Tool Options To Help Keep Your Project In Place

Often times you’re wrenching on your project by yourself. And sometimes you need an extra hand. While we can’t help you out with the extra hands, we can recommend some tools that will help hold down your project.

First up are good, old-fashioned locking pliers. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, are adjustable to fit a wide range of material, and can be locked into place once everything is where you want it. A simple release lever then releases your piece.

Next up are magnets. We use them in the shops all the time. They provide 45º, 60º, 75º, 90ª, 105º, 120º, and 135º angles and they don’t attach to your workpiece until you engage them. Pivot angle magnets can offer anywhere from 0º and 270º placement and are very strong.

If you’re working on a welding jig table you have a lot of the same basic tools. There are drop-in locking pliers, ratcheting action clamp, and your basic c-clamp. There are also ball-lock bolts and right-angle brackets. In addition, there are elevating brackets and drop-in adapters that fit tube stock or square stock.

If you’re riveting or putting body panels together, the gadget you want is clecos. They act like temporary rivets. You insert them into your workpiece with your cleco pliers and once you’ve riveted or spot-welded your pieces together, you use the cleco pliers to remove the cleco.

Last but not least are your self-tapping screws. They are the most economical option.