Stop Buying Cheap Aluminium Clamps!!

[@1pcfred]

I have 4 of those aluminum clamps. I remember them being very cheap when I picked them up. They're not very strong but for little glue ups they do the trick. One thing I find that helps is waxing them so the glue doesn't stick. For your missing spring I bet you could mangle a clothes pin spring and get it to work. Spring steel is spring steel. You could pull out the spring and turn it into a compression spring.

[@kelvinsparks4651]

I have many of the aluminium clamps because the cheap sash wasn't available at time , if they were i would probably most certainly bought them but in all fairness to the aluminium ones they have done extremely good service and still going strong. I done the wood infill which i saw Paul sellers do which improved them 100% .

[@faceedgewoodworking]

I do agree. The aluminium clamps will in no way reduce the quantity of your finished project. For projects at home they are perfect. If I had a full set of aluminium clamps I would not "upgrade". I'd save the money for wood, finishes and hardware.

[@Tehinstrumentalist]

Was using one of these aluminium ones to bring shut some tight mortice and tenon joints in Sapele and Ash, it started twisting, but I didn't have another clamp for it. Was hesitant on the Magnussons as I wasn't too keen on the pinned stopper, but you've convinced me and I've ordered a couple - looking forward to the upgrade!

[@faceedgewoodworking]

Cool, let me know if you like them or if you think they're not up to it. I don't owe them anything so I'm happy to be critical.

[@Tehinstrumentalist]

@@faceedgewoodworking Will do, they're due tomorrow I think, Gotta love Screwfix's next day delivery!

[@Tehinstrumentalist]

@@faceedgewoodworking update: got the clamps. Using them to glue up the frame of a sidetable at the moment - they're certainly far more heavy duty! The bottom of the brackets can be a little wobbly still as there is a bump in the weld/join of the jaws, but thats a minor thing I could easily fix with a small block of wood and some adhesive. Takes a bit of getting used to those pins, not as quick to set up on the bench as the aluminium clamps for me, but i think the sturdiness and significantly longer screw far outweighs that minor time difference.

[@faceedgewoodworking]

@@Tehinstrumentalist Nice! They are certainly closer to the Record sash cramps I'm used to and the price is great. Thanks for the follow up 👌

[@richardsinger01]

I have eight or ten aluminium clamps like that, bought periodically over the past 25 or more years. The quality has decreased over the years - my latest ones have very thin aluminium and I’m not sure I will buy any more of them. I have given them all the Paul Sellers treatment - wood infill and plywood pressure faces. They are fine for general work, as long as you know their limits. One big advantage over the steel ones is their light weight. For certain uses that is an advantage. I have some Record steel and cast iron sash cramps which are superb quality and good for heavy work, but since I mostly make smallish furniture and boxes I find myself using the aluminium ones most often. I also like the ratchet as opposed to the loose pin, or the nut and bolt of my wooden bar sash cramp heads.

[@faceedgewoodworking]

Thanks for the information regarding the changing quality of the clamps. It's always good to share experiences of affordable approaches.

[@1pcfred]

Light clamps for light work. I have 4 and I like them. I know they're not heavy duty. I do like the locking mechanism on the aluminum clamps. I haven't had a spring escape on me yet. But if I did it'd justify my spring horde I have.

[@faceedgewoodworking]

@@1pcfred I need a spring horde!

[@1pcfred]

@@faceedgewoodworking spring assortment kits are cheap. So your dream can become reality. That's how I started. For no apparent reason when I was a little kid I bought a whole bag of assorted springs at a 5 and dime store. It was dirt cheap. I take a lot of junk apart to see what I can find in it too.

[@petrsidlo7614]

I really like your channel. I have been looking for the aluminum clamps for a good while in my country (cz) and was unsuccessful, but did manage to find just the clamp head parts for sale and made wooden rails for them, those worked great. Now, just today found they aluminum versions for sale, and while not needing them anymore, its good to know how many problems they may have.

[@faceedgewoodworking]

Hi Petr. Thank you for the feedback. The clamp heads are a very good solution. You make the clamp any length to suit the task at hand, perfect! The aluminium clamps are ok, they just aren't as good as the all steel clamps I found when I made the video. All the best!

[@petrsidlo7614]

@@faceedgewoodworking exactly, I bought four, and made eight six beams with differnet lengths. Keep up the good work.

[@Heseblesens]

I have to agree with you on the clamps. Sadly those solid clamps are not available for all of us at similar price to the more flimsy alu ones though. But hopefully they will be some time.

[@faceedgewoodworking]

The ally ones can work well enough but the steel ones are a great upgrade!

[@Ziplock9000]

They are now £19.69 for the 35" inch version, they don't seem to have a 36" one on sale any more.

[@faceedgewoodworking]

Thanks for the price and spec update 👍

[@Chad-ski]

Just what I was thinking. Thank you

[@faceedgewoodworking]

Thanks John 👍

[@user-du2of3lh1g]

I have some of those cheap ones used wood to fill it works ok

[@faceedgewoodworking]

Agreed, with a few tweaks the aluminium clamps are perfect for the home woodworker. It's just amazing how much better the steel clamp is for just an extra £1.

[@DeenHussain-zz3gs]

Hi buddy not sure if your still interested but Axminster as a 35% off there Axminster professional 1,065mm sash clamps which normally sales for £31.98 down to £19.98 if your interested plus comes with there life time warranty which honestly is good cause had problems with there other clamp which i used for almost 2yrs & was replaced without any issues..

[@Gollammeister]

I'd have thought aluminium was too soft tensile strength wise

[@faceedgewoodworking]

They are okay, and not all ally clamps are created equal! But, the Screwfix clamps are so superior for just a couple of pounds.

[@Gollammeister]

@@faceedgewoodworking I’m gonna look into these

[@faceedgewoodworking]

@@Gollammeister www.screwfix.com/p/magnusson-sash-clamp-35-/8980V?kpid=8980V&ds_rl=1244066&gclid=Cj0KCQjww4-hBhCtARIsAC9gR3Za3f5ANU8y77g-4_pIiwaE9xc81zuFB9dPpPPzEWDZp7MxEvs3Q8saAsn5EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds www.toolstation.com/aluminium-sash-clamp/p30478?store=FB&mkwid=_dm&pcrid=&pkw=&pmt=&gclid=Cj0KCQjww4-hBhCtARIsAC9gR3ZaJ9U1RWfdqM_kVlLpwhZGh8kZ9lWh0ljZDzUxybYpBGUHf96jVhQaArgsEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds Not much in it at the moment.

[@baiarbornongphud2191]

Where to buy this on-line from India

[@faceedgewoodworking]

I'm so sorry, I don't know where a good source would be in India.

[@leonpse]

Name of clamps?

[@faceedgewoodworking]

www.screwfix.com/p/magnusson-sash-clamp-35-/8980V?tc=MT8&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA4smsBhAEEiwAO6DEjYbkJQ3qQt-oNWCHExYwqo5FoEVAc2qaQjLc4y55EVBsngxc3AZYThoC63gQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

[@faceedgewoodworking]

Hi, they come under the name "Magnusson"

[@leonpse]

@@faceedgewoodworking Thank you