10 Best Parallel Clamps [Reviews 2023] & Buyer’s Guide

For those who are into woodworking, parallel bar clamps are an essential tool. The carpenter's imagination limits Their uses. But when it comes to gluing two wooden planks together, parallel clamps are a lifesaver.

In a market saturated with woodcraft parallel clamps of all shapes, sizes, and types, it can become pretty confusing to choose the right one. Even though wooden parallel clamps aren't very complicated as many other carpentry tools, choosing the best parallel wood clamps requires a decent amount of research.

But if you are here, then it's pretty obvious that you don't have the time for that. So, we did the hours of research for you and came up with a list of 10 best parallel clamps that you can currently buy from Amazon.

We've also added tons of other miscellaneous information to help you better understand your purchase.

What Is A Parallel Clamp?

If you are reading this guide, I should assume you already know a thing or two about parallel clamps. But on the chance that you don't, let us clear that out for you.

Parallel clamps are a set of 3-4-inch deep clamps that are fixed upon a steel bar. They can be moved across the bar to fix one or multiple numbers of planks or any piece of wood in between them.

Woodworking parallel clamps are special as the jaws don't tilt as you apply more and more pressure. They will always remain parallel no matter how much pressure it applies to maintain your measurements.

This is very important for building parts that are supposed to fit in perfectly in a given frame, such as windows or cabinet doors, etc.

Benefits of Having Parallel Clamps?

Parallel clamps are one of the essential tools you can buy, whether you are a professional woodworker or a DYI craftsman. They help you glue and sometimes separate wooden parts with precision and reliability.

In your woodworking projects, accuracy in measurement and building is of the highest priority. And parallel clamps help you ensure that. There are all sorts of clamps out there. All with their own set of advantages, disadvantages, and uses.

If you own a workshop, then you'd probably be needing at least one of them. But parallel clamps are usually most compared to pipe clamps due to the similarities in their use.

Pipe clamps are cheaper and provide greater flexibility of use. But they leave stains and marks on the wood. And that is where parallel clamps shine. When you need extra clamping pressure, you may have to use a pair of pump pliers.

They don't leave marks and are very well built, which gives them an advantage over pipe clamps. So, if you are a professional, then parallel clamps are your go-to clamps.

Parallel Clamp vs. Pipe Clamp

While clamping is what both these tools offer, Pipe and Parallel clamps are quite different in nature. Here’s how.

Pipe clamps are usually used for clamping a pipe to an even and flat surface. There are two types of settings available in this case - a grip type and a non-grip type. Grip type clamp is used when you need the pipe to restrict its movements. Non-grip is used when you need a loose grip.

On the other hand, parallel clamps are named parallel because the clamp jaws are placed in a parallel position to each clamp when you join these parts together.

Although these clamps are more expensive than the pipe clamps, they are definitely more effective than the previous ones. 

Who Makes the Best Parallel Clamp

There are many brands today that make top-quality parallel clamps. But to name a few should include popular names like Powertec, Irwin, Bora, Jet, Yost, and Jorgensen. This doesn’t mean that there are no other brands that produce good quality parallel clamps.

There are many other producers, too. But the brands mentioned in this part refer to the most common and trusted ones that you will find in the market. 

Why are parallel clamps so expensive?

It’s not pretty surprising that parallel wood clamps are quite expensive. There are some reasons behind the excess price claimed. First of all, parallel clamps are made from high-quality materials.

You can find all the parallel clamps are either made from steel, iron, or even metal. Plus, parallel clamps offer more clamp pressure on the object compared to pipe clamps. And not to mention, a parallel clamp does keep the objects in a straight and solid placement with its parallel hands.

So, it provides more accuracy to your woodwork. These are some of the reasons why parallel clamps come with higher price tags. 

How long of a parallel clamp should I buy?

It really depends on what you are planning to do with these clamps. If your major and primary use roams around cabinet door assembly or any other DIY works like building boxed furniture or something like that, then a pair of parallel clamps measuring 24 inches or 40 inches will be great to start with.

