Throw away your woodworking clamps and make this instead | DIY clamping panel

Most woodworkers say you can never have enough clamps. I say throw your clamps away and make this DIY panel clamp instead (or at least buy fewer clamps 😉). This DIY melamine clamping panel is a super simple design and can take the place of multiple metal parallel, bar, or f-style clamps in your shop. You can easily make this woodworking panel clamp in an afternoon with basic tools, and it will last for years.
The best part? This panel clamp costs under $20 to make! It uses less than a quarter sheet of melamine, a 16" length of dowel, and a few small scrap boards.
⏳ Timestamps
0:00 - Introduction
0:11 - Materials
0:30 - Construction of the clamping panel
2:00 - Drilling grid of holes for the clamping panel
3:36 - How to use the clamping panel
🛠️ Tools and materials
▸ Sawstop Table saw - the best table saw I’ve ever had amzn.to/3db9cv3
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👋 Who I am
Hi there, I’m Brian, a content creator and founder of Bike City Woodworks. I love learning about woodworking and enjoy sharing my knowledge in my spare time.
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🎶 Music in this video
▸ Epidemic sound: www.epidemicsound.com/referra...

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Thanks for watching, I hope you enjoyed this video! Of course, I'm not actually suggesting you throw away your clamps, but this panel has helped me make do with fewer clamps than I thought I'd need.

[@kenyelehoward4739]

Bro 🎉thanks

[@rrb79]

For a new woodworker like myself, I’d like to see the jig in use, preferably at the start of the video. You missed that vital detail.

[@JT_70]

@@rrb79He demonstrates exactly how he uses it at the end of the video.

[@jarrallhenderson3644]

He's not saying get rid of your clamps he showing an alternate idea

[@tomtillman]

If i threw away all my clamps, it would substantially reduce my net worth.

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Donate them and call it a tax write off 😉

[@5280Woodworking]

😂

[@christophwjones]

This comment really gets it

[@lornaj3310]

I LOL'd

[@gateCodeKC]

Lmao

[@user-sb3wh3dd4v]

This ancient clamping system is effective, but in the modern world, you can make it easier and faster with pegboard. I made several of different sizes cut from a single 4' x 8' sheet of white melamine-coated pegboard. I use carpet tape to adhere them in stacks of 2 or 3 layers, and use store-bought quarter inch dowels for the pegs. The best angle for clamping wedges is 25 to 30 degrees, depending on your application and wood species.

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Great tip!

[@kd9856]

Just my opinion not heavy enough quarter inch dials relatively small not enough clamping power for light duty stuff I imagine it would work

[@crusader3012]

I like it mate, only thing I would add would be to drill your peg holes with a vertical jig to ensure your holes are perpendicular; that will help with the cupping too.

[@bpower6362]

cool video. I've been using this technique for gluing up guitar soundboards and back plates. It is great for direct pressure. The only thing I would personally change would be... I would seperate the scrape pieces and put the wedges between them. That way there is no chance of the wedge falling or slipping off the dowels. Also... if the pieces start to buckle up, you can just put some parchment paper on top and place a weight on it to keep it down.

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Those are some great tips! Do you use melamine for the guitars too or a different material?

[@bpower6362]

@Bike City Woodworks I do not use melamine. I just use a piece of mdf. However I cut a groove where the glue line is to give it a place to drip. With multiple piece like you have I think the melamine would be better.

[@tonycolussi9268]

This is really going to come in handy when I have multiple simultaneous glue ups. Brilliant advice, thanks!

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@gil6995]

I like 👍

[@carlmclelland7624]

HEY, Brian, I like it!! It's easy enough to build and for a guy like me who hasn't invested 10% of the national debt in clamps, it'll work quite well for my needs. You haven't produced that many videos to date (20), but you got my subscription, regardless. I'll watch the others and learn from them. NOW... we need to get you out of the "State of Confusion...." Carl, from Nevada............

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

I appreciate the support!

[@addammadd]

Howdy from Davis!

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Hi 👋

[@kd9856]

That method has been around for decades on workbenches the advantage to your idea it doesn't tie up your work bench👌

[@steveocvirek6671]

I have been trying to come up with a good way to glue some small knife scales. I can downsize this into the perfect cleamp. Thanks you so much for making this video!

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Thanks for the support!

[@johnduffy6546]

This design also works very well for relief wood carving when using mallet tools! Just flip it over so the cleat snugs itself against your workbench and pound away with your mallet;

[@navarroedwards8031]

This is a fantastic way to glue up cutting boards.

