As I grow older, I have more trouble twisting small, slick clamp handles, so I wrap them with shelf liner made with rubber mesh. The material is soft yet tough, and it makes the handles larger and easier to grip. It’s widely available in home-improvement stores. I cut it with scissors into 1-in. by 30-in. strips, apply hot glue to one end, and wrap it around the handle from one end to the other, overlapping the strips to create two full layers. I tack down the end of the strip with more hot glue and then smooth the end while the glue is still soft. To protect my hand from the hot glue, I wear an old leather glove.
—Gary Damron, Capitan, N.M.
Fine Woodworking Recommended Products
Bessey K-Body Parallel-Jaw Clamp
The 3 3/4″ deep parallel jaws allow for all types of clamping, from thin panels to joinery.
Dubuque Clamp Works Bar Clamps – 4 pack
These clamps are as premium as their price is, but they’re worth every penny. A few staffers have a small collection and they’re almost always the first clamp they reach for.
Rockler Deluxe Panel Clamp
These clamps can handle glue-ups between 10 in. and 36 in. wide, and boards up to 3 in. thick. Sliding feet attach to the lower bars with magnets, letting you position them quickly for stability on any surface. The spring-loaded jaws adjust easily, dropping into notches along the bars. And the powerful clamp handles clear the benchtop.
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