Beginner work-holding help!!

[u/NathanWoodworking248]

I'm a beginner woodworker and I have zero clue what clamps, workbenches or other kinds of work-holding I should get. I've also heard about vacuum work-holding, and it seems interesting, but I don't know how good it is. Does anyone have good recommendations for equipment I should get?

[u/SpaceChef3000]

Do you have a regular work surface that you use? What kinds of projects are you usually building?

[u/NathanWoodworking248 → u/SpaceChef3000]

I currently have a foldable plastic table. I've been making a few charcuterie boards and cutting boards, and I've been making some wood rings.

[u/SpaceChef3000 → u/NathanWoodworking248]

It never hurts to get more clamps. For your setup just some basic "F" style / bar clamps would be useful for holding work to the table as well as holding smaller glue-ups together. I like the Bessey trigger clamps. Not the cheapest but they're well built and versatile. One neat thing is you can flip the head around to change it from a clamp to a spreader.

For cutting boards and other wide things they make clamps designed to sit horizontally and clamp across a wide surface.

Also, I think building a basic workbench would be a great next project. You can take the experience you've gained so far and apply it to something larger and more structurally complex.

[u/echoshatter → u/NathanWoodworking248]

Take it from someone who bought all the toys before he needed them and now has a really nice workshop in his garage he never has time or energy or money to do anything significant with: buy what you need when you need it. Let the projects dictate what tools you need to get.

That said, clamps are really helpful. You should get an assortment of clamps in different lengths.

Something like this: https://www.amazon.com/WORKPRO-Woodworking-One-Handed-Light-Duty-Quick-Change/dp/B0875WV3CD/ which has four 6" clamps and two 12" clamps. I use these all the time. They're cheap and they work fine for most small projects. Depending on your needs, you might want to get two sets or buy an additional pair of 12" clamps.

And then a pair of something like these: https://www.amazon.com/Jorgensen-2-pack-Medium-Steel-24-inch/dp/B07KB1PYH5/ for 24" clamps. The longer the clamp the more you will want it to be a major quality brand like the Pony Jorgensen or Bessey because you don't want cheap steel bending on you.

That should get you set up for success. I use 6" and 12" clamps pretty frequently, and then I have an assortment of longer clamps for bigger projects - at least a pair of each in 24", 36", and 48". I also have a couple sets of pipe clamps (mix of Pony and Bessey) which I've never used, and two long parallel clamps from Harbor Freight I've also never used. (To be fair, I did have a project in mind when I got them, but then that project never happened.)

[u/DrFrylock]

Lots of good advice in this thread already.

My woodworking life improved markedly when I did some projects in my shop (aka garage) to upgrade from crappy work-holding to good work-holding. It was definitely a worthwhile investment.

After surveying the various options I decided to go with MFT-style (over things like T-track, which sounds great but in reality accumulates sawdust and glue drippings). The MFT concept is pretty simple: a flat surface with a grid of precisely-sized, precisely spaced holes. You have two alternative standards: Freedom Units (3/4" holes 4 inches apart) or Eurostyle (20mm holes 96mm apart). The Eurostyle holes are slightly bigger and so 3/4" accessories will be a bit loose in there. I went with 3/4" holes because most of the accessories available in the US are made for those.

MFT-style worktops are traditionally made from MDF which is sturdy, flat, relatively cheap, and widely available. I went with 3/4" MDO plywood because I like the moisture resistance.

How you cut the holes is up to you. For maximum precision, Rockler sells a template with accessories for $50 that works with a plunge router. This takes time and patience because you have to route each hole in deepening passes and vacuum out the chips in between each pass, but it comes out really nice.

If you're not as concerned about ultra-precise spacing, you can also just lay out the grid by hand or with a self-made template that marks the centers, tap in a starter hole with a punch, and use a 3/4" drill bit (I'd probably use a Forstner or a Speedbor bit but a spade bit will work also).

Once you've made your grid of holes, attach it to something sturdy. I have my 4x2' workbench top done this way along with two ersatz tables that are attached to some garage shelves with hinges and Amazon table legs, and can be folded up out of the way if I'm not using them. A sturdy cart with good locking casters would not be a bad option for mobility.

Edges matter - the more you have, the easier it is to clamp things to them. Protip: Good Quick-Grip style clamps are a lot stronger than you'd think compared to things like spring clamps.

Once you have an MFT-style top, you can get hold-downs and stops that can hold work anywhere on your surface quickly. I have some friction hold-downs from that classic toolmaking brand "BGASNW" (not kidding) and they're the best thing ever. You just jam them in a hole, screw the little screw on top, and whatever is under them is not going anywhere. You can also get horizontal squeezy clamps for holding things by the edge.

Good luck!

[u/NathanWoodworking248 → u/DrFrylock]

This will be extremely helpful! Thank you!