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Totally! I think for thicker boards it could benefit from a way to keep your boards against the panel.

[@biggusbestus551]

Gata have it !

[@norm5785]

Great idea to use this jig. You can even mount them on your table saw in lieu of the wing, to save space but still have the extra table saw work surface. Thank you for sharing. Everyone stay safe, warm, happy 😊 and healthy. From Henrico County Virginia.

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

That's a great idea! thanks for sharing it.

[@stephenlines9431]

Talk about great timing! I was gluing up some pallet slats to make wider boards today. Long sash clamps, lack of workshop space and trying to keep everything flat under clamping pressure results in just two boards glued every 24hrs and LOTS of planing (loss of time and material). So, I was thinking of making something like this, long enough to take the average UK pallet slats (1.2 metres, or just over 27 inches) and wide enough for 3 pairs of slats (600mm, or around 2ft). Should end up easy to store and more productive, with much less clean-up/material loss. Also, once glued and wedged it can be moved so I get my bech back! Thanks :)

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Glad to hear it was helpful!

[@nicandkathy]

Game changer!! i like glueing up small things for boxes. thi sis perfect!! thankyou and well done!

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@danalaniz7314]

Very helpful. Thanks for posting.

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Glad it was helpful!

[@kickpublishing]

This new innovation is how wood was clamped for all of history until the 20th century.

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

It’s like the renaissance, but for woodworking.

[@biggstile]

Nice. Makes gluing fun!

[@slavneslavne]

I made it today. Some good sides of this solution: - straight surface,excellent for precise work. My workbench surface is not so flat. - I made my workbench with dog holes in it, but when gluing parts together, the workbench is occupied with gluing pieces the whole time until glue is cured. This jig allows putting pieces aside and continue working on workbench. -beautiful thing is glue does not stick hard to melamine

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

That’s awesome to hear. Glad it’s working out for you! Any downsides you’d share?

[@slavneslavne]

@@BikeCityWoodworksWe shall see in time during usage. BTW, maybe one inch wide of hard wood could be added to the right (say dowel method) to make it also a shooting board.

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

@@slavneslavne oh that’s a cool idea. I do like the idea of making this multifunctional.

[@slavneslavne]

@@BikeCityWoodworks Unfortunately I made my shooting board already just a week ago, so this might be interesting for some people who want to spare some space.

[@slavneslavne]

Here is some small note about this board usage: apply minimum force when using wedges. On my 19.5mm melamine board some pins could go less then 90 degrees although being put all the way through their hole. When that happens your frame or whatever assembly could be raised from board. The solution for that could be using plywood or thicker melamine board, which is more expensive, heavier or glue sticks to the board. So: just modest low force.

[@DimetradzeLeo]

Hmm, its brilliant idea how to use my pices of chipboard) thank you

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Glad it was helpful!

[@johnbarbuto5387]

I went to my undergrad at Davis - many, many years ago (1960's). I loved that place, and riding my bike everywhere (well, not to Berrryessa or SF). Glad to see you are there. I was bound for medical school; but, if I had been really smart I would have gone to the enology school, before Napa took off! Anyway, I subscribed. Thanks!

[@sattaurnikki]

That's excellent! I made one, but it's not as easy as yours! I definitely will make that one! Thanks. 😮

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Enjoy!

[@srairmand]

I built a workbench that has melamine top. All I need is the holes drilled. This is perfect for me. Thanks!

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Now I want to build a workbench like this haha

[@johnnygilroy5213]

I did this "tools" years ago ,they are the best:)

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

They are!

[@CameronLockey]

Great video. I like the idea and you did a great job explaining how to make it.

[@High-Tech-Redneck]

top tier solution, thanks so much for sharing

[@Paladin7845]

Great Video! Much appreciated!!

[@ddeldoe]

best video i have seen in a while i will make this tommorow thanks

[@michaeloswald3589]

Nice , great job.

[@gabrielbranco2013]

Thanks for sharing. Will definitely test it out.

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Nice! I’d love to hear if you have ideas to improve it too.

[@yankeeredneck6947]

I've got a panel, 30 inch, glue up project going but I don't have enough quantity/long enough clamps and searched glue up jigs and viewed your video. I'll be making a 4'x4' jig soon. Thank you.

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Oh I’d love to see it. I’m @bikecitywoodworks on Instagram.

