Woodworking professionals have all kinds of tools, including clamps to use. Clamps are used to attach wood when you make use of glue.
But for those who are amateurs, they don’t have access to these tools. And this is the reason why many have the question of how to clamp wood without clamps.
If you’re one of those people who do not have access to clamps, then this article is for you. Before we get into the steps, remember there are multiple ways of clamping wood without clamps.
In this article, we’ll list out the easiest way out of many step-by-step. Then, we will mention other methods to clamp wood without clamps.
Steps on how to clamp wood without clamps
Before we get into the steps, here is what you will need:
- Heavyweights, like dumbbells.
- Tape.
- Wood glue.
- Superglue.
- Popsicle stick.
Step 1: Gluing the wood together
Before we discuss how to clamp wood without clamps, you need to prepare the surface. All you need to do is glue the wood pieces together.
When you do not have clamps, the best way to secure wood with glue is to make use of superglue and wood glue. Apply glue on the wooden surface, but leave some sections in between the area you add glue.
Add superglue in the sections you left when you added wood glue to the surface. This will help you to add strength to the structure.
Although wood glue is strong, it does not add the needed strength to the wooden blocks. The same is true for superglue. Use the popsicle sticks to spread the glue and mix it. Do not mix the entire thing, only on the edges to blend them a little.
But adding both of them together will help you create a strong bond.
Step 2: Applying weight to the structure
Once you have the structure ready, secure it with weights. Remember to use heavyweights. This will ensure that the glue bonds well with the surface.
Step 3: Using tape for extra support
Since you’re not using clamps, you’ll need all the support you can get. So, once you secure the weights, begin taping the surface.
Make sure that you go parallelly from the edges you just glued. When you try to find the answers to how to clamp wood without clamps, make sure that you think about applying pressure to the areas you use adhesives on.
Go a full circle, if you can. In some structures, you won’t be able to go around the entire structure. In that case, add two or three layers.
Make use of masking tape first, if you can. Masking tape will ensure that the wood does not chip away when you peel the tape off. Then proceed to add layers of electrical tape on top of the masking tape.
In this manner, you will keep the wooden surface intact. Be careful with the electrical tape.
The reason for using electrical tape is to give you more strength. Other tapes do not have a strong hold.
Step 4: Let the adhesive dry
When it comes to how to clamp wood without clamps, patience is the key. The adhesives you use will require some time to dry.
Read the label of the adhesives to know how long you should wait.
Step 5: Inspection
After you’re sure that the glue is dry, carefully take the weights off and peel the tape. Check if the wooden structure is stuck.
If it is, then you do not need to worry. But if you feel that the structure is wonky, you will have to repeat the entire process after you the structures apart.
Remember, to wait a little longer. As in, if the adhesive takes three hours to dry, wait some more. This will give the wood enough time to latch on to it.
Other methods on how to clamp wood without clamps
Wood is a complex object to work with. You will need to ensure that the structures are glued together along with the bond. That said, you need to be careful with the objects you use.
Here are some more methods that you can try out to glue wood without clamps:
- Big binder clips can be used on smoother surfaces. If the surface is as large as the binder clip, all you need to do is attach the binder clip to the edges. Then wait for the wood to dry. Binder clips latch onto the surface and press the two surfaces together. This works for thinner structures.
- Another creative method is to make use of PVC pipes. You will need precision with this method. The PVC pipes can be cut into c-shapes, which will help you create a clamp-like structure. Then you can adjust the mouth of the c-shaped structure and apply it onto the wooden structure to hold it in place. This how to clamp wood without clamps method is only suited for parallelly thin structures. If the width of the wooden structure is large, this method will not work.
- Tie-downs are another way to clamp the wood. The appeal of this method stems from the fact that tie-downs can be adjusted. All you have to do is wrap it around the structure and latch it. This will hold the structure in place. This can be used on big objects, which is not possible with other methods.
- If you have a large surface and no other tools, you can use different objects at your house to apply pressure. The number one rule of using methods for how to clamp wood without clamps is to constantly apply pressure. All you need to do is find objects that can apply some weight to the glued area. If you’re not sure of the weight, just stack up some more objects to compound the effect.
Conclusion
The answer to how to clamp wood without clamps is to be creative. All you need to remember is that for wood to clamp onto another piece of wood or structure, it needs pressure.
So, all you need to do is, find the objects to apply pressure on the spot. Keep in mind you will need to distribute the pressure or else the wood can snap.
