www.KitGuitarsForum.com

A while back a friend sent me a link to a New York Times article on the Martin factory. One of the photos showed a dovetail being clamped into place. I immediately saw that this was something I needed. A sturdy, freestanding clamp was perfect for dovetails. I'm done with metal clamps that have a nasty habit of coming loose if you don't clamp them just right. I talked to John and he told me the Martin ones were once made by Jorgenson. I ordered a press screw from John, like the ones we use on our side benders. It is perfectly adapted to making this kind of clamp. Easy and cheap to make in any size from laminated quality plywood. Last photo is the Martin one, and the other 2 are mine. Enjoy your building! Stay safe.-Bob

Excellent idea!

I've noticed that clamp and it was on my list of things to build. Thanks! Better stock up on screw clamps, John. :D

I hung up this ad over my bench as I am nearly certain I met this craftsperson on my tour of the factory while she was carving golden era bracing for us. She's sitting in the old factory here I believe. It was closed that day. A couple of those clamps on the wall.

love the koa veneer

John,
With that CNC machine you could make all parts from wood.

wood screws dont hold up lol I like the martin copy

I built a second big brother to compliment little brother. I found that a slightly deeper throat was useful. If you make one of these, make yourself a cardbard template to test the size for your project.-Bob

they are cool

So what is the benefit? depth of throat? lighter weight? cost?

Benefits are that you can have any depth of throat you want, or any custom size foot. Clamps can be designed to fit very specific needs. They are slightly lighter than big steel clamps, but I don't think that matters. Being almost 3" wide, they are stable and free standing which is very nice and convenient for instrument dovetail work. Unlike metal clamps, wood clamps have more flex so that when the glue dries and the joint closes more, wood clamps will often stay put where metal clamps can let loose. This does not matter if you are doing heavy clamping, but in situations of fairly light clamping like when doing dovetails it can be a factor. Besides all of that, making a useful tool that I can't buy, or a better one than I could buy, makes my time in the shop more pleasurable everytime I use it.