Frontline Clamps Review

[justonething]

The Plano/panel max clamps are fiddly to use alright, especially when I want to adjust those lugs up and down. Not sure if I will ditch them for frontline though, because of the price difference and weight difference. Just hoping someone will come up with some hints to tame the plano beasts.

[aldav]

The Plano/panel max clamps are fiddly to use alright, especially when I want to adjust those lugs up and down. Not sure if I will ditch them for frontline though, because of the price difference and weight difference. Just hoping someone will come up with some hints to tame the plano beasts.

I guess it's adjusting the bottom assembly you're talking about? Have a look at this YT video, what you need to know is at about 1:10. Hope this helps.

[justonething]

link please?

[aldav]

link please?

Sorry, no point copying it if you forget to paste it.
Plano Glue Press - YouTube

[Sapherion]

Hey Ian,

That’s a very comprehensive review mate! You have gone in detail and results show no other clamps in the market can come close to comparing.

I have used these myself for many projects and it always brings me joy to pull them out (albeit their weight sometimes).

Thank you for taking the time to share.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[aarggh]

With regards to the comments earlier about the Frontlines taking up space, I mentioned I usually have them lined up against the wall for big stuff, but prior I made a simple assembly similar to the rail used on the Plano one which was really trivial to make, and really reduces the space taken. I've gotten rid of it some time back when I re-built the garage, but it was nothing special by any means, just a really simple rail that screwed to the wall sticking out about 20mm, with a wooden rail on the floor that stuck out about 100mm. I then screwed a piece of wood to the wall rail, so it was around 20mm above the top, then I simply cut up some U channel, and inserted this upside down into the end of the bottom Frontline clamp and over the wooden lip on the wall rail.

The 100mm wood on the floor, did two things, it angled the clamp slightly so timber didn't fall out, and it gave enough clearance to fit the top part of the clamp without effort. And the wooden lip on the rail with the U channel allowed the clamps to be positioned anywhere along it.

I'll try and draw something up to illustrate this, I don't know if Con actually sells something like this, but it negates the argument about not being able to clamp vertically, and it's practically nil cost.

cheers, Ian

[aarggh]

I bought three Frontline clamps yesterday after watching Steve's YouTube videos. That was a REAL lucky break for me. I was planning on buying the Plano clamps. While I was at the factory chatting with Con, he showed me this review. Thanks aarggh for an informative and entertaining read. I really appreciate the detail.


aldav. Con also sells a trolley stand set, so that you can move them around. They will still be horizontal but you can move them out of the way.

Attachment 477755

Happy to help! Especially so with such a great Aussie product!

[aarggh]

So I'm hoping this illustrates what I was talking about regards to a simple rail design I used that allowed me to use the Frontlines vertically.

I did plan on making the floor rail fixed to the top rail, so it could be mounted at any height, but never got around to it. And now don't really have a pressing need for it anyway as I just lean them up against the wall at a slight angle so the timber stays put while gluing up.

If it's wanted, I could draw up a better diagram to illustrate this, but it's pretty trivial to do really.

cheers, Ian

[Pat]

I find baking paper is the best for glue ups.

Good expose on the frontline clamps.

[BEM]

Thanks for the diagram Ian. It helps visualise what you did.

[joez]

Amazing review, love my frontlines, my biggest regret is I only bought 4

[aarggh]

Amazing review, love my frontlines, my biggest regret is I only bought 4

Thanks! 4's a good number, you can do a full sized dining table with 4. But I know what you mean, I absolutely love mine too!

[martink]

I have 6 of these bad boys. Have used them for over a dozen panels so far of various lengths and depths. All came out dead flat and with a little sanding they are just fine. No biscuits, dowels, splines or dominos required, just mill, apply glue and clamp - simple. The only thing you need to watch out for is that you DO NOT add too much clamping force; they don't take much to get them clamped up tight. Great if your hands are not what they used to be.

And as others have mentioned built like a brick s***house!!!

[martink]

Thanks! 4's a good number, you can do a full sized dining table with 4. But I know what you mean, I absolutely love mine too!

Am not too sure about that one, I bought 6 and now need another 2! I guess you can never have enough clamps.

[aarggh]

Am not too sure about that one, I bought 6 and now need another 2! I guess you can never have enough clamps.

You definitely can't have too many! Everytime I use mine I'm just in awe at how well they perform and are constructed!

I ended up also buying 4 sets of the extended height 1200mm clamps, just sensational!