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BlogWe independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products-learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.Securely Hold Your Workpieces in Place With the Best Band Clamps
Last updated: 31 Oct 2023Woodworking is an extraordinary profession where you get to freely create objects out of basic materials and your imagination. But none of it is possible without the right tools! For instance, even a simple wooden frame involves four cutouts that need to be joined together. To glue them, you need something to hold all the pieces firmly in place while the adhesive dries — right? It’s called a band clamp and it works like a charm!
Besides that oversimplified example, common applications include pulling together joints on chairs, cases, columns, or any project with slightly irregular angles. Consisting of nylon bands and rubberized corner blocks, it’s the most flexible woodworking clamp out there. Almost every professional and hobbyist needs one of these! But with so many options on the market, it’s easy to waste your money on the wrong model! So, after in-depth research, we’ve handpicked five of the finest band clamps for 2023. Here they are!
Show contentsDetailing Our Favorite Band Clamp of 2023- SEDY Band Clamp - Best Overall
- HORUSDY Band Clamp - Most Comfortable
- Pony Jorgensen Band Clamp - Most Accurate
- POWERTEC Band Clamp - Best Basic
- Wolfcraft Band Clamp - Most Durable
Band Clamp Buying GuideBand Clamp Buying Guide
A band clamp appears to be a pretty simple woodworking tool at first glance, but finding the right one for your needs is much more complicated. In this section, we’ll guide you through everything you need to keep in mind — from the strap material to the length to the build quality to user-friendliness — to make sure you end up with the right product.
Build Quality
The first thing you should consider in your band clamp before paying for it is its build quality. Unlike some polish or glue, tools are often one-time investments. Once you’ve invested in them, they should hopefully stick by you for years to come! But poor-quality clamps can break much earlier than that.
To make sure that doesn’t happen, look for signs of a sturdy build quality such as materials like metal and steel rather than flimsy plastic, corrosion resistance on the spindle screw, and nylon webbing to strengthen the strap. You should also make sure that the strap guide (positioned underneath the tension handle) is made out of metal or some other resilient material, as it takes on most of the pressure when clamping onto large items and can break under high pressure.
Strap
The strap is an integral part of a band clamp. It’s what wraps around your project to firmly hold it as you work on it or while the adhesive dries out. Make sure that you find a tool with a long enough length to cover all your clamping needs — whether you’re working on a small photo frame or a large chair! Having more flexibility in terms of the strap’s maximum length allows you to hold onto larger workpieces with even weirder shapes and dimensions.
Always look for nylon-strengthened straps as they can take on any level of stress and weight without breaking. After all, it’s exactly what cars use to keep you locked in place in the event of an accident!
The Handle
Besides grip, the handle plays another key role in band clamps: tightening or loosening the strap’s grip on your workpiece by rotating clockwise or counter-clockwise!
Almost all of the physical interaction with your woodworking clamp happens at the handle — so it has to be comfortable, ergonomically designed, and big enough! Modern band clamps come with an anti-skid finish that allows you to grip it better, which improves your control over the clamped workpiece. So, that’s definitely a feature to keep an eye out for!
Pressure Levers
Most band clamps have a pair of pressure levers positioned at each side of the strap. They’re supposed to pressurize the strap when it’s tightened to ensure a secure grip on the workpiece that’s clamped inside. You can press on these levers again to release the pressure and loosen your project out of the clamp’s grip! Make sure to look for quick-release functionality on these, as it makes life much easier for a professional or DIY woodworker.
Corner Grips
The strap on a band clamp usually has four corner grips integrated along with it which are meant to be positioned at the corners of a rectangle or square workpiece to hold in place securely. Make sure that these have a soft and scratch-resistant finish on the inside so that they don’t harm your project after long hours of gripping! They should also be easily removable to make sure they don’t get in the way when you’re trying to clamp an irregular-shaped workpiece without any defined corners to speak of.
Detailing Our Favorite Band Clamp of 2023
1SEDY Band Clamp
– Best OverallFirst up, we’ve got the SEDY band clamp that takes the lead with its remarkably practical design and promising customer feedback. The clamp can hold onto objects like large picture frames, boxes, and other squared- or round-shaped workpieces with its long nylon strap. Irregular shapes like a drawer or a barrel are also easy to handle!
