A band clamp is a type of fastener that does not require any tools for installation and can be used quickly and easily.
A band clamp is also known as a bungee web clamp, elastic bands and elastics or rubber bands. They are one of the most popular types of fasteners for hanging heavy objects on walls. An example of a band clamp is a web clamp, often used for objects with irregular shapes.
Band clamps can be used to hang items on walls, including light fixtures like lighting, ceiling fans and pendants, large tools like drills, saws, and shop vacuum, mirrors and picture frames; shelves; TVs & speakers; almost anything weighing less than about 60kgs.
A band clamp is made up of rubber bands, also called elastics or webbing. The elastic is centre-mounted on the connecting piece and forms an X shape when looked at from above, with each arm of the X being stretched taut over its respective object (light fixture, wall shelf, etc). The X shape, when positioned correctly and tightened evenly, holds the objects in place.
The band clamps themselves usually come in packs of 10 to 100 and are commonly used on all sorts of carpentry jobs.A band clamp is suitable for hanging heavy objects to walls, as mentioned above. You can use it for creating assemblies of both ferrous and non-ferrous metals. When used to hold ferrous metals, ensure the band clamp is positioned correctly to prevent distortion of the object's shape. An example of ferrous metals is aluminium, while steel and iron are examples of non-ferrous metals. There are other applications of the band clamp too, listed below.
Store fixtures, such as mannequins and clothing racks, on pallets to make the store look better.
Hang garden equipment from a steel beam in your garage or workshop.
Mounting wheels to reduce the risk of them getting dents.
Tying down cargo in the back of your truck, so it doesn't bounce around or go missing.
Hanging objects with a band clamp are pretty straightforward, but here are some tips for getting started.
Make sure the rubber bands are in good shape. If they're old and stretched out, replace them. You can check by stretching them to their full length and checking if they return to their original size afterwards.
Be careful that whatever you are hanging is securely fastened to the supporting beam to prevent the risk of falling - e.g., wall studs or ceiling joists, otherwise your object will come crashing down.
Don't stretch the elastic too tight because this could damage what you're hanging. The rubber bands are strong, but not that strong.
Remove dust and dirt from surfaces before applying band clamps to ensure a good hold.
There are individual band clamps for specific purposes in woodworking; they include the below.
Circular saw guide.
Crosscut guide.
Dowel pointer.
Dowel jig.
Each of these is built to hold your wood in place while carrying out a particular task (e.g. cutting). Each is meant to be used with its specific accessory (e.g, circular saw, router, etc.). They are not interchangeable, so make sure you know which one you need before making your purchase.
Strap clamps are similar to band clamps, but instead of using rubber bands, a strap clamp uses nylon straps with the body often made of plastic. They are also known as nylon web clamps or fabric webbing clamps. They come in a range of sizes and strengths, from heavy-duty for carrying objects weighing up to about 60kg to very light-duty ones with a limit of less than 5kg. Like band clamps, strap clamps do not require any tools for installation and can be installed quickly and easily, just pull it tight to provide consistent tension and start work. Use them to hang light fixtures like lighting, ceiling fans and pendants; extensive tools like drills, saws, shop vacuums; mirrors & frames; shelves; TVs & monitors; small appliances like microwave ovens, coffee makers and blenders. Strap clamps are also helpful for hanging heavy objects to garage or basement ceilings by being tightened evenly around the rafters instead of attaching them directly to the ceiling joists.
Backplate clamps are used to attach a light fixture with a box-style body with no straight edges onto a flat surface. You can think of it as an upside-down strap clamp, where one end of the "strap" attaches on the backside of the object and wraps around a supporting beam, while the other end attaches to a mounting plate that is secured to your wall. You'll need four backplate clamps for installing one light fixture, two on each side of the fixture. Place them so they're not visible from the front. To install a backplate clamp: place it onto the backside of your object and pull any slack in the strap through to the other side; attach a mounting plate to your wall where you want it to be; align and push the mounting plate toward the object so that it fits between the straps and tighten by pulling hard on both ends of the adjustable strap for a firm hold.
You can also use it to organise cables or cords by wrapping the clamp around a handful of them and locking them in place. It is beneficial to move your computer and entertainment equipment around (e.g., taking it with you on vacation).
Ratchet band clamps are generally used for creating assemblies. They keep objects together, such as making curved wooden parts stick together while doing various carpentry jobs. They're not meant to hold a heavy work piece.As with other band clamps, these come with their own set of instructions: make sure that whatever material you clamp together gets a firm grip so that the object won't drop when you let go of it; avoid stretching them too tight as this will make them lose their hold; don't let the ratchet mechanism become wet as it might jam and break.
These are also known as cam clamps, bar clamps or multi-grip clamps. They consist of a rubberised hand knob on one end and a clamping arm extending to various lengths by turning the handle's wheel clockwise against it.
Multi-grip clamps also come in two types: long bar type and U-type. The long handle version is used for significant assembly work,such as when building formwork carpentry, while the U-type provides more stability but has limited reach. Both feature a simple push lever system that enables users to release their hold, hence its name quickly.Place the piece that you're trying to secure in the jaws of the clamp; once positioned, push down on the handle knob so it can close tightly against it; move to where you want to set the object and tighten by turning the wheel clockwise until securely held in place; if your work requires adjusting or repositioning, release clamping pressure by pushing down on the release lever and repeat until it is clamped correctly for a firm grip. Stay safe while doing any woodworking project. SafeWork New South Wales have a great guide to avoiding health hazards while working with wood.