Like most woodworkers, I am a firm believer in the old adage that you can never have enough clamps. So, whenever a new clamp comes on the scene, I’m anxious to give it a try. My latest discovery is the 2-in-1 dovetail track clamp from Microjig.

Track time
With the proliferation of track saws, router guides, and clamping fixtures based on holes or tracks, there is an increasing need — and opportunity — for tailormade clamps that work with these fixtures. While some companies focus on power tools that happen to use tracks, Microjig has developed a whole clamping system based on dovetail slots with versatile clamps that happen to work in most other track and hole-based clamping systems.

The new 2-in-1 dovetail clamp extends that family of tools with new features. It’s a basic steel L-bar with a sliding screw clamp, but that’s just the beginning.

 

Secure and adaptable
The first innovation you’ll notice is a simple spring that has been added to the clamp arm to keep the arm from doing that annoying bit of falling down the bar when it’s most inconvenient. The spring keeps the clamp arm where you put it. Why didn’t someone else think of this before?!

The other innovation is the addition of a Microjig X-Pad on the clamp screw. This pad is more than a non-marring clamping caul. It has two intersecting angled grooves in the face that allow you to clamp with downward and in-line pressure with the same clamp. The grooves are also handy for getting purchase on irregular or round workpieces.

Custom clamping
Because the clamp bar end has a dovetail profile, you can make custom clamping fixtures out of plywood with dovetail slots for the clamps. Microjig offers instructions and jigs to easily make dovetail grid fixtures that can be used in stationary applications or as a sled on a table saw or router table. You can also make fixtures that fit over your table saw fence to facilitate things like tenon jigs.

This is the kind of tool that becomes more indispensable the more you use it. Clamping range is 8.5 inches and lamping force is up to 595 pounds at 4 inches. The clamp fits into a standard ½-inch, 14-degree dovetail slot. The clamps cost about $30 each. Learn more at microjig.com.