Give a woodworker a handscrew clamp and you’re likely to get one of two reactions. They will either ask what they’re supposed to do with it or state, “I couldn’t live without them in my shop.” If you fall in the first camp, you might want to give handscrews a look.
Besides clamping two parts together during assembly, there are other ways to put them to work in your shop. I added 3⁄4" dowels to a handscrew clamp so I can secure it in the dog holes on my workbench. Two handscrews form an instant vise.
The wood jaws on a handscrew won't mar a workpiece and they allow you to easily modify the tool for other tasks. For example, I notched the end of the jaws so that the handscrew can get a better grip on round stock.
