The amateur who engages in woodworking has frequent need of clamps for gluing up stock to make wide widths such as table tops, etc. Clamps for such purposes can easily be made at small expense, as here described. To make three clamps, obtain three pieces of maple or birch 6 ft. long and 2x3 in., which will plane down to 1 3/4 X 2 3/4 in. From each saw off two pieces each 6 in. long. Also obtain a piece of maple 6 ft. long, 5 1/2 in. wide and 3/4 in. thick, which saw into twelve pieces 6 in. long. To each side of the short 2 X 3 pieces attach one of the 3/4 in. pieces, using four 1 1/2 in. screws. These screws must be located on either side of the center line of the block with a clearance of a little over 1/2 in. so that when the holes for the screws are put in, the bit will not touch any of the screws.

To one end of each of the long pieces of 2 X 3 stock, attach with screws one of these pieces we have just made. Then mark out 6 in. spaces along the long piece, the first one about 15 in, from the inner end of the screw block. Bore with a | in. bit the first hole, then move the block along to the next space and bore the next hole, using the hole in the block as a guide for starting the hole in the bar. By boring the holes in this way they will all be in line, and the bolt will fit all holes. The next thing is boring the holes in the screw block for 1/2 in. lag screws 9 in. long, which can be purchased at any hardware store. The bit used for the holes should be a 3/8 in. After working the screws through once or twice to get the threads well cut, saw off the pointed ends of the lag screws with a hack-saw, and file the ends smooth.

When using it is best to put a block of wood between the work and the ends of the screws.

The adjustable blocks are held with 3/8 in. bolts, 4 in. long, the heads of which are partly sunk in the side to prevent turning when screwing up the nuts. If the work is of a width which cannot be closely met by using the holes as bored, blocks of wood are used to space out with, as it is not advisable to bore more holes in the bar, thus weakening it. A set of these clamps will cost about 50 cents for material and will be found very serviceable.