For household works, using a longer clamp may claim too much space that you can’t afford. On the other hand, a shorter clamp, say 12 inches one, would be too short for gluing jobs.

10 Best Parallel Clamps Reviews With Buying Guide

There are parallel clamps of different shapes and sizes. If you are new to this, it is easy to get confused, seeing hundreds of types of parallel clamps in the market. So, we've made a list of the 10 best parallel clamps and broken down the list into two separate ones:

• 5 best short parallel clamps
• 5 best long parallel clamps

We've made a list based on many aspects of a parallel clamp. These include size, clamping force, build material, and various other features. So, here are the best parallel clamps 2021.

Bora 31" Parallel Clamp, Woodworking Clamp with Rock-Solid, Even Pressure

For our first parallel clamp, we have the Bora 571131. It’s got 3.5 inch deep padded jaws that hold your workpiece with stability and without any marring. The easy-grip handle allows quick and easy jaw adjustment.

It has a 31" long clamp bar and offers up to 5000N of clamping pressure, you can be sure your workpiece is fixed in place tightly. also provide steel rail and slide movable simple raise handle easy to move from jaw to the desired point. 

The deep jaws ensure that the clamping force is well distributed in the jaws for achieving the highest level of stability while you work.

Key Features

Deep throat: The 3.4-inch deep throat allows constant and even pressure applications that prevent damaging your workpiece and keeps it stable as you work.

Anti-slip bottom jaw: With their anti-slip design Bora designed the bottom jaws to fix on your workpiece and prevent any movement tightly.

Padded clamps: The padded clamps are great in protecting your work from damage. So, you don't have to worry about tearing, scraping, or marring.

POWERTEC 71368 Woodworking Parallel Clamps (24-Inch)

The Powertec 71368 comes with two 24-inch long. The deep clamps help with the even distribution of pressure. With these, you can reach a pressure of 4000N easily. The Powertec 71368 is thoughtfully designed to ensure the highest durability and usability.

If you are looking for some cheap Woodworking clamps with excellent performance, then you can't go wrong with this one. It's a great tools for your woodworking projects. If you find the heavy-duty clamp it will be best.

Key Features

Great clamping strength: The Powertec 71368 supports around 4000N of applied force for an excellent grip. This is more than enough for most carpentry needs, whether it be for professional or personal use.

Great design: The clamp features an ergonomic design for comfortable use.

Padded clamps: The clamps are well padded. This means you can forget about damaging your workpiece while clamping and focus on your work.

Deep clamps: The clamps are 3-4 inches. This is very important as deep clamps help distribute the applied clamping force and allow much better stability during use.

Key Features

Perfect parallel jaws: The jaws are perfectly parallel, which ensures gluing with ideal precision.

Great build quality: These parallel clamps are built to last with their superior build quality.

Soft grip: The ergonomic design and soft-grip handles make using the Jorgensen 8050A a delight to use.

Yost K5024 24 Inch Parallel Clamp

Coming at number four, we have the cheapest parallel clamp in this list, the Yost K5024. But don't let the price fool you. They are more than just competent to fulfill your carpentry needs. These parallel clamps have excellent durability and support clamping force up to 4000 pounds of pressure.

The main handle is purposely large to provide extra clamping capability while retaining the comfort of use. The threaded screws ensure consistent clamping pressure which is necessary for gluing with precision.

Key Features

Great value: The Yost K5024 offers most of what other parallel clamps offer but at a much lower price.

Threaded screws: The threaded screws increase the friction that maintain the applied force while you work.

Large handle: The large handle allows you to apply pressure with ease. The large handle allows a better grip and will enable you to use torque more easily.

Lightweight: The Yost K5024 is very light. It means they are easy to move around and work with.