[@fat-hand]

Brilliant and simple. Thank you for this.

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Sometimes the simple things are the best :)

[@michaelbradford4444]

Count me in !

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Great!

[@billguernsey6419]

Excellent, I build small boxes I can see this being very helpful.

[@roc-wood-creations]

Great idea!! Thanks for sharing

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

My pleasure. Glad you liked it!

[@garrydye2394]

Yep. been used on CNC machines for about two decades. But still a good video.

[@hollysgarage]

Great video! i've been seeing these boards all over KZbin but never had anyone explain it as well as you do, thanks for sharing :)

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Appreciate the very kind words!

[@KevinDrewlo]

Very nice budget clamp idea. Thanks for sharing!

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@philipbarbosa8018]

Mind Blown! Thank you for this.

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@BruceAUlrich]

Great little clamping solution!

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

It’s fantastic. I barely ever use any clamps for small panel glue ups now.

[@terrancemurphy2745]

Great video! I’m going to make one. Thanks for posting!

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Appreciate the kind words!

[@afascinatingbit]

This would be a good use for the reclaimed IKEA melamine I have kicking around the shop.. thanks for sharing!

[@johnkelley9877]

That is a really good idea! Thanks for sharing this

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

No problem!

[@JustinShaedo]

Already said, but this is the first rate presentation of an old idea. Respect for the clear process and editing.

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Much appreciated!

[@glencrandall7051]

Great idea for small glue up's.🙂🙂

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Totally! I do wonder if this could also be used for big glue-ups, with a bigger panel 🤔

[@johanknelsen4443]

This is pretty awesome. I've been looking for something like this, thanks for sharing

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

For sure, thanks for the kind words!

[@To-Lo77]

I had originally seen something very similar to this year's back on an old Izzy Swan video he had on his channel. I forgot about it until seeing yours. Both awesome videos & builds. Yours is a lot more approachable. Thanks for the info, content & effort put in.

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Thanks for the kind words 🙏

[@willyzook]

When you came on screen I wasn’t looking right at you and just saw you in my peripheral view. I thought for a quick second that you were comedian Mike Birbiglia. I was like, “What? He does woodworking, too?” 😂

[@MrDazthaman]

Solid content pal. New sub earned

[@henryrossouw930]

Great idea.Will surely build one.

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Awesome! I'd love to hear your experience.

[@biggstile]

Melamine helves are common and cheap. Could a shelf be edge glued to get it wide enough for this? I think it would work. Just not sure about strength.

[@jenhartart2]

Very useful, thank you!

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Thanks for the comment :)

[@janetcoursey6756]

Awesome Idea!

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@garykorzelius5930]

Wow simplicity itself yet efficient! I just subscribed.

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@adrianlouviere7650]

Super! THANKS!

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Sure thing!

[@fabiomerlin8820]

That´s really cool. Thank you.

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@keithdavison5578]

Wow what a brilliant idea, cheap and easy to make and it turns some of the scrap into something useful many thanks 🤨👌👍👏👏👏

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Glad you liked it

[@shofar-man]

Thanks, a good tip with a very good presentation!

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Glad it was helpful!

[@daviswooddesigns]

Awesome idea

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Thanks!

[@ponsaravanan]

Great idea!

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Glad you think so!

[@nava1uni]

Nice build, will make one. Like the idea of its versatility

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@JMAWWorks]

Great share, seems like a great pattern for an assembly table top as well given my usually sequence of work

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Okay that's an awesome idea. It's giving me ideas of my own...

[@NathanBilbao]

Nice! Going to try this on my paulk smart bench

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

That's a great idea. I suppose if you had a grid of dog holes, you could make some removable cleats and dogs that could do this easily.

[@ashokponnappan8914]

leaving you a well deserved like and a comment !

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Thank you!

[@BenMitro]

Hey, great idea. Thanks.

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@darellteague3845]

Yes yes yes

[@barryparks8055]

Great idea

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

It's been really helpful so far.

[@lauriemacquanan2141]

I was just thinking of making a similar panel but wasn't sure where to make the peg holes. This is clear NOW!! THANKS

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Glad I could help!

[@trevor6549]

great video thank you

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Sure! Glad you like it.

[@kevinnobody3052]

I use this design of clamping board for all my small projects. Works quite well.

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Nice! Any tips or tricks you've found?

[@2logj]

Hi thanks .i made one similar to this one but small for storing threads and bobbins!

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Cool idea!

