Box Clamp Features You Never Knew About | Deep Dive

[@louiscominiello560]

I have had these box clamps for several years and never quite found my rhythm on using them and felt they weren't as good as I had hoped. This video is key!!!! Now I can't wait to use them on my next project. By far one of your best videos in showing the value of a tool. Thank you for the great info.

[@MrPatdeeee]

I bought two sets of these a long time ago. They are awesome. And now they are even better after "our" Mr Farris, who is a great teacher, shows us even better ways to use Woodpecker's "Box Clamps". For he KNOWS it, believe me. Thanks to Woodpecker's; that make awesome joy when working with wood; and the experts to tell us exactly how to use their products. Wow! It doesn't get any better than this folks! WOW!

[@stuartpearce4694]

Agree with all the other comments on Keith’s great ability to clearly explain the woodpecker lineup. I have been frustrated with these box clamps before now - but I clearly see where I was going wrong. I will also be adding some T Tracks to my assembly table... genius idea!!! Thank you and keep these videos coming Keith you are a woodworking Rock Star!

[@keithbryan8432]

Been using these for quite some time but never knew why the oval slot was there. Didn't know you could mix thickness either. Glad I saw this.

[@WoodpeckersLLC]

Hey, Keith, glad you learned something new. Something I left for the next Deep Dive is that you can use the Box Clamps in a T-joint, too...the stock can pass through either side.

[@BadenCIG]

Great camera work on this video. Thanks for your instructions Jeff.

[@jamesconnors5653]

Great, inexpensive setup clamps. Have used for years, work well. Your idea makes them even easier to use. Thank you.

[@phillipjandreau1577]

I can tell the t-track is the key to keeping things square. I love that Idea. I got to get me some of this!

[@bgoofyy1]

Bought 2 sets of these on sale. Started using them and bought 4 more sets on sale so that I could build a cabinet with 2 side area’s 1 center area and 2 larger areas below that and kept all my divider walls and patricians square and plumb while glueing and screwing together. I love these things.

[@briansack7920]

Jeff, many thanks for another very valuable deep dive. I, like others, have had the Woodpecker corner clamps for awhile but an older version without the grooves. I put 2 parallel t-tracks into my workbench, but you inspired me to put another one in perpendicular for use as you illustrated. I am a bit surprised you didn't put a right-angle intersection in so that it's easier to install the one corner clamp. That's a bit of a pain when I already have tracks installed, but shouldn't be a large problem, although I don't want to remove the existing tracks. I think I'll just cut the two tracks in place and then notch the new right-angle tracks to accommodate the intersection. Keep up the great work!

[@stevennachlas9596]

Jeff, great as always. I still have my XMat set by the way!

[@heystarfish100]

Cool beans Jeff. I can see where these might be very handy in the shop. The T-track installation was very helpful for alignment and so many other uses..

[@DJFalkoHannover]

Okay ... but seriously: When you are FINALLY done adjusting your clamps, my whole box is already neatly finished! I like them box clamps but it all takes SO much time. ...Good lord!

[@daveklein2826]

Not true, it takes tome ONCE then every other drawer is repeatable easily

[@DJFalkoHannover]

Then, on "every other drawer" I have already finished 10 :-) @@daveklein2826

[@jlbfd9389]

Great idea with the t-track! I’m going to steal that for my shop!

[@WoodpeckersLLC]

It's not stealing if I give it to you!

[@jlbfd9389]

@@WoodpeckersLLC lol!!! Thank you for sharing! I have a bunch of these and never thought to use them like you demonstrated. Love the deep dives Jeff. 👍

[@BlackSwan912]

Lots of value-add on this video. I’ve had a chance to use these on a small project and they are a little fiddly. But... big but... they take the guesswork out of the equation. Doing that project without them would have been a Lot more dinking around. I wasn’t sure I was using them right but turns out I was... just not fully. And these tracks are a great idea. When I build my proper bench I was planning on embedding tracks. This makes me think wow! Lots of uses, and I don’t think I would have ever thought of this. Great video and a great product!

[@frosiaburlakova7732]

I have been using these for a couple of years, they work great for small projects, and dried glue comes right off of them! Thank you for this video, now I love these clamps even more. I'll have to invest some time into the track table.

[@leefay689]

Nice video. I’ve been eyeing these, but couldn’t quite pull the trigger. Your video convinced me. I just submitted an order.

