Clamping and unclamping parts can eat up a surprising amount of time during a project, especially when you're assembling frames or handling a series of similar glue-ups.
This simple woodworking clamping station creates a dedicated assembly surface that gives your clamps plenty of places to work. It's versatile, portable, and best of all, quick to build.
Start With a Plywood Base
The station starts with a plywood base. A series of slots along two adjoining edges provides access for several types of clamps.
Rather than laying out and cutting every slot individually, use a router with a shop-made template. The template keeps the slots consistent in size and spacing and makes routing them a straightforward process.
The slots can accommodate bar clamps as well as locking clamps like those commonly used on a drill press table.
Add an Easy-to-Clean Worksurface
The top is another piece of plywood covered with plastic laminate. The laminate creates a smooth, durable worksurface that's easy to clean after assembly and glue-up tasks.
Two hardwood cleats along adjacent edges complete the station. Besides providing a solid reference for positioning workpieces, the cleats make it easier to assemble and square up frames.
WOODSMITH TIP: Keep Glue-Ups Manageable. A laminate-covered surface is especially handy around glue. Dried glue is easier to remove from the smooth surface than from unfinished plywood, helping keep the station ready for the next assembly.
Put the Clamping Station to Work
Using the station is just as simple as building it.
Set it on your workbench with the slotted edges extending beyond the edges of the bench. This leaves the slots open underneath so clamps can be positioned wherever they're needed.
The combination of clamp slots and hardwood reference cleats provides plenty of flexibility. You can move clamps to suit the size and shape of the assembly while using the cleats to help keep parts aligned.
When the glue-up is finished, simply lift the entire station off the bench and store it until the next project.
A Handy Assembly Helper
A dedicated assembly table is great if you have the room, but not every shop does. This portable clamping station gives you many of the same benefits without permanently giving up valuable floor space.
A few pieces of plywood, a laminate surface, and a couple hardwood cleats are all it takes to create a compact assembly and clamping station that's ready whenever the next glue-up comes along.
Make Your Next Glue-Up Go a Little Smoother
A good clamping setup is only part of a successful assembly. Check out these useful clamping and gluing tips and tricks for keeping parts aligned, applying pressure where it’s needed, and avoiding sticky situations during your next woodworking project.
EXPLORE CLAMPING & GLUING TIPS → These Tricks Can Help You Avoid Sticky Situations
