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Clam Clamps: My new secret weapon

| Posted in General Discussion on July 20, 1999 08:38am

*
After trimming houses for rich and famous (and not so famous just rich) I have discovered a miter clamp that has made my trim work go faster by a factor of two and come out better than ever before. The Clam Clamp, which is made locally here in Conn. is the only way I’m going to miter my casings from here on out. I don’t know how long these things have been around but I wish I found them years ago. They work in a manner similiar to the old Hartford clamps only easier because the lever is on the side of the clamp not on the back and you don’t have to wire brush the rust off every time they come out of the truck because they’re plated or stainless or whatever.I end up with perfect joints EVERY time and perfect registration on the face side EVERY time. These clamps are are so easy to use that if you can use that if you can use a miter saw you can get perfect joints even on large casings where the drywall isn’t perfect around the door or window jambs. I normally don’t get so excited about tools like I used (this is my job not my hobby) but the Clam Clamp is worthy of my enthusiasm.

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Replies

  1. Port_Carpentry_Inc. | Jul 15, 1999 10:33pm | #1

    *
    Dave,

    Where do you get 'em, and what do they cost?

    Richard Max

    1. Dave_Schrader | Jul 16, 1999 06:45am | #2

      *Richard,The Clam Clamps are sold direct by the Chestnut Tool Co. in Bridgeport Conn. I can't remember the phone number (I'll try to find the 800 number). The clamps are 45.00 each and worth twice that. You know what a pain it is to get large casings to line up perfectly specially when the sheetrock is out at the corners well these clamps make the miter joint flawless. I'm so backlogged right now that anything that saves me time is a bonus and the Clam Clamps are the best thing since sliced bread.

      1. Port_Carpentry_Inc. | Jul 16, 1999 07:26am | #3

        *Dave,Sounds good to me. I'm right across the Sound from you on L.I.. If you can, post the number, if not I'll do a search for them. Can you do wide crown moldings with them too?RM

        1. GACC_DAllas | Jul 18, 1999 12:06am | #4

          *I gotta try this...Ed. Williams

          1. Dave_Schrader | Jul 18, 1999 07:50pm | #5

            *Richard,The 800 number for the Chestnut Tool Co.is 1-800-96MITER. As to whether or not you can do crown with the Clam Clamp the answer is no. Maybe Jim Chestnut will come up with some tool for that next. They are for any casing or trim that goes on a flat surface.I do all my picture frame molding on the floor now and then install it as a single unit vs. trying to nail up each piece and then having to recut one corner so all four miters are acceptable. Between the Clam Clamps and my 3M hot melt glue gun I'm acctually making money on complicated trim jobs DWS

          2. Port_Carpentry_Inc. | Jul 18, 1999 10:43pm | #6

            *Dave,Thanks for the info. I'll be looking into them this week.Richard Max

          3. Dennis_Loeffler | Jul 20, 1999 08:38am | #7

            *I called the company on these and it is my understanding that you need rather heavy trim for them to be useful. As I work with thinner materials, I passed. I did try the Ulma clamps mentioned here earlier this month, and they work well for this trim and are reasonably priced.Dennis

  2. Dave_Schrader | Jul 20, 1999 08:38am | #8

    *
    After trimming houses for rich and famous (and not so famous just rich) I have discovered a miter clamp that has made my trim work go faster by a factor of two and come out better than ever before. The Clam Clamp, which is made locally here in Conn. is the only way I'm going to miter my casings from here on out. I don't know how long these things have been around but I wish I found them years ago. They work in a manner similiar to the old Hartford clamps only easier because the lever is on the side of the clamp not on the back and you don't have to wire brush the rust off every time they come out of the truck because they're plated or stainless or whatever.I end up with perfect joints EVERY time and perfect registration on the face side EVERY time. These clamps are are so easy to use that if you can use that if you can use a miter saw you can get perfect joints even on large casings where the drywall isn't perfect around the door or window jambs. I normally don't get so excited about tools like I used (this is my job not my hobby) but the Clam Clamp is worthy of my enthusiasm.

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