[@sq3971]

You forgot the GLUE! I have these clamps and have fumbled around with them for a long time. You set them up on a dry fit, then take them apart to apply the glue, then put them back together again. This can sometimes cause long open time with the glue. I really like the idea with the railing, it would be like a third hand that is so often needed.

[@David_K_pi]

I, too, was wondering about the glue. You certainly can't apply the glue while setting up the clamps unless your glue has an extremely long open time. Your idea about getting things all arranged, then disassembling the box, adding the glue and reassembling makes sense. The real benefit to these clamps then is when you are building multiple drawers or boxes that are the same size. Once it's all set up, you can glue up matching drawers about one per hour (the time it takes for the glue to set). The advice I find in the comments is often as good as what's in the video. Thanks!

[@daveklein2826]

He forgot nothing, it was a demo for the claims not glue

[@kathrynnewton8721]

So good, thank you! I don’t have them but they are amazing!

[@hansangb]

@0:58, did someone forget to turn on the vacuum? :) Nice video, TY. ..can't wait to put them to use.

[@markbongers9641]

and again a very helpful video to get more out of my boxclamps.

[@hagemanfamily]

What length 10-24 machine screws did you use? They need to be short enough to not impede wood travel in the clamp, yet long enough to allow the track nut to slide freely in the t-track.

[@p.s8950]

I really like these box blocks but really, can't justify the cost for my "possibly once a year" box build. Enjoyed your video. Thanks

[@n8tyler]

Great idea...Where did you get the 3/16" hex Driver? It looks to be about 10-14 inches long?

[@WoodpeckersLLC]

We sell them. www.woodpeck.com/woodpeckers-ball-wrench.html

[@harrybrownrigg9057]

Great idea, I like it. Do you make a version that's marked in metric, for the rest of the planet?

[@ShariBGottlieb]

This is very helpful, but there aren't enough t-track screws to do this. I only end up with 4 extras when I replace the screw with the knob for the top ones and I think I need 6, no? Where/how can I get more of these or what else can I use that won't get in the way?

[@dynamicsx]

Brilliant idea with using the t-track in the assembly table to align the box clamps. Could you provide some more details on how you attached the track nuts to the box clamps? From the video I couldn't determine how you fastened the track nuts to the box clamps or how you tightened the one box clamp to a fixed position for the starting corner. Thanks.

[@WoodpeckersLLC]

Cecil, the Box Clamps have three holes in them, originally designed to screw them down. A 3/4" long 1/4"-20 Socket head cap screw is just the right length to go through the clamp and into the T-track. I used oval nuts that we sell, but 1/4"-20 hex nuts will work, too. The one in the corner is a little tricky, because you can only slide two of the bolts through the track. The third you have to fiddle with a little to get the nut under the bolt. Steal a chop stick from your wife's pantry. For one-off's leave the two outer ones loose, but if you have multiple identical boxes to assemble, after you do the first one carefully remove the box and lock down the clamps.

[@dynamicsx]

@@WoodpeckersLLC Thanks for the reply. Exactly the info I was looking for.

[@dynamicsx]

One more question? What is the cool box you are using to store the box clamps? It has a WP label on it, but I can't find it on the website.

[@GregPowers]

@@dynamicsx here is the link www.woodpeck.com/accessories.html?cat=406

[@WoodpeckersLLC]

www.woodpeck.com/woodpeckers-t-loc-systainer-1-in-anthracite.html Same stackable box system used by Festool.

[@draztiqmeshaz6226]

I need to get 4 more of these!

[@HelloAnthony]

Love the t-track idea. Could these be used in place of clamping squares on larger projects or are they better suited for smaller boxes, drawers and such?

[@WoodpeckersLLC]

There's a comment earlier from "Maine Woods". He's a professional cabinetmaker who uses the Box Clamps extensively for case assembly.

[@CraigSheagren]

I have these clamps, but how do you use them with a drawer bottom installed? Thanks

[@WoodpeckersLLC]

Bottoms up! You have better control of the hand-held top clamps. You can drop them in until they just kiss the drawer bottom.

[@CraigSheagren]

Thanks

[@williamjplummer8790]

Wm J : I was wondering, if glue was used to join the pieces, would it have dried up by the time final clamping was set up?

[@WoodpeckersLLC]

Not if I shut my mouth and move at normal speed instead of going slow and explaining each step I'm taking. lol

[@MuratKilci]

How do you put glue during that process? Seems like it takes a long time to align and adjust???

[@WoodpeckersLLC]

Dry clamp. Everything is set, Take it out, spread your glue drop it in and go.

