Jorgensen

Jorgensen clamps hold boards for edge-gluing, cabinet parts for assembly and irregular pieces for bench work. For woodworkers tackling those jobs, bar clamps provide adjustable holding along the bar, while handscrews let you angle the jaws to suit the piece. Start with the shape of the work.

Jorgensen is the woodworking-tool brand paired with Pony under the Pony Jorgensen name. Pony Jorgensen was founded in Chicago in 1903. The historical Adjustable Clamp Company continues as Pony Jorgensen, a subsidiary of Arrow Fastener and Hangzhou GreatStar Industrial Co., Ltd. The Jorgensen handscrew dates to Hans Jorgensen’s design with steel adjusting screws and adjustable jaws.

Steel bar clamps for glue-ups and cabinets

Jorgensen steel bar clamps have powder-coated cast-iron heads and a high-carbon, rust-resistant steel bar. That’s construction worth choosing for repeated glue-ups. The multiple-disc clutch lets the sliding head hold anywhere along the bar. Bring the head close to your work, then use the screw to apply pressure, leaving yourself some screw travel before tightening.

The range includes sizes and clamping forces for light-, medium- and heavy-duty applications. Choose the opening around the whole assembly, including any protective blocks between the jaws and your wood.

Overtightening is the mistake to watch for when edge-gluing. The board edges need to fit before you apply pressure. Dry-fit the joint, then tighten gradually while watching that the board faces stay flush.

These bar clamps also suit cabinet carcasses and drawers. Bring the joints together gently, compare the corner-to-corner measurements and correct the alignment while the glue is still workable. Jorgensen parallel clamps have broad pressure surfaces and parallel jaws that help keep cabinet carcasses, drawers and frames aligned during assembly.

Handscrews for broad contact and angled work

Jorgensen handscrews use seasoned, straight-grain hard maple jaws with cold-drawn steel spindles and double-lead threaded nuts. Their broad wooden jaws spread pressure over more of your work. Use that contact area where a small pad would concentrate the load.

The jaws can adjust at an angle to grip irregular shapes. For a tapered piece, adjust the screws until the jaw faces follow the work, then seat them before tightening firmly.

Wooden jaws help reduce indentations on soft surfaces, but excessive pressure or trapped grit can still leave a mark. Keep the contact faces clean and use protective scraps on a face that will show.

Track-clamp fit

Jorgensen advertises the E-Z HOLD track clamp for most guide rails, so check its fit in your particular rail before choosing it.

Pony Jorgensen provides a limited lifetime warranty against deficiencies in materials and workmanship, with exclusions for misuse, abuse, alterations and damage from improper repairs.

Specifications

Clamp component	Specification
Steel bar clamp heads	Orange powder-coated cast iron
Steel bar clamp bar	High-carbon, rust-resistant steel
Steel bar clamp bar tensile strength	80,000 psi
Steel bar clamp holding mechanism	Multiple-disc clutch
Steel bar clamp screw	Cold-drawn steel with swivel pad
Handscrew jaws	Seasoned, straight-grain hard maple
Handscrew spindles and nuts	Cold-drawn steel spindles; nuts with double-lead threads

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Jorgensen clamps any good?

Yes. Jorgensen steel bar clamps have cast-iron heads and a multiple-disc clutch that holds the sliding head anywhere along the bar, so you can set the jaws close before tightening the screw. Replacement pads are available for light-, medium- and heavy-duty steel bar clamps, so a worn pad doesn’t mean replacing the whole clamp.

How do you use Jorgensen clamps?

Set out your Jorgensen clamps and dry-fit the assembly before spreading glue, so you aren’t sorting out the setup while the glue starts to set. Bring the jaws close to the work, then tighten gradually while checking alignment. You need enough pressure to close a properly fitted joint; extra force won’t fix edges that don’t fit.

What are Jorgensen bar clamps used for?

Jorgensen bar clamps are useful for edge-gluing boards, assembling cabinet carcasses and drawers, and laminating stock. You can also use them to hold workpieces during mortise cutting and dado routing. For those machining jobs, position the clamps so they hold the piece securely and stay clear of the cutter’s path.

What kinds of Jorgensen E-Z HOLD clamps are there?

The Jorgensen E-Z HOLD range includes light-duty and heavy-duty jack clamps and a track saw clamp. The track saw clamp has a concealed quick-release trigger in its handle, which lets you release it without winding back a screw. It’s intended for most guide rails, so you’ll need to check the fit with your particular rail.