Clamp and Fastening Tool Reviews & Buying Guides

Fastening tools include clamps, powder actuated tools, rivet guns, and other specialized hand tools. In addition to those, we provide clamp reviews that cover all types of clamps for the Pro carpenter or remodeler. Fastening tools and clamp reviews take us into a broad category, but they’re important to nearly all trades. Whether fastening a piece of material down using a set of DeWalt trigger clamps or using a Kreg Automaxx bar clamp to glue boards, fastening tools and clamps are key. Fastening Tools and Clamp Reviews for the Trades The thing about fastening and trades is that each one has its share of tools in the category. With woodworking, we review lots of clamps and even some glue guns. For decking and framing, a Rockwell Jawhorse may be a key component to securing pieces about to the fastened with other tools. On a roofing project, a tool like the Bostitch anti-vibe hammer tacker may be used for securing tar paper. Finally, in decking, you can find products like the CAMO Marksman Pro X1 hidden deck fastening system.

Rockler Universal Fence Clamps with Clamp-It Review

Rockler Universal Fence Clamps with Clamp-It Review

This won’t be a long review, mostly because the tool under scrutiny is so easy to use. Rockler introduced its Universal Clamp-It Kit several months ago. This is a clamp set designed to give you a “third arm” when assembling frames, drawers, or any two pieces of stock wood at 90 degrees. Anyone who’s done this type of work will recognize that clamping a perfect 90° angle can be a pain without the right jigs and clamps. Rockler’s new Clamp-It and Fence looks to be a good “one person” solution that simplifies the process of tightly and securely joining stock.

ZipWall ZipDoor Dust Barrier Solution for Doorways

ZipWall ZipDoor Dust Barrier Solution for Doorways

We attended the 2012 International Builders Show in Orlando, Florida and were making our rounds when our eye was caught by the ZipDoor. This is a dust barrier product that makes it super-easy to cover a doorway and seal off a room from dust ingress and/or egress. The ZipDoor kit comes with everything you need, including a roll of tape and plastic lining and is designed for use in residential or commercial applications. Featuring ZipWall’s new double-sided tape and heavy duty, glued-in zippers, the ZipDoor installs – literally – in under one minute to provide a complete dust barrier. The ZipDoor is made of 4 mil plastic sheeting and comes in both standard (doors up to 3’x7′) and commercial (doors up to 4’x8′) sizes. In addition to being larger, the commercial version of the ZipDoor is also fire retardant.

Dow Great Stuff PRO 15 Gun Review

Dow Great Stuff PRO 15 Gun Review

The Pro 15 is Dow’s answer to dispensing its Great Stuff Pro expanding foam consistently and easily. It’s a one-handed tool that allows the PRO cans to fasten securely to the top and dispense a bead of expanding foam anywhere from 1/8″ to 3″ in thickness. If you do a lot of construction work, or you are in the specialty trades like plumbing, electrical or weatherization, you’re going to want a tool like this to simplify what can be a very tedious and time-intensive task. Once you use a dispensing gun, you won’t want to go back to manual cans. Add to that the fact that Dow’s Great Stuff Gun can help you to use your cans longer and reduce waste and it just might save you money over the long haul.