Comments on: Get Perfect Miter Glue Joints With The Clam Clamp http://toolmonger.com/2008/12/02/get-perfect-miter-glue-joints-with-the-clam-clamp/ All tools. All the time. Your source for news, information, and reviews of hand tools, power tools, and tools of all kinds. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:19:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Eli http://toolmonger.com/2008/12/02/get-perfect-miter-glue-joints-with-the-clam-clamp/#comment-691661 Eli Thu, 04 Dec 2008 11:03:40 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/?p=16399#comment-691661 I've got four of these and they do kick ass. Really good solid product worth every penny. You can even clamp up frames with no assembly table. I’ve got four of these and they do kick ass. Really good solid product worth every penny. You can even clamp up frames with no assembly table.

]]> By: fred http://toolmonger.com/2008/12/02/get-perfect-miter-glue-joints-with-the-clam-clamp/#comment-690706 fred Wed, 03 Dec 2008 23:12:55 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/?p=16399#comment-690706 While we use and love these clam clamps - there is an alternative: http://www.coastaltool.com/clamps_vises/hartford/hartford_miter.htm While we use and love these clam clamps - there is an alternative:

http://www.coastaltool.com/clamps_vises/hartford/hartford_miter.htm

]]> By: Kelley Nelson http://toolmonger.com/2008/12/02/get-perfect-miter-glue-joints-with-the-clam-clamp/#comment-689986 Kelley Nelson Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:52:19 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/?p=16399#comment-689986 These clamps are MONEY. (In the good way.) They're not cheap, but you will be able to make perfect miters that don't open up later. Cross nailing through the miter helps, but it's not even close to as nice as glued miters using these clamps. I'm using them on a project right now, total retrim project. I pre-measure all the openings, add in the reveal measurement as needed, and then cut the pieces. I assemble the entire door or window casing on a table near my saw. I use a biscuit joiner on both ends of the cut, apply yellow wood glue to the joint, then clamp. After about 15 minutes the glue has cured and I can actually take off the clamps and carry the whole assembly to the door or window opening holding it by one leg. The joint is STRONG! At that point, assembly is just a matter of standing the glued pieces up in the opening, centering them so the reveal is even, then shooting some nails. No more fidgeting with the pieces to make sure they're square and even. The drywall near these openings almost always throws off the angle between the two casing pieces by a little bit, making it very hard to make a perfect miter if you don't pre-assemble. The resulting joints don't need any caulk or filler, and when you turn on the heat in the winter, your joints won't open up. If your openings are slightly out of square, I've found you can bend the casing enough to make it look right. Just place your first nails thoughtfully so you can bend the casing as you need, working your way out from the corners. These clamps are MONEY. (In the good way.) They’re not cheap, but you will be able to make perfect miters that don’t open up later. Cross nailing through the miter helps, but it’s not even close to as nice as glued miters using these clamps.

I’m using them on a project right now, total retrim project. I pre-measure all the openings, add in the reveal measurement as needed, and then cut the pieces.

I assemble the entire door or window casing on a table near my saw. I use a biscuit joiner on both ends of the cut, apply yellow wood glue to the joint, then clamp. After about 15 minutes the glue has cured and I can actually take off the clamps and carry the whole assembly to the door or window opening holding it by one leg. The joint is STRONG!

At that point, assembly is just a matter of standing the glued pieces up in the opening, centering them so the reveal is even, then shooting some nails. No more fidgeting with the pieces to make sure they’re square and even.

The drywall near these openings almost always throws off the angle between the two casing pieces by a little bit, making it very hard to make a perfect miter if you don’t pre-assemble.

The resulting joints don’t need any caulk or filler, and when you turn on the heat in the winter, your joints won’t open up.

If your openings are slightly out of square, I’ve found you can bend the casing enough to make it look right. Just place your first nails thoughtfully so you can bend the casing as you need, working your way out from the corners.

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