some scrap lumber" - lol. Yeah, if you have Norm Abram's workshop . So, thanks for the suggestion but that's too much work with the tools I have at my disposal right now.

quote:

Originally posted by Chris42:
If needed how about a wood cube tucked into the desired corner, one C clamp with screw vertical, a second with screw horizontal? Both clamp block, each clamp hits a vertical or horizontal piece?

I suppose that might work--if the cube was truly square.

quote:

Originally posted by Chris42:
Mitered joints are my LAST choice for connecting corners. Mitered with a biscuit, definitely better, but still... eh

I realize they're not strong. End-grain-to-end-grain, essentially. But mitered corners are pretty much what's needed.

Thanks for the feedback, guys!

I may just "Norm Abram" the things: Use biscuits for strength and brad nails for "clamps." The brad nails would be invisible, anyway.

Not a woodworker, but last year I messed up ordering a 5-piece canvas print wall art that I thought came framed (it did not).

Since the frame wouldn't be visible I decided to build the 5 frames (3 different sizes) myself. I tried the Amazon route, but was frustrated. I ended up going to Deep Homo and liked an inexpensive set (bonus: I ran into a friend I hadn't seen in 5 years). They worked well enough for my purposes.

Might want to swing by Deep Homo or Low-life's and see a few in person.

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:
"45 minutes and some scrap lumber" - lol. Yeah, if you have Norm Abram's workshop . So, thanks for the suggestion but that's too much work with the tools I have at my disposal right now.

Then head on over to Rockler.com. They have some commercial options that a lot of woodworkers use.

quote:

I may just "Norm Abram" the things: Use biscuits for strength and brad nails for "clamps." The brad nails would be invisible, anyway.

Just and FYI, biscuits are an alignment tool. They offer little to no additional strength in a joint.

Something else you might consider given it doesn't sound as though what you're building will be furniture grade. Pick up a Kreg Pocket Hole kit. A little glue and a few pocket holes produces a strong and simply constructed joint in case work.

quote:

Originally posted by bigdeal:

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:
"45 minutes and some scrap lumber" - lol. Yeah, if you have Norm Abram's workshop . So, thanks for the suggestion but that's too much work with the tools I have at my disposal right now.

Then head on over to Rockler.com. They have some commercial options that a lot of woodworkers use.

quote:

I may just "Norm Abram" the things: Use biscuits for strength and brad nails for "clamps." The brad nails would be invisible, anyway.

Just and FYI, biscuits are an alignment tool. They offer little to no additional strength in a joint.

Something else you might consider given it doesn't sound as though what you're building will be furniture grade. Pick up a Kreg Pocket Hole kit. A little glue and a few pocket holes produces a strong and simply constructed joint in case work.

I second a Kreg pocket hole jig. Extremely simple to use. I recently built this table to sit out by the grill using all pocket holes and 1 1/2" screws. I've had the Kreg jig for almost a year but this was my first project with it. I was surprised at how solid everything was even without any glue.

quote:

Originally posted by YellowJacket:

quote:

Originally posted by bigdeal:

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:
"45 minutes and some scrap lumber" - lol. Yeah, if you have Norm Abram's workshop . So, thanks for the suggestion but that's too much work with the tools I have at my disposal right now.

Then head on over to Rockler.com. They have some commercial options that a lot of woodworkers use.

quote:

I may just "Norm Abram" the things: Use biscuits for strength and brad nails for "clamps." The brad nails would be invisible, anyway.

Just and FYI, biscuits are an alignment tool. They offer little to no additional strength in a joint.

Something else you might consider given it doesn't sound as though what you're building will be furniture grade. Pick up a Kreg Pocket Hole kit. A little glue and a few pocket holes produces a strong and simply constructed joint in case work.

I second a Kreg pocket hole jig. Extremely simple to use. I recently built this table to sit out by the grill using all pocket holes and 1 1/2" screws. I've had the Kreg jig for almost a year but this was my first project with it. I was surprised at how solid everything was even without any glue.

Third on the Kreg.

But jigs are certainly an option, even without the Norm shop. Also, depending on what you are making and size, a strap around the object may suffice.

I have no idea if this will suit your needs but...
For a quick and dirty solution last year when I needed to glue up a large square frame I cut 4 pieces of 1 1/2 inch PVC pipe the width of the work piece. I cut a ~90° gap out of the pvc and placed one on each corner, then I wrapped a ratchet strap around it all. The pvc on the corners allowed the strap to slide around the corners and tighten up. All else that was needed was a temporary diagonal brace to hold it square...

 
Corrugated fasteners.

I have some plastic ones that work with strapping - put 'em on all four corners and tightenthe strap down.

Also have one that will clamp a bottom/top and two sides together. Weird looking deal. Like a three dimensional corner clamp...

I have done a fair amount of cabinets, shelving, and other wood projects over the last 10 years. The best tool I have come across has been my Kreg K5 pocket hole kit. I have used corner clamps and they work so so.

https://www.amazon.com/KREG-K5...le-Jig/dp/B00EF3L9BM

You can get by without these but they make doing corners/face frames a lot easier.

https://www.amazon.com/Kreg-KH...3967290&s=hi&sr=1-24

https://www.amazon.com/KREG-KH...63967481&s=hi&sr=1-3