[@David_K_pi]

@@WoodpeckersLLC I, too, was wondering about the glue. You certainly can't apply the glue while setting up the clamps unless your glue has an extremely long open time. Your idea about getting things all arranged, then disassembling the box, adding the glue and reassembling makes sense. The real benefit to these clamps then is when you are building multiple drawers (or boxes) that are the same size - like for a tool chest. Once it's all set up, you can glue up matching drawers about one per hour (the time it takes for the glue to set).

[@brendaboyce9967]

Can you send me an Amazon link for the t-track nut and bolt that would work with my Woodpecker corner clamps? I appreciate it. Thanks. Brenda

[@iratevagabond204]

So cool. . . Wish I could afford the cool stuff Woodpecker sells. Woodworking is a hobby, I usually do a little better than break even, but it's not my primary source of income. If I wasn't at least breaking even, it'd be hard to justify doing it at all.

[@hagemanfamily]

Great ideas for great products, but.... I can't find any 1/4 bolts that will fit the holes in the clamps. They are all just a hair too wide. Is it necessary to drill out the holes?

[@WoodpeckersLLC]

Nancy, I used #10-24 machine screws and track nuts (3/16" diameter).

[@draztiqmeshaz6226]

Phenomenal. Jeeze though, every time I think I'm ready to build my mft/outfeed/router lift table/cabinet some new fangled must-have idea like these make me pause and do some redesign.

[@WoodpeckersLLC]

Be really careful trying to build too much into your outfeed table. If you're limited on space, creating multiple uses for the table may be a necessity, but my previous outfeed table was just that...a flat, featureless table that I kept clear all the time. Now, I'll be in the middle of doing something with an assembly clamped up on my table and I'll need to make a table saw cut... It's a Homer Simpson headslap moment...Doh!

[@WoodpeckersLLC]

Just to add a conclusion, if you have the space, consider building a multi-function clamping / assembly table that is NOT your outfeed table.

[@draztiqmeshaz6226]

@@WoodpeckersLLC this is sage advice, hard-won. Yeah the outfeed I'm building is quite a bit wider than the tablesaw so it makes a fat "L" shape. It will still block the table saw path with large glue-ups or alternatively breaking down large sheets. I could see this happening way more often than anticipated, soyeah, when I get good at precisely laying out and drilling the holes, I probably ought to Swiss-cheese up one or both of the smaller benches. Thank you for sharing your wisdom!

[@befmx31]

Where can I get one of the hex wrenches you were using in this video. This is a big problem for me when using these clamps. I don't see it on the Woodpeckers website. Thanks.

[@WoodpeckersLLC]

www.woodpeck.com/woodpeckers-ball-wrench.html

[@befmx31]

@@WoodpeckersLLC thanks. Just ordered a couple.

[@douglassordyl6266]

The video was very informative, but it let me a little upset. First, I have the woodpecker box clamps, but obviously an earlier version. Mine do not have the iot ndicators fro 3/4" or 1/2" on the rear clamping triangular as shown in this video. And I wish a glue up had been shown. A lot of set up and then you have to glue? Not a lot of time to glue up, particularly the finger joints shown. Yes, you can use a slower setting glue, but it's a challenge. I did learn that the clamps don't pull the joint together - wish I had realized this on my earlier attempts to use. And it is nice to see the use of a hex screwdriver, instead of the allen wrench I got originally. I measured mine and it is a 3/16" allen wrench - I'll be buying a screw driver with hex head. This video was informative, but maybe I should never again buy a woodpecker product that is first introduced. I should wait for the corrective/additive features to be introduced.

[@WoodpeckersLLC]

Douglas, Whether I'm using these or anything else, I always do to a complete dry fit and dry clamp. It greatly reduces the drama when the glue is spread. While the clamps won't pull a joint together, They'll keep a good-fitting joint in place. We didn't get a really good shot of a corner coming together the way I wanted. Watch the Guy Dunlap video on the Box Clamp web page. He's got a great shot of having slight pressure on the joint, tapping it together, and then locking it secure. When you tap the joint together, the one-way nature of the clamp lets the parts slide together, but not bounce apart. We sell that 3/16" long handled driver for a pretty competitive price. It' ball-end, too, which you may have noticed in the video.

[@jamescollier2370]

I've had these for several months and got extremely frustrated trying to use them. One thing I did not know before watching this video is that these clamps are for square alignment of parts only, not to apply clamping pressure to a joint. Perhaps they shouldn't be called "clamps" then.

