Stopped using spring clamps for cabinet assembly after a job in Tucson

I was building a set of kitchen cabinets for a client near downtown Tucson and the spring clamps kept sliding off the face frames. Switched to quick-grip bar clamps on the third try and the panels stayed square without me fighting them every five minutes. Anyone else ditch a clamp type they relied on for years after one bad job?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_mary7d ago

Is switching to a different clamp really worth a whole forum post though?

the_linda7d agoMost Upvoted

Honestly, I get where you're coming from with the "is it worth a whole post" thing but yeah, it really is that annoying when you're fighting clamps all day. I had the same issue with spring clamps on a frameless cabinet job in Phoenix. The dry heat made the rubber grips get slick and they'd just slide right off the MDF. I switched to quick-grip bar clamps and never looked back. Now I keep a mix of both in my truck but the spring clamps only get used for light duty stuff like holding glue-ups while I grab a real clamp.

mia7006d ago

Oh man, that Phoenix heat thing is brutal, I feel you. I've had the exact same problem with spring clamps in the summer here, they just get all slippery and useless. And @the_mary, I gotta say, sometimes the little things like a bad clamp can ruin your whole day so yeah, it's worth talking about. I honestly don't get why people act like every post has to be some huge life changing topic. Sometimes you just need to vent about a tool that's failing you on the job. I switched to those quick grip bar clamps too and they're a lifesaver for anything with real pressure. Spring clamps are basically just expensive paperweights now in my shop.