As a woodworker, you know that you can never have enough clamps in your woodshop. In many cases, clamps can be expensive, which especially affects woodworkers on a budget. A quality bar clamp can run $30-40 each, and if you need ten or twenty clamps for a project, you're looking at quite an expense. For some tasks, there are inexpensive clamping alternatives that can be used where a quantity of clamps are required. Spring clamps may be such an option. Spring clamps are inexpensive (I found them in bargain bins at hardware stores for as little as $1 each), and in quantity, can be quite effective. They're certainly not appropriate for every clamping task, and for some jobs, I would highly recommend against using them, but for some basic tasks, they're a great alternative.
Learn the benefits of using Spring Clamps, as well as some instances where you shouldn't use them. Having a handful of the right type of spring clamps on hand can be a real time-saver, and can make some woodworking tasks much easier than traditional clamps.
What's better than a hand-made box from your shop? How about a box that is a puzzle, that stores special items and even has a secret compartment. Done. It's the Round-Drawer Spring Box from Jeff Vollmer's 'Puzzle Boxes'. Use the link below to download the free step-by-step plans for this great puzzle box.