Jet 70431-2 Parallel Clamp (31 inches)

The Jet 70431-2 is the largest in this list of short parallel clamps. This means it has a bit more versatility of use in comparison with the others. The precision rule measurement system provides high accuracy clamping. The slide-glide triggers allow for easy and convenient clamping.

It has a nice ergonomic design for the comfort of use and has a build quality that competes with the very best in the market. It supports up to 4500 pounds of pressure, which is more than enough to prevent wrapping and distortions in your work.

Key Features

Clever rail design: The innovative, clever rail design allows you to adjust the clamps with ease and precision.

Durable build quality: Built with aluminum, these parallel clamps are built to last and can take on the heaviest of tasks.

More extended bar size: Among the smaller parallel clamps, this one has the longest bar widening its versatility of use.

Padded clamps: The clamps come with soft padding to prevent marring and tearing of your workpiece.

5 Best Long Parallel Clamps (Above 31 Inches)

Bessey K Body REVO Parallel Clamp (2-24 inches)

The Bessey KRK2450 is ready for any task with two different bar sizes. It comes with a 50-inch bar clamp set and a 24-inch bar clamp set.

This is especially great for professional carpenters as parallel clamps of various sizes have various use in carpentry. It is promised to provide 30% more clamping capability than the completion by allowing 2000N more clamping force.

Key Features

More clamping capacity: With 7000N of clamping force, the Bessey KRK2450 offers 30% greater clamping capacity.This means you can expect far better clamping than the competition.

Multiple bars: The kit comes with two sets of bars of distinct lengths. Two 24 inches and two 50". This ensures you are prepared for any project as both short and long parallel clamps have their own set of use in carpentry.

Soft pads: The clamps the padded with soft material. This will protect the workpiece from tearing, scraping, and marring. So, you can glue your workpieces with the worry of leaving behind any marks.

Edwards 70411 Parallel Clamps (40-inches)

Edwards 70411 also comes with two sets of clamps. One is a set of 24-inch clamps, and the other is 40-inch. The clamps are easily reversible to be used as a spreader.

It has four mounting holes and excellent build quality to provide maximum stability and accuracy during use.

Key Features

Ergonomic design: The soft grip allows for a comfortable grip and higher torque. This will allow you to adjust clamps easily.

Slide-glide trigger: The slide-glide trigger helps to quickly lock the clamps and maintain clamping pressure, which is vital for keeping the workpiece steady while you work.

Excellent clamping pressure: With 4500N of clamping pressure, you can be sure that your work is distortion-free and precise.

Jet 70460-2 Parallel Clamp (60-inches)

Coming from a well-trusted company such as Bora, you cannot expect any less than the best from the Bora 571140T. With 3.5 inch deep padded jaws, the parallel clamp holds your workpiece with stability and without any marring.

It has a large size comfortable grip handle that helps with extra clamping. The easy-grip handle allows quick and easy jaw adjustment. With up to 5000N of clamping pressure, you can be sure your workpiece is fixed in place tightly.

This one is certainly one of the best-rated parallel clamps in the market.

Key Features

Long bar: The 40-inch bars are adequate for both professional and personal use.

Deep throat: The 3.4-inch deep throat allows constant and even pressure applications.It ensures the stability of the workpiece as you continue working.

Anti-slip bottom jaw: With their anti-slip design Bora designed the bottom jaws to fix on your workpiece and prevent any movement tightly.

Padded clamps: The padded clamps are great in protecting your work from damage. So, you don't have to worry about tearing, scraping, or marring.

Bora 571140T Parallel Clamp Set (40-inches)

Coming from a well-trusted company such as Bora, you cannot expect any less than the best from the Bora 571140T. With 3.5 inch deep padded jaws, the parallel clamp holds your workpiece with stability and without any marring.

The easy-grip handle allows quick and easy jaw adjustment. With up to 5000N of clamping pressure, you can be sure your workpiece is fixed in place tightly. This one is certainly one of the best-rated parallel clamps in the market.