[@daveklein2826]

Its a perfect name

[@jakejohnson2334]

I would like to see and example of this with a miter joint. Does anyone have experience with this? I was thinking of doing this in combination to the tape method and a band clamp (for clamp force) or 2 to avoid using clamping wedges/cauls.

[@PleaseFacts]

How did you get 3 T-nuts to fit in the track for the box clamp in the corner?

[@WoodpeckersLLC]

Slid two up one track then used a pencil to align the third under the hole in the perpendicular track.

[@3weight]

This feels like a relatively fussy and lengthy process to undertake while your glue is setting up. Also a bit of time as I’d definitely end up doing it twice, once as a dry fit. Anyone with experience gluing up boxes with these have any tips or reassurances?

[@misterm7086]

Very frustrating "clamps" to work with without the track. Clamp's price not worth the frustration. I appreciate the video.

[@daveklein2826]

User error

[@gregpowers8095]

Jeff, what allen/hex drivers are you using? I like the long shaft.

[@WoodpeckersLLC]

3/16". It's one we have private labeled for us: www.woodpeck.com/woodpeckers-ball-wrench.html

[@BlackSwan912]

And it comes with the set.

[@WoodpeckersLLC]

During the promotion, that is correct.

[@BlackSwan912]

@@WoodpeckersLLC Ohhh. I didn’t realize that. Sorry for the misinformation.

[@GregPowers]

@@WoodpeckersLLC look all over your site and could not find them thanks for the link. I bought them.

[@koalafan1576]

Can I use this with mitered corners? I just bought 4 sets with the allen screwdriver.

[@WoodpeckersLLC]

You certainly can!

[@Wyman642]

Does anyone know if these clamps align mitered edges too? Or does that add a level of complexity to the process that is not worth the effort?

[@WoodpeckersLLC]

They work nicely with mitered joints.

[@altofarmland2855]

Can you share the instructions to make these t-track ready?

[@WoodpeckersLLC]

All you need is a couple 1/2" socket head cap screws and a couple oval track nuts.

[@robertsiebert8146]

What is the brand or model of the hammer Jeff is using?

[@WoodpeckersLLC]

Thorex 712R. I learned about it from watching Paul Sellers. I think I bought it from a UK company that had reasonable shipping, but you can get it from Amazon, too. UK Company Site: www.thorhammer.com/product/31-712r/ Amazon: www.amazon.com/Thor-712R-Faced-Hammer-Handle/dp/B0001P0YF0/ref=sr_1_1?crid=24RD6JEL41Q1Q&dchild=1&keywords=31-712r+thorex+nylon+hammer&qid=1619141276&sprefix=thorex+31-%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-1

[@watermain48]

Like of lot of folks I wish I could afford to outfit my shop with Woodpecker tools and jigs. Maybe someday...

[@doudeck9586]

Now, if we could just afford them!

[@daveklein2826]

That's a personal problem

[@MrTooTechnical]

cool. now wheres the 1281 in SS please.

[@David_K_pi]

Maybe if you're lucky, they'll bring back the 1281SE One-Time Tool with the hard anodized coating. It's the next best thing to a stainless steel version. Maybe even better. They sometimes re-introduce their retired One-Time Tools. Watch for it.

[@MrTooTechnical]

@@David_K_pi No man. I want the 1281 in ss

[@charleselkins4546]

What about glue? You can screw the box together I suppose, bit not the finger joint box.

[@daveklein2826]

What about the glue....use it

[@befmx31]

I have some of these clamps. Read the comment by Louis Cominiello. My thoughts EXACTLY.

[@johnopfer8065]

You did not show how you aligned the first box clamp with BOTH t-tracks. You only showed two t-nuts, not three.

[@WoodpeckersLLC]

John, I had the tracks very carefully aligned on installation. I clamped a known square joint into the three box clamps in the tracks then carefully removed it and tightened the corner box clamp. There's a good eighth of an inch play between the box clamps and the track, so the two floating clamps have plenty of room to move into plane with the central locked one.

[@BanquetesBanesa]

hello frommmexico city

[@hhanger1]

Or you can throw a few Domino's in there to line everything up perfectly.

[@37south47]

Don’t nobody ever wanna talk about pricing… EVER

[@WoodpeckersLLC]

There's a link in the description that will take you to the web page where we will be happy to talk about price. Videos stay on KZbin forever. Prices, unfortunately, change over time.

