Pipe Clamps & Bar Clamps (103 items found)

Whether you're gluing lumber to create a joint or cutting metal pipe to length, you need to ensure that your materials hold under pressure to ensure both safety and best results. Bar clamps are the tools that help you get the job done, and Ace is where to go to find a wide range of metal and woodworking clamps from top brands.

What Are Bar Clamps Used For?

Also referred to as pipe clamps or woodworking clamps, a bar clamp is a type of clamp that has adjustable jaws mounted on a long bar. Like C clamps, they can be used as wood clamps for gluing after you've applied wood adhesives, or keep wood or metal pipe stable and secure while you cut and shape it. However, bar clamps can hold larger materials in place than C clamps, due to their designs.

How Much Clamping Pressure Do I Need?

The amount of force that bar clamps exert on materials varies. You'll typically need clamps capable of exerting higher levels of pressure for denser materials like hardwoods, but much less pressure for softwoods.

How Long is a Bar Clamp?

Bar clamps can range from a few inches of clamping capacity to a couple of feet in length. Consider the size of the materials you’re working with to determine the bar clamp length you’ll need. 

What is Throat Depth on a Clamp?

Your woodworking clamps’ throat size must fit your desired materials. The thickness of the materials they can secure is determined by throat depth. If you're working with delicate items that may become marred or scratched, look for clamps with protective pads on the jaws.

What Materials are Best for Bar Clamps?

Aluminum woodworking clamps are lightweight and rust-resistant, while steel clamps tend to be stronger. Aluminum metal clamps are best for lightweight items that don’t need much clamping power, while steel woodworking clamps can secure heavier materials more strongly.

Common Bar Clamp Designs

While there are many bar clamps available, these are the some of the common design types:

• F clamps: F clamps have a sliding jaw that moves along the bar and then gets tightened by turning a screw. They can accommodate materials in a wide variety of lengths.
• Parallel clamps: The unique design of the jaws on these bar clamps keeps the edges perfectly parallel, making them ideal picks for wood gluing and when the project calls for materials to remain precisely aligned.
• Pipe clamps: Great for big projects like plumbing work and furniture making, pipe clamps have both a clamp head and tail that connect to materials to hold them in place.
• Quick release clamp: Quick clamps have a specially designed trigger that makes it possible to apply and remove them with just one hand.

Find Wood and Pipe Clamps at Ace

From quick clamps to F-style wood glue clamps, you can find a wide range of bar clamps at Ace from brands like Irwin and Bessey. Shop online for quick delivery or in-store pickup at your local Ace Hardware store.