I am getting ready to glue up a rather large cutting board: 24x48, finished size 23x38. Will need to trim some splits off the ends. In the past, I've use pipe clamps and alternated them top and bottom. This time I'm using parallel jaw clamps. Do they need to be alternated as well?

yes...

3 minutes ago, Stick486 said:

yes...

 

that's what i do.  place 1/2 on the work table, tighten, place other 1/2 between first set.

Agree with all the above...

The need for alternating clamps is an old wive's tale. It's only necessary if you want a good solid glue joint.

Gene I would have to disagree. If you do not alternate and use too much pressure then the glueup could bow toward the clamp side and that is the reason for alternating the clamps. If you only use minimal pressure then you may get by with one side.

Gerald, sorry for the mix up. It was sarcasm meant to be an endorsement of alternating clamps. 

3 hours ago, Gene Howe said:

Gerald, sorry for the mix up. It was sarcasm meant to be an endorsement of alternating clamps. 

We need a sarcasm smiley!

John

10 minutes ago, HARO50 said:

We need a sarcasm smiley!

John

use mine...

 

I like this one.

 

 

On 2/13/2017 at 5:17 PM, Texaswally said:

This time I'm using parallel jaw clamps.

 

Keep in mind that those things  are parallel only in name.

 

When I have a big glue up I use four   heavy jointed boards that are a little longer than the width of the glue up ( across the grain).  I put wax paper or tape on them and use four large C Clamps to squeeze them  against each other in pairs.  This helps prevent any bowing  in the glue up. 

They sell  clamps that do this but I just use C clamps and boards

 

 

Edited February 15, 20179 yr by Cliff

34 minutes ago, HandyDan said:

I like this one.

 

 

 

more bester.... fur sure...

On 2/14/2017 at 1:43 PM, Gene Howe said:

Gerald, sorry for the mix up. It was sarcasm meant to be an endorsement of alternating clamps. 

oops missed that. You know e=what they say read the first 3 words and scan the rest.

I guess I'm the odd ball. I've been using parallel clamps since not long after Bessey clamps became available.  I don't alternate these clamps and I don't use culls or biscuits . I'd venture to say I make as flat as panel as anyone and I've made a bunch of panels. 

 

I have a flat assembly table. I lay the clamps on the table place the board in the clamps the make sure the stock lays against the bars all across  and tighten it up watching the stock remain flat on the bars. 

 

 

One additional thought---- I place masking tape on the bar of the clamp at any of the glue joints. No glue to clean off the clamp bars.  Works for me.

21 minutes ago, Marv Rall said:

One additional thought---- I place masking tape on the bar of the clamp at any of the glue joints. No glue to clean off the clamp bars.  Works for me.

wax, saran wrap. shrink wrap or most any cling wrap is cheaper and works very nicely...

no adhesive from the tape to contend w/..

 

take a roll of say cling wrap and slice it into shorter lengths cutting down to the cardboard tube and not through it... use a knife or razor and not a saw...

put the roll back in the dispenser box and use as required...

Hey, not that Slick has some really slick ideas! I like the Saran Wrap idea!

I have made a whole bunch of cutting boards over the years with different patterns and designs. After having issues with getting some bowing in some of the boards, I made up some gluing trays to keep things square and flat. I use melamine as it is resistant to glue residue and attach hardwood/plywood on 2 sides there is no movement when clamping. I use clear strapping tape on the edge pieces as glue does not stick to the tape. Even though the melamine is resistant to glue, I also put down some wax paper to make the clean up easier. The large trays I can get 2 large cutting boards out of them and 1 cutting board with the small trays. 

Allen, that is how I do it too.

 

I am a little confused, I keep hearing wide glue ups with parallel clamps and I learned early on that parallel clamps looked like the first picture, I use bar clamps which everyone knows as the second picture.

Herb

the other parallel clamp....