Clamps are versatile tools that serve to temporarily hold work securely in place. They are used for many applications including carpentry, woodworking, furniture making, welding, construction and metal working.

Clamp styles include C-clamps, bar clamps, pipe clamps, and handscrews. Bar clamps have adjustable arms that are easily widened or narrowed to fit the work piece and, therefore, requires fewer turns of the screw spindle, compared to a C-clamp, to hold the piece tightly.

DO

• Wear safety glasses or a faceshield.
• Select the proper clamp style and size by matching the work-holding requirements of the job with the following clamp features:

- strength and weight (e.g., consider rail size and nominal clamping pressure)
- opening (length of reach)
- throat depth (depth of reach)
- ease of adjustment
- clamping surfaces (material used and size)

• Remove clamps as soon as the job is finished. Clamps serve only as temporary devices for holding work securely in place.
• Keep all moving parts of clamps lightly oiled and keep tools clean to prevent slippage. Also make sure there is no dirt or oil on any part that will come in to contact with the work.
• Store C-clamps by clamping them in a rack, not in a drawer.

Do not use extra large clamps just for the sake of their large throats. Instead, use, deep-throat clamps. Do not use any clamps that have a bent frame or a bent spindle. Do not use wrenches, pipes, hammers, or pliers to tighten clamps. Use wrenches only on clamps especially designed for wrenches. Do not hoist or pull with C-clamps. Use special lifting clamps. Do not use C-clamps to construct scaffolds or platforms for workers.

Refer to OSH Answers General Hand Tool Operation for more tips.