Hi everyone,
I'm working on my first project, the Clara kids table. I have the kreg mini. The problem is that I can't get the clamps to clamp on tight enough so that the kreg does not move when I'm using it. I have spring clamps (don't seem to work well enough) and the ratched clamps (bessy I think). My husband can get the Bessy's to work just fine, but I don't seem to have the hand strength to clamp properly. Any suggestions on easy to use clamps to accommodate my apparently less than super strong hands/arms? Anyone else have this problem? Thanks
claydowling
Mon, 04/04/2011 - 09:11
Special Kreg clamp
There's a special Kreg clamp that slips right into a socket on the top of the jig. It has a mechanism similar to vise grips. While I've used F-clamps to hold these jigs before, the kreg clamp that was designed for this jig is pretty hard to beat.
If you can't find the clamp locally (I had some trouble initially), F-clamps are probably your best solution. They slide up to rest against the work, and then you use a hand screw to finish the tightening. They're really easy to use, which is why woodworkers love them so. You can pay a lot of money for them, or a little. I've found the cheap ones to hold nearly as well as the expensive ones.