[@toolchuck]

Hey! This guy sounds Jeff, He even moves like Jeff, but he don't look like Jeff, where's Jeff? 🤷‍♀️ I hope he's OK? 😃

[@WoodpeckersLLC]

Are you confused because I got a haircut or because I don't have on a plaid flannel shirt? It's SPRING!!!

[@toolchuck]

@@WoodpeckersLLC Haha, Jeff the haircut threw me off so much I didn't even notice the shirt. Looking good! 👍

[@mitchellwilen1084]

Way too finicky for me, you have easier products that align at perfect 90 degree

[@OneTequilaTwoTequila]

This seems about as efficient as a penguin trying to fly. Great toy if you're trying to kill an afternoon in the shop to avoid your wife.

[@daveklein2826]

Once you own them you will change your mind

[@You2datube]

I am so disappointed in this company. They do not honor the dates. I got told three different times I was to have my item shipped out on certain dates to just get told (after calling) that it will be delayed again. I accept the high cost for quality, but to keep getting moved around is ridiculous.

[@WoodpeckersLLC]

Samuel, I am sorry for you experience and want to help you. Could you email directly with your order number if you have it along with your email. I will check with customer service to see where we are at on your order. Thank you. Judy. [e-mail]

[@You2datube]

Lol, I guess your response is a standard response to appear as if your business cares about customer service, because I responded (immediately), and not even an acknowledgment. I will never purchase another product from your company, and I’m sure if this continues you will lose plenty of others.

[@WoodpeckersLLC]

@@You2datube I have been waiting for your email and have been checking back several times. I still do not have an email from you and I have checked spam too. No this is not a standard response it is a sincere response and I want to help you. So please try your email again or send your order number through here if you want. [e-mail]

[@arthurfearon535]

Probably the clumsiest box clamp on the market. Waste too much time setting it up. Not worth it

[@davechaisson7808]

nice stuff but way over priced!

[@37south47]

Seems awful complicated to me

[@gregorylondos534]

With out reading any of the other posted comments. I feel that this is way too time-consuming. I could’ve had two boxes built in the time it took you to adjust the one and I haven’t seen any glue up or nailing or screws definitely no dovetails... Much more Trouble than it’s worth in my opinion...

[@WoodpeckersLLC]

I have apparently made it look far more complicated than it really is, because yours is not the only comment about time. I was trying to point out some of the finer details of the tool and address some issues we hear about from customers. Scroll down and read Maine Woods comment. He's an unbiased professional cabinetmaker who uses the clamps.

[@ChetKloss]

Is it just me or does this seem like an awful lot of work to square up box sides?

[@WoodpeckersLLC]

Think about it though...the vast majority of things you make in a woodworking shop are some variation of a box. Squaring up a box is one of the most basic things you need to be able to do. If you don't want to see the details, I can make this tool look like magic, but my goal in Deep Dive videos is to show how stuff really works and get down to the fine points you need to know to get the most out of a tool.

[@ChetKloss]

@@WoodpeckersLLC It is exactly “the details” which I am commenting about. In my opinion, the process using those clamps, seems more tedious and time consuming than more traditional methods using k-body or pipe clamps. And that, is a very reasonable criticism.

[@WoodpeckersLLC]

But K-bodies and and pipe clamps cannot align the pieces square to each other.

[@ChetKloss]

@@WoodpeckersLLC And yet are still easier and faster to produce square box. While woodworkers will disagree on a lot of things, this one, IMO, is a swing and a miss.

[@WoodpeckersLLC]

And you're entitled to your opinion, but I am confident that if I were working and not demonstrating I could have that box put together faster and to a better tolerance for square with 8 box clamps than I could with 4 pipe clamps.

[@gregmilbourne1553]

Seems like it will take you 3 weeks for a glue up.

[@TheJedc43]

Im tired

[@teamlaw3275]

When you install the T-track as shown in the video the corner has one through track but the cross track doesn't allow sliding t-nuts etc. through from one side to the other without further modification of the cross track; or, you could buy a t-track intersection kit from Rockler www.rockler.com/t-track-intersection-kit. The only problem then is you will have blue corners at the junction. Of course, you could dimply follow the link to Rockler's intersection kit, then cut your own intersection like we did using woodpeckers t-track or t-track from some other supplier like: orangealuminum.com/t-track-1/

[@WoodpeckersLLC]

You can do the same thing with a miter saw...standard carbide tipped saw blades cut aluminum just fine. I decided to see how much of an issue it is for me before I make a through intersection. So far, it hasn't been an issue.