Everyone who’s ever had any type of workshop, be it woodworking or metalworking, has a strange relationship with clamps and clamp storage. Are there enough clamps? When are there too many clamps? Where do they all go?
None of those are easy questions and there is no right or wrong answer. Every shop is as different as every craftsperson. How I store my clamps is not going to work for a lot of people out there and vice versa.
Common Clamping Woes
There are a lot of common issues all woodworkers and DIYers have though. Workflow efficiency with clamps is definitely one of them.
It’s hard to be effective and work fast if you constantly have to look for the right clamp or are always walking across the shop to get one (or put them away). However you work and whatever your setup, having at least a few clamps stored near your assembly and cutting areas is always a smart idea.
Clamp Storage in the Flow
Who hasn’t gotten frustrated when they’re in the groove working on a project and they have to stop to search for the right clamp? Why didn’t I leave the exact clamp I need here last time I was using it here?!
Good question. Why didn’t I? Oh, right, because I don’t have a place to put the clamp on this side of my workbench and I sure as heck am not leaving it on top of the bench, I need that for, you know, my project.
This happens to me a lot. Especially when I’m using my track saw with the quick clamps.
It came to a point where I decided I wanted to do something about it. So I did.
Searching for Clamp Storage Solutions
My workbench, like oh so many out there, has T-track running along the sides for various attachments. Why not leverage that?
Searching the web I was able to find a few different kinds of storage ideas. Most of them are for F-style, parallel, and squeeze clamps. The vast majority of them are made out of wood and fall into two camps: dowels sticking out of a board or triangular wedges and long T- or L-shaped pieces you close your clamps onto.
For now, I’m specifically looking for quick clamp storage; the kind of clamps used to hold track saw rails or track saw guides onto workpieces.
They all seemed to have something in common though. They stuck out from the side of the workbench. I don’t know about you, but I have a tendency to bang my hips and knees on the workbench itself, I don’t need something else sticking out that I can bang my extremities on.
The other main type of quick clamp storage was one that could be screwed either into a wall or under the table. Both were promising, as I don’t have a huge shop.
I ruled out storing my quick clamps on the wall because that’s where they were before when I was constantly walking back and forth, wasting time. My woodworking bench doesn’t have space to attach clamp holders under it either, so that was a bust too.
A Clamp Solution
My requirements for how I wanted to store my quick clamps are:
- needed to be on the workbench
- couldn’t stick out more than an inch
- had to work with T-track
After some time with a sketchbook and in Fusion360, I came up with a design I really like. It’s easy to use, hits all the requirements I have, and works great. I’m calling it the Quick Clamp Storage Hangar, and it’s up for sale now.
Why it Works
Here’s why the Quick Clamp Storage Hangar works so well.
It doesn’t stick out from the edge or end of the workbench more than one inch. You’re not going to be banging any appendages on clamps as I walk by.
It is versatile. If you have T-track or aluminum tracks (MFT) that accept T-track bolts, you can use this system. The hardware to secure it in place is a standard T-track bolt.
Speaking of secure, the registration marks on the back of the clamp storage hangar fit into the T-track opening. After you tighten the thumb screw those registration marks keep the hangar in place so it doesn’t twist or move while you insert or remove clamps.
The Quick Clamp Storage Hangar is long enough that it shouldn’t be a problem for the clamps to clear your benchtop. There are almost 2.5 inches of clearance between the bottom of the registration marks and the holes the clamps go through.
Check it Out in the Shop
Quick Clamp Storage Hangar is available in the shop now. Check out the product page for more details and the options available.
If you have any ideas or suggestions on how it could be improved, drop a comment or contact me.
