How to Make a Clamping Board for Glue-Ups

Step-by-Step Guide: Creating a Custom Clamping Board for Seamless Glue Ups

When making a cutting board by gluing boards together, it is crucial to have a flat surface to place the boards and a way to clamp them together. This ensures that the glue creates a tight joint when it dries. This tutorial provides a solution by showing you how to make a clamping board for glue-ups. The board is made from scraps of plywood and has slick tape applied to the top to prevent the glue from sticking. The good news is that you can create this board in less than an hour and it is perfect for any cutting board project you may have!

Materials:

• Scrap piece of 3/4″ plywood at 14″ x 22″
• Scrap piece of 3/4″ plywood at 2-1/2″ x 22″
• Scrap piece of 3/4″ plywood at 2″ x 22″
• Roll of Tyvek tape (<– affiliate link!)
• Wood glue
• 1-1/2″ screws and drill
• 3 – 18″ clamps
• Assorted clamps for the top
• Assorted spacer blocks, if needed

Notes About the Project:

• The board can be made whatever size you want – I chose 14″ wide because the widest I can put in my planer is 12-1/2″ and I wanted to make sure it was narrower than that
• Clamps come in all shapes and sizes but the kind you will need are bar clamps (<– affiliate link!) or also known as “F” clamps that have an opening slightly wider than your board
• Sanding is not necessary but if you want to, do it!

Step One

Cut the pieces of plywood as indicated in the Materials List. Apply a strip of the Tyvek tape to one face of the 2-1/2″ piece of plywood, aligning the tape with one long edge. We’ll refer to this piece as the “back” later on in this tutorial.

Draw lines on the bottom of the 14″ x 22″ piece to represent the channels that will be cut for the clamps. I drew mine 6″ in from each end and in the center at 11″.

Secure the 2-1/2″ piece with the tape facing in and the bare portion of the piece (with no tape on it) facing the edge of the 14″ x 22″ piece using glue and screws. Make sure to position the screws so they don’t interfere with the channels that will be cut on the bottom!

Step Two

Cover the face of the 14″ x 22″ piece with strips of the Tyvek tape. Also, apply a strip of tape to one face of the remaining 2″ board.

Step Three

Use all safety precautions when performing this step!

Measure the thickness of the bar of the clamps – mine measured slightly less than 1/4″ thick. Cut channels in the bottom of the board assembly for the clamps using a table saw, a router or a circular saw. I cut mine approximately 1/2″ deep and 1/4″ wide. I did this by making several passes through the table saw moving the fence after each pass.

Now, position the clamps in the channels under the board. Apply glue to the strips for your cutting board, and assemble the board starting at the “back” board and work your way out. Once you get to the end, add the loose 2″ piece with the Tyvek tape on it facing the strips for the cutting board and tighten the clamps. An additional spacer or two may be needed as I did in the photo.

That’s it! This clamping board worked really well for adding pressure to the wood strips, and the cutting board came out great! It’s a gift for my son…

Have questions about how to make a clamping board for glue-ups? Leave a comment below!