Clam Clamp
The Tool Hound says that Clam Clamps are the fastest way to get the tightest miters. Period.
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Sneaking up on tight miter joints can be one of the most time-consuming and frustrating parts of trimming out a door, built-in, or window. I could ramble on about the design, adjustability, versatility, and payback time of using FHB contributor Jim Chestnut’s Clam Clamps. But I’d rather just sum it up for you all by saying this: Clam Clamps are the fastest way to get the tightest miters. Period. Nuff said.
UPDATE: Some readers have had trouble finding a source for the Clam Clamp. For details visit www.miterclamp.com.
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Where can I buy the Clam Clamps?
google is your best friend
http://www.miterclamp.com/
Its a nifty tool for doing miters in a shop setting but when you're trimming doors and windows on a job site, the jambs are very often NOT flush with the drywall - Dealing with that problem is what makes a good trim carpenter. With a basic little off-the-shelf casing from Home Depot, if you nail it together ahead of time when the jamb is proud of the drywall, when you go nail the outside of the casing it will pull the miter apart, or if by some miracle it doesn't, you'll have a gap between the back of the casing and the drywall. If the sheetrock is proud of the jamb, you'll be left with a gap between the jamb and the casing. When I can, I shave a jamb down to be flush with the drywall but that can be difficult for a variety of reasons. Otherwise, I treat it as a compound miter (which it is!) The trick is to lay the casing on your miter saw the way it is sitting on the wall. If the jamb is sticking out from the drywall, shim the casing the same amount on its inside edge as it lays on your miter saw as you cut the 45. If both pieces at the corner are treated the same, they will meet nicely and give you a glue surface to boot. Happy trimming!
Clam Clamps look great but they are not available from any number of vendors I have called. They all say that the manufacturer is very slow and they don't know when they will see stock
...the Hartford clamp works just as well and is commercially available--about $60 a clamp. I have four of them and use them for all my miter/spline joints. Just Bing "Hartford Clamps"
Hi Justin,
Thank you too, Justin! Good job on the video.
I should be able to start shipping to both dealers and retail customers within 2 weeks.
The price per clamp varies with the quantity ordered. There are price breaks at 2ea, 4ea, and 8ea if ordered direct or from many of my dealers. The prices on the "Dealers and Warranty" link on my website are current.
Generally, interior trim carpenters purchase more than homeowners and being a little biased towards trim carpenters....
Cheers,
Jim Chestnut
NMVFC writes: ...the Hartford clamp works just as well and is commercially available--about $60 a clamp. I have four of them and use them for all my miter/spline joints. Just Bing "Hartford Clamps"
Yup I agree the Hartford clamp is great. I have many of them and I think they are even better then this clamp and they have been around a lot longer. Also if you really want your mitered casing to hold you need a spline (plate jointer works) of some type. Since a miter joint is mostly end grain and end grain to end grain glue joints are not very strong. But install a spline you get a very strong miter that will never come apart If you live in the Hartford CT area East coast tool is a great place to get them.