Tools For Cabinetmaking

What makes a great gift for a cabinet maker? You would think that any quality woodworking tool makes a good gift, but how do you choose from all the thousands of products available?  Here’s two of my top picks for a perfect gift to give.

Clamps

There is no more important piece of equipment in a cabinet shop then clamps! It’s a safe bet that the cabinetmaker your buying a gift for has clamps. The thing here is it’s never enough! Cabinetmakers never have enough clamps and can always use more, always! The best and most common sizes that are used routinely are the 6″, 12″, and 24″. The Bessey company produces a top quality clamp in a variety of sizes, styles, and functionality. This is the only brand I use or recommend. Watch video or read my post on these clamps.

Kreg Pocket Hole Jig

Kreg Jig Master System

This may seem redundant because I’ve already posted on the Kreg Jig but I believe this tool should be a gift to consider. Not that expensive, it will add many more options to the cabinetmaker when considering assembly of cabinets. It allows face frame joinery without the use of bar clamps. Also, this type of construction can be applied to many situations and help the cabinetmaker in a variety of areas. See video and more comments in my post on the Kreg Jig.

Read my posts on other tools for cabinetmaking. Any one of them would make a great gift for the cabinet maker in your life.

Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all.

Off all the clamps I have used in the 20+ years that I’ve been doing cabinetmaking and mill work I have found that the best clamps are made by the Bessey Corporation. My shop carries  several different kinds of clamps, in various sizes and lengths. We typically are using the standard Bessey general purpose clamps during cabinet face frame attachment. 12″, 18″, and 24″ are the most used. These clamps have a a nice 1″ thick, notched, steel bar. The clamping heads  have available plastic cushions and the grip handle is bigger then the cheaper clamps that are around. Also, the threads on the screw post are hardened and spiral very smoothly. Considering these clamps as part of your shop would not be a mistake at all. A definite  must have tool for cabinetmaking.

In our shop we’ve built a portable rack on wheels. Having the ability

to bring you clamps close to the work being done is much more efficient and saves time. Bigger and much longer clamps like 3/4″ pipe or bar clamps can even be mounted on the rack. Bessey “K” body clamps are the most popular clamp for door assembly and glue-up. Because their jaws remain square to the face when you tighten them up the pressure applied is even across the surface of your material.

If you have a shop and build any type of cabinetry you know how

REVO K Body

important clamps are. There never seems to be enough, and you can always use more. When thinking about tools for cabinetmaking, clamps are at the top of the list to get and I recommend Bessey