A few of our favorite clamps

The Merle Corner Clamp, above, stands as our favorite band clamp because it's built to last with aluminum jaws, a steel band, and heavy-duty construction. Clamping pressure adjusts easily. We like that the steel band doesn't fall limp like a nylon band and that all 23' of band, which provides clamping capacity from 2-5/8x2-5/8" to 69x69", reels neatly away in an enclosed metal case.

The Merle comes with pivoting jaw inserts to hold non-90° corners that stay in place well. You can purchase additional jaws for clamping assemblies with more than four sides, as well as replacement inserts and even a new reel and band, so we'll be impressed if you can actually wear one of these out. We haven't yet.

Handscrews, above, stand the test of time thanks to durable construction, simple design, and versatility. The large clamping surface and deep jaws hold flat and irregularly shaped workpieces securely without marring. We use them for project assembly and for holding small workpieces while working on the router table. Because the jaws are wood, there's no worry about accidental bit contact. Handscrews are available in a variety of sizes, depending on the manufacturer.

K Body Revo Jr. clamp, above, provide serious clamping pressure (up to 900 lbs.) and the parallel jaw design we love from Bessey. But these clamps weigh only about half as much as their standard K Body Revolution clamps. Shedding weight didn't seem to weaken them; these clamps are tough enough for anything we throw at them, and the bars resist flex to hold the jaws parallel. They're available in lengths from 12–50".

One-handed clamps, sometimes get a bad rap from woodworkers. Sure, they're not the choice for panel glue-ups, but we find them invaluable during project assembly when one hand has to hold workpieces in place. The other hand can easily hold the clamp and squeeze the trigger to apply clamping pressure. John prefers the Irwin mini (available in 6" and 12" lengths) and medium-duty (available in 6–36" lengths) versions because he likes the trigger action, above.

Kevin likes one-handed clamps for the same reasons as John, but prefers the feel of EHK Trigger Clamps from Bessey, above. They're available in lengths from 4-1/2" up to a whopping 50", so he's never without a size he needs to assemble almost any project.

We rely on aluminum bar clamps because they're lightweight, strong, and easy to adjust. They're our go-to clamps for securing hardwood edging to plywood. Available in lengths from 24–72", these clamps easily span large distances without being too cumbersome and heavy to use, above.