Review of Lee Valley's Dubuque Bar Clamps

Summary: Stiff, adjust easily, lightweight, moderately priced.

The Franklin Adhesives Company recommends 100-300 psi on the joints for panel gluing. That translates to around 4,000 pounds of clamp pressure for a 28"-long panel, which, with three clamps, is about 1,300 pounds of force per clamp. Clearly, a stout, stiff clamp is required for panel gluing.

The black I-beam clamps hung on the left in the photo above are Hargrave Clamps, made by Cincinnati Tool Works. These would have been the clamps one would have found in any shop or factory 50 years ago. Why some company never sourced these from Taiwan or China after Cincinnati Tool stopped making them I never understood. They are capable of applying 4,000 psi per clamp. For panel gluing they can't be beat. But, they are very heavy, which is a problem when gluing up case work.

The clamps to the right are what Lee Valley is now selling as "Dubuque Bar Clamps". These are not to be confused with the wimpy aluminum bar clamps others sell. These are industrial strength clamps used in factories. I was told by their inventor that the were routinely tightened with an air wrench in furniture factories.

These clamps started life called "Universal Clamps". They were developed and assembled in a family shop in California run by very nice folks. I ordered dozens of them for club members in lengths of 2' to 6'. There became a problem with availability of an out-sourced part and the business was sold to Dubuque, where it remains. We should be thankful that they are now readily available from Lee Valley, although Lee Valley is not selling the 6' length, which is handy for some assemblies.

The most desirable attribute of these clamps is their light weight. It becomes easy to handle panels with three or more clamps or case assemblies with a multitude of clamps. I can install a 6' clamp on a case with one hand. Additionally, they adjust quickly. The acme thread spins so easily that a whack with the finger on the "propeller" handle can be used to rapidly advance or retract the jaws. The robust handle enables great force to be applied. They are also stiff. I have never seen one flex in any gluing application. The jaws have flat bottoms so they stand on the bench without support.

Bottom line: The Dubuque Bar Clamps are my go to clamp. I use the 2', 3', 4' and 6' sizes in building furniture.