Key Features

Long bar: The 40-inch bars are adequate for both professional and personal use.

Deep throat: The 3.4-inch deep throat allows constant and even pressure applications.It ensures the stability of the workpiece as you continue working.

Anti-slip bottom jaw: With their anti-slip design Bora designed the bottom jaws to fix on your workpiece and prevent any movement tightly.

Padded clamps: The padded clamps are great in protecting your work from damage. So, you don't have to worry about tearing, scraping, or marring.

JORGENSEN 8036 Cabinet Master

At number 5 we have another one from the excellent Jorgensen brand, the Jorgensen 8036 cabinet master. This one is the shortest in our list of long parallel best bar clamps.

It has a maximum opening capacity of 36-inches and a maximum clamping force of 4500N. The Jorgensen 8036 is ideal for DIY craftsmen and hobbyists.

Key Features

Great build quality: The steel bar is supported by multiple clutch disks made of hardened high carbon steel, which provides one of the best build qualities in the market.

Deep clamps: The clamps are intense, allowing more evenly distributed pressure throughout the clamp for better fixity.

Excellent clamping force: The supported 4500N clamping force will guarantee that your workpiece is clamped still and show no signs of nudging.

Our Top Pick

For our pick for the best parallel bar clamps, we are going with the Bessey KRK2450. We picked this one as it comes with two sets of parallel clamps. For carpentry, there are uses for both long and short parallel clamps. And the Bessey KRK2450 happens to have the best of both.

The Bessey KRK2450 also has one of the highest maximum clamping forces in the market, reaching up to 7000N. About 1000N-2000N more than the nearest completion. So, with this, you can be sure that you are getting the best the market has to offer.

Best Reliable

If reliability is what we are talking about, then we have to go with the Edwards 70411. The company provides industry-leading customer service and offers over 40000 replacement parts.

This means you don't have to buy a new pair of clamps just because you broke or lost a small part of your clamps. Just buy new ones and fix them yourself.

Best Value

For the best value, we have the Bora 571140T. It offers a 40-inch bar size and 5000N of maximum clamping force, as we've previously discussed in the Bora parallel clamp review. Yet while promising so much, it is very reasonably priced.

For those looking for a set of parallel clamps that are reliable, versatile, and cheap, the Bora 571140T would be an ideal buy. Bora 571140T is the best parallel clamps for the money.

How To Choose The Best Parallel Clamps?

Choosing the clamps that fit you the best isn't an easy task. Just going with the best-rated parallel clamps, you can find in the market won't do you any good. For knowing how to choose parallel clamps that are perfect for fulfilling your needs, you have to consider a few things.

Here are the factors you should look for when choosing a parallel clamp:

Bar length

The first thing you should look for is the bar length. This should depend on the purpose of your purchase. If you are going to use the clamps for building small furniture like cabinets, then you can go with a 24" bar clamp. But for bigger projects, more extended parallel clamps might be necessary.

Sliding triggers

It is an excellent feature of a clamp. The sliding triggers help you to maintain proper clamping pressure and quickly fix the clamp lock. As a result, you will able to complete your task faster.

Build material

Make sure the parallel clamps you choose are built of decent materials that last long and are not very heavy. Poor build quality will result in bending and breaking of clamp parts, which not something to be desired.

Maximum clamping force

The higher the maximum clamping force of your parallel clamps, the better the performance will be. Greater clamping force ensures more reliable clamping and prevents nudging of the workpiece during work.

This is very important to maintain precision during the gluing of wooden boards.

Padded clamps

The clamps should be padded with soft materials. This will prevent any marring on your workpiece. This is very important for maintaining the quality of your work. This is especially important for professionals.

Handle

The handle should have a proper grip for easy clamping. It is preferred that the handle covered with rubber to allow maximum grip. Also, larger handles are handy as they help to provide greater torque during the fixation of the workpiece.

By keeping in mind these few simple things, you can easily buy the parallel clamps that best fits your work.

FAQ