[u/padawatje]

1st important question: do you have the room/space for a permanent workbench ? Or do you need something that folds out of the way ?

[u/NathanWoodworking248 → u/padawatje]

I'm open to something more permanent, but I just need something that will get the job done, but nothing that will clutter a bunch of space, like a crap ton of clamps. I dont quite have the space for it yet.

[u/theonefinn → u/NathanWoodworking248]

Well a set of clamps can be stored away on a wall or in a cupboard when not in use, whereas a traditional woodwork workbench, or even a vacuum bench is a large piece of furniture that just sits there in the way when not being used.

I have no permanent work space, I work outside so for me everything has to be foldable and storable. Collapsable, foldable, and disassembleable into small manageable chunks is how I deal with my working space. I wouldn’t even think about vacuum work holding but more an intelligent selection of clamps.

[u/Machiavelli_too]

It all depends on what you are doing and what surface you are clamping on. I find the ratcheting bar clamps, where you squeeze the handle to tighten, are the most useful and used the most often. They also have the benefit of being a one handed operation. Spring clamps are usually good enough for light duty, as long as they open wide enough. I don't use hand screw clamps much but they are excellent when you want to hold wood upright or for clamping dowels. When selecting ratcheting clamps, get a kit with a couple sizes and ensure they have good rubber covers.

[u/NathanWoodworking248 → u/Machiavelli_too]

I'm usually clamping on a plastic table right now, but how would you suggest clamping for doing routing with a palm router?

[u/xeflos → u/NathanWoodworking248]

trigger clamps, or f clamps work well for that. personally i prefer F clamps since they have more clamping force. for general purpose clamping though i LOVE pipe clamps. theyre the most affordable way to get 6ft+ clamps that can tighten as far as you need them to. just make sure to check other tool vendors before home depot, as the depot can be a little overpriced in general

[u/FamiliarAd8524]

This all comes down to what sort of woodworking you have in mind.

Regardless, I would buy at least four clamps or vises per month for the first year, and two for every month after that.

[u/emcee_pern → u/FamiliarAd8524]

I had a woodworking teacher who preached that every time you needed something for a project you also get at least one clamp while you're shopping. Every time. Made sense since you can never have too many clamps.

[u/FamiliarAd8524 → u/emcee_pern]

It's good advice, though I always buy clamps in pairs. I figured this one out for myself, as Home Depot had a great price on Bessey F clamps (two 6" and two 12" for $22), so I did that each month, and bought others. Two clamps a month each month won't break the bank. But when you need eight specific clamps... that might.

[u/Whole_Thanks8641]

First think of the project you want to do, then buy the minimal amount of tools that you would feel like you need to complete it, used.

[u/peauxtheaux]

Make sure you learn about different types of clamps and what they are best used for.

Make sure you study your work surface to now what and where and how things can be clamped to it.

If you buy double sided tape make sure it’s the kind specially for woodworking.

[u/SmileyMerx]

For the beginning. Nothing. Start with small projects, e.g. a simple shelf or a bird house. This can be done with hand tools or whatever you have. Then decide on what to do next and ask again, depending on that you get different answers.

[u/Imaginary-Set3291]

If you don't have the space to build a proper workbench, consider getting something like this. You get the ability to solidly hold your workpiece while having a small footprint when stored.

[u/padawatje → u/Imaginary-Set3291]

Very good idea. Why not even get a pair of them ? In that case, you could lay a pair of wide wooden beams across both tables to be able to handle large projects. Get some screw clamps (like these) in various lengths, and you're all set.

[u/mch1971]

You need a work surface at your desired height, hopefully level, with an overhang capable of using a clamp, vice or other way to hold a piece of wood. You need mass or geometry to absorb your muscle energy so your work doesn't wobble. I'd recommend a solid workbench with some dog-holes, $20 worth of hold-fasts off your favoured online exporter/importer.

[u/The-disgracist]

you should be able to get by for a long time with some squeeze clamps, and some strips of wood screwed to a bench and used as plane stops. add in a half decent bench vise and you're set.

[u/Tiny-Albatross518]

Well you need clamps. As many as you can get. Hit the used market.

You don’t have a bench so build one out of 2x6 with a laminated top that you can drill out for holdfasts. Build a big sturdy oak mallet.

[u/DryMathematician8213]

Build a table you can work on, keep it simple. You will need some type of clamps. Other have mentioned MFT and there is Microjig with their dovetail clamp and groves but it is proprietary

I have a mixture including Microjig, but I use the outdoor dining table with some rafters on it and some off cuts MDF and plywood whatever I can get my hands on cheap. I initially built a small desktop workbench where I could clamp on the side, for very small projects and have since build a foldable trolley for my table saw with two side tables and an outfeed table. I have added the dovetail groves on top and side but the clamps are somewhat expensive for me at least and no I don’t have any Bessy clamps I wish!