Substitute for right angle clamps

[Michael Meyer]

Tomorrow I will begin constructing the Shop Vacuum Cart found on the Kreg "Build Something," website. https://www.buildsomething.com/plans/PE821DAA69C097FAA/Shop-Vacuum-...

I do not have Kreg right angle clamps and right now I do not want to invest in them. Does anyone have any other suggestion for how I can glue up and use pocket hole screws to make sure this project turns out well?

Thanks.

[Ken Darga]

Use bar or pipe clamps.

[Michael Meyer]

Thanks. I was planning on doing that but was not certain it would work. I wish I had two or three of the right angle clamps. I have a number of other Kreg products and they work really well. I just cannot afford to purchase new clamps right now. 

Ken Darga said:

Use bar or pipe clamps.

[Ken Darga]

Place "snippets" of wire brads between the joined members, so as to increase resistance to slippage of the joints when clamping and assembly. 

WorksForMe.

[Michael Meyer]

I am not sure I understand. Do you mean to install wire brads into one piece of lumber and leave a small tag end hanging out so that when you clamp the two pieces together it will press the tag end of the brad into the second piece? If so, it sounds like a great idea!

[Ken Darga]

Insert the"tip" of a wire brad, 1/16 to 1/8" inch into the wood surface, using a brad pusher or a small tap hammer

Next---use "diagonal" cutting pliers---

place the flat side of the plier on the wood surface, with the pliers opened all the way, 

and slide the plier over the exposed brad sticking up out of the wood.

Next, close the pliers---squeeze real hard and cut-off the brad extending above the surface.

You should see a shinney looking thingy protruding from the surface.

This is what I call a "snippit"---like in "snip-it".

A couple of such snippits should suffice.  

For larger lumber material, you can use a finishing nail.

Cut finishing nails the same way, but use larger size diagonal cutters, like "lineman's pliers" for cutting heavy wire or cables.

[Scott]

There are countless ways to help with clamping / holding the pieces together during assembly.

Here's one from a search on "corner clamping plans" ...

Wood magazine - Right-angle brace -

Izzy Swan also has a couple of ideas too worth looking up

[Michael Meyer]

That is slick. I went out and built a smaller version. I will build the larger version next week (after I purchase a couple of sheets of birch baltic for another project.

[Ken Kortch]

Another approach I've seen on a youtube video about building cabinets is to drill the pocket holes, and then use a pin nailer to hold the material in place while you insert the pocket hole screws. They really just keep the material from slipping. The pin nails are thin enough to flex as the pocket hole screw seats.

ADDED: I should mention that the same video show him making very shallow dadoes and rabbets to make placement of the material easier, and then he mentions that for 3/4" plywood he uses 1" pocket hole screws rather than 1-1/4" screws - commenting that he wishes Kreg made 1-1/8" screws. The video is named "Simple Cabinet Construction, Part 1: Story Poles & Boxes". Sorry, I can't create a link here because of computer issues, but I found the video useful.

[Glen S]

Line up your joints & shoot some 1 1/4" brads into the adjoining piece. Then run the screws in. It's just a shop vac cart.

[Jack Anderson]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPA8FDTcfcE

[cforakis]

Lovely DIY video on the Right Angle clamps. Thanks Jack Anderson!

[Ed McGugan]

Good question really. Had to use 5 clamps of various kinds and sizes yesterday!

Was joining oak rails for a face frame. Like to use glue on these joints and they want to move a little.

The plywood corner square/clamp looks great. Will definitely make some of those up.

tx, Ed