[@chrisp7957]

Thank you this video came just at the right time trying to put trim around a chessboard

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Great to hear it’s been useful!

[@wooddogg8]

Pretty cool idea! Actually didn't know that about melamine and the glue. We happen to have a sizeable leftover piece from a cabinet job recently Hmmm that might end up in my van tomorrow, with permission, of course😄

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Yeah I learned that just before making mine too!

[@asd67lkj]

That is a good idea.

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

It really is!

[@nickbrutanna9973]

You could also make some melamin-2x4 crosspieces to help prevent cupping... take some of your excess strip cutoff of melamine and glue them to the small ("2") edge of the 2x4. Then clamp them down on top of the glue-up, or, alternately, lay them across and use some form of weights to push down.

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

I love this idea! I've had my eye on a 4-way pressure clamp system; might try to build one of my own using this as inspiration.

[@TheVtkracker]

Just wanted to say - thank you! Built mine, tried with smaller panel first ( 32x16") and it worked great. Amazing! Thanks again!

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Great to hear!

[@kencase2325]

great idea, will save me lots of money~!

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Glad I could help!

[@mazeroo41woodworking]

This is rad! Thanks! I just got way into this whole woodworking situation almost two years ago…still don’t have enough clamps…not sure I ever will.

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

I have two of these panels and sometimes still don’t have enough clamps 😅

[@herpderp159]

Seems really useful if you do a lot of small panel glue ups.

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Definitely! I use this mostly for boxes, cabinet panels, and other small stuff.

[@jamesduncan578]

Seems like it would be good also for holding pieces for carving and such.

[@filldev]

Good idea and nice explanation! (Liked and Subscribed)

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Appreciate it!

[@bigviper64]

Excellent idea!…gonna head to Hom Depot right now and get a section of Melamine…Thanks Mucho!

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

No problem! Let me know how it works out for you.

[@frtdemirel]

Great tactic. 👍🙋‍♂️

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Thanks 👍

[@clemoniii]

Nice video

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Thanks!

[@mannyfilmsinc]

great video. This is great for a CNC application, not so much for throwing away all my clamps

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Thanks, and agreed!

[@davekolp4552]

Great idea, I can use my cnc router to make the holes. Thanks.

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

That's a fantastic idea!

[@papergatorzfedducca7998]

You got me with this!! NEW SUBSCRIBER and A LIKE🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Appreciate it 🙏

[@fransiscoalvarezinski6293]

Good job. I could used one of these for my small projects. I think I'll build one.

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Let me know how it goes!

[@kathrynnewton8721]

Love this! I could place a caul over the top to prevent cupping I guess? Thank you!

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Absolutely!

[@labsquadmedia176]

I had made a version of this but used a single honkin' big wedge across the length. Seemed to work well with the long piece of wood that I put a couple of dowels into so I can move the entire fence at one go. What I like about this version is that it gives more options. I could see it would be possible to glue together different lengths of wood by setting the shorter wedges at different distances from the back ledge. Thanks for the video.

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Thanks! I’ve also glued up multiple separate glue ups on one panel at the same time. The multiple sets of wedges allow me to accomplish that. I actually have 4 sets of wedges for just such an occasion.

[@Aaron-nj4ou]

Cool jig. If you make a scoring cut with the blade 1/4” or so above the table and then go all the way though the second time you won’t even need the tape for cutting melamine or laminate. Cabinet shops have saws with a small blade in front of the main saw blade to perform this function.

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Oh that's a great tip!

[@JasonPeltier]

smart!

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

I can't take credit for the original idea - but it is super smart!

[@robertbooth8612]

Hi seen your video good can you use a large bit of pine to do the same thing or will it work thanks again mate

[@derikkruger4953]

Compliments! Boer maak n plan.

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Thanks!

[@jake600289]

cool idea, still gonna use clamps most of the time, just easier

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Makes sense for some types of glue ups! For small flat glue ups like I do, I don't think this can be beat.

[@VanerDeeds]

Nice jig

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Thanks!

[@2logj]

Yes it is a versatile jig.We need a name .Can we christen it as Bench hole clamp?

[@JustinShaedo]

Consider ripping malamine in a shallow, then through pass (along with the blue tape trick, and maybe with knife scoring)

[@BikeCityWoodworks]

Great idea!

[@brettwilson9181]

Obviously you still need clamps for a 100 other applications but this does work for panels, frames. It is also good to put some kind of weight on the panel during glue setting so it doesn't bow as you warned.