Clamps for kitchen cupboards & end panels?

There's a bodge that I was taught, which is to tie a piece of stout string around the workpiece then tighten it by twisting a screwdriver through a loop of it. It's a lot cheaper than buying a sash-cramp.

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The steel (T-bar) type are generally much stronger and much better quality. I have some of the same alloy clamps from Machine Mart and they tend to distort under tension; the screws are flimsy and the pins tend to fall out. Definitely go for the steel T-bar.

Cic.

Sash cramps are the ones to use - and if you're trying to keep the boards flat, use cramps both top and bottom surfaces.

Note though that this will not straight individual boards that are 'cupped' before cramping begins - only the whole mass.

To straighten the boards, simply cramp the lot together and then use either a planer (preferably with a thicknesser) or use a hand plane (rather long winded and tiresome) to finish off to the correct thickness.

And, to get the ultimate finish, use the old-fashioned steel scraper.

Cash

Noted.

Great, thanks for the replies.

Looks like Osmo Hardwax Oil for the finish (cupboards & end panels).

IIRC thats called a Spanish Windlass or something similar. Rachet strap does the same thing & you can get a lot more tension.

Or a small piece of 4mm glass. Every couple of years I get the glazier to cut me 100 or so. I've used a few this winter for shaving swollen doorsteps

How exactly do you use it?

NT

Just drag the edge towards you at an angle (70 degs?). The nice thing is you have 8 sharp edges per piece if it's nicely cut. 4" x 2" is a good size. Gloves advisable of course.