The 10 Best Angle Clamps

Editor's Notes

May 07, 2021:

These angle clamps are designed for use when accuracy is absolutely imperative. They have dual jaws, which are perfectly aligned and are used to hold two lengths of material at a 90-degree angle, in order to be attached together. There are several considerations to take into account when choosing the most suitable model, namely, the materials it will be used for, the width of the material, and the tightness of the grip.

Those working with metal will often need to weld the join, therefore a heavy-duty, heat-resistant option is preferable. The Kaufhof KV4W, the Bessey WSM-12, and the Kaka Industrial AC-60 are made from cast iron for durability, and the latter two have copper coated spindle screws that resist weld splatter. Framers, on the other hand, don't need such a hardwearing tool, but rather require something that is lightweight and quick to remove. The Miusuk 90 Degree is a set of four, plastic clams that hold the wood steady with a spring, and can be used with one hand. Alternatively, the Bessey VAS23 Vario uses a woven polyester strap that is long enough to fit around the entire frame, keeping the desired shape while it is fastened together. We also added the versatile Kreg KHCCC, which is notable for its V-wedge jaws that are operated with a ratcheting handle and quick release lever, allowing it to be quickly applied and removed as needed.

March 16, 2020:

During this round of updates, we removed several offerings due to availability issues, including the ZFE TZ7100 and Impakt Tools 9-inch. Our new additions are the Irwin Tools Quick Grip 226410, a reasonably priced model with a decent build quality that’s backed by a lifetime warranty; the Evwoge Positioning Squares, a pair of 5-1/2-inch aluminum squares, each equipped with its own pair of clamps to keep material snug; and the Miusuk 90 Degree, a plastic model that comes at an excellent price but isn’t built for heavy-duty applications, although it remains suitable for work on some picture frames craft projects.

A few things to get a grip on before you decide which model to buy:

Capacity: Each unit in this category is limited by the respective size of its jaws or, in the case of the Evwoge Positioning Squares, the size of its clamp attachments. Consider what size of stock you’re hoping to work on with these clamps, and make sure you pick an option with a jaw size that exceeds that number. While top-end models like the Bessey WSM-12 can handle material wider than four inches and the Irwin Tools Quick Grip 226410 can accommodate boards as wide as three inches, others are severely limited. The Miusuk 90 Degree, for example can’t handle material much wider than 3/4-inch.

Quantity: While you can typically get away with using a single clamp, and working on one corner at a time, it’s sometimes nice, especially when working on light-duty, square projects like picture frames, to get all four corners lined up at the same time. If this is an approach that sounds agreeable to you, then consider budgeting for a set of four. The Miusuk 90 Degree comes in a pack of four, presumably with this in mind, and the Bessey VAS23 Vario uses a single tool to act as four clamps simultaneously, so long as the perimeter of structure it’s holding doesn’t exceed 23 feet.

Installation: While light-duty options, like the ones we discussed in the last point, tend to have slight, lightweight designs that make them easy store on a shelf or in a tool bag until they’re needed, serious carpenters looking to outfit their workshops are likely interested in heavy-duty models that can be permanently fixed to a worktable. Many models, including the MLCS 9001 Can-Do, Hobart 770565 and Bessey WSM-12 feature slotted designs that make it easy to bolt them down. The Bessey Tools WS-3+2K comes with a pair of table clamps, to help facilitate simple, semi-permanent installation.