From a rust-proof spindle screw to an anti-skid grip handle, to quick-release levers for snappy adjustability, there’s no advanced feature that this band clamp doesn’t have. All that — paired with a maximum clamping circumference of up to four meters — makes it the best band clamp on this list!
Pros- Can clamp just about anything
- Very durable strap with high-strength nylon webbing
- User-friendly design
Cons- The strap guide is made of plastic
2HORUSDY Band Clamp
– Most ComfortableNext, we have a similar woodworking frame strap clamp from the HORUSDY store. It’s made out of a unique material called Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, which in simpler terms, represents long-term durability for a relatively lower cost.
Regardless of the shape of the project that you are working on, this four-meter canvas strap can firmly grip the entire assembly. Our favorite feature about this is its ergonomic anti-skid handle for optimal comfort! It also has one-by-one-inch jaws that are non-marking and won’t scratch up your workpiece.
Pros- Cheaper than market price
- Ergonomic anti-skid handle
- Great for all shapes, including irregular workpieces
Cons- Some customers report having durability complaints
3Pony Jorgensen Band Clamp
– Most AccurateThe Pony Jorgensen 1225 Rapid Acting Band Clamp is the highest-rated option on this list. You can either order a single unit or a pack of two, three, or four for progressively bigger discounts. Coming with a 15-foot nylon band, it’s also one of the largest clamps in this collection! It has a perfect score for “accuracy,” which makes sense since it features metal levers for rapid and precise adjustment.
As soon as you grip its big and comfy handle, you can tell that it’s not a cheap, flimsy tool that’ll break in a few days. Rather, some reviewers are proud owners of the tool for years and still report zero damage, and most of the credit goes to its sturdy alloy steel build. Even if something does go wrong with your unit, you’re backed by a generous one-year warranty coverage from Jorgensen! If you ask us, it’s the complete package for hobbyists and pros alike.
Pros- Superior build quality
- Easy adjustability
- High customer security with warranty coverage
Cons- Slightly more expensive
4POWERTEC Band Clamp
– Best BasicNot everyone needs all the advanced bells and whistles on their woodworking clamp — and that’s what Powertec 71017 is all about. It’s designed for old-school woodworkers or casual hobbyists. With a plastic and nylon build, it’s the ideal lightweight tool to hold small workpieces of any shape. Even though the frame is made of plastic, it’s relatively sturdy and features non-marring jaws to protect your projects.
With its 13-foot high-grade nylon-webbed band, you can expect sufficiently tight clamping even for irregular shapes and unique items like a birdhouse, chair frames, or random parts of a large contraption. Even though the whole thing looks pretty old-fashioned, it still has a quick-release lever that gives you all the control you need over your workpiece. Overall, this basic band clamp gets a yes from us!
Pros- Very portable and lightweight
- Minimalistic style
- Good value for money
Cons- Not as durable as other steel-built options
5Wolfcraft Band Clamp
– Most DurableLast on this list, we have a one-handed ratcheting band clamp from the Wolfcraft brand, and it’s possibly one of the most durable ones you can find on the market — let alone this list. It’s so well-built that the brand offers 5-year warranty coverage for DIY usage. From the construction to the finishing — everything feels premium and high-quality, so props to the brand for that!
This band clamp comes in two configurations, one with a 13-inch strap and a 16-inch variation, which is the largest strap amongst our top-five picks. It’s the ideal tool for holding and gluing shelves, picture frames, and even larger items like furniture and corner tables!
Pros- Industry-leading warranty period
- Very large strap
- One-hand usable (as the name suggests)
Cons- The most expensive option among the top-five
Band Clamps FAQ
Q: What size wood clamps should I buy?A: If you plan on assembling items like frames, panels, or drawers (or other similar-sized projects), sizes of 12 to 24 inches would be suitable.
Q: How much clamping force do I need for woodworking?A: According to some estimates, 175-250 PSI for clamping hardwoods and 100-150 PSI for softwoods are recommended.
Q: How long should I let wood glue dry before removing clamps?A: The right clamping duration depends on whether a joint is unstressed or stressed. An unstressed one needs no longer than 30 to 60 minutes, whereas stress joints need to be clamped for up to 24 hours for desirable results.
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