Seven Original Ways to Use Clamps in Everyday Life

If you’ve been doing housework for any length of time, you probably have a few trusty old clamps lying around. Clamps have been used for thousands of years. They’re one of those incredibly simple tools that just work. And they’re also one of those tools you tend to collect in multiples of varying sizes.

Clamps are typically used for, well, holding things together, like two pieces of wood, or for holding something in place while working (I often use them when cutting wood to keep both hands on the saw, as I’m allergic to emergency rooms). But in reality, clamps are a very versatile tool that can be used in a variety of creative yet useful ways. Here are a few of my favorite ways to reuse old clamps.

Carrying handle

When you need to move something bulky, heavy, or awkward, having some temporary handles always makes the task easier. Having a few clamps is a godsend: simply attach a couple of them to the item you’re moving, and you’ll instantly have handles that make transporting it a little easier. They can also be used as handles for rolled materials like carpets or mats—simply thread the roll through a couple of clamps, tighten them, and move on.

The Silent Hammer

We’ve all been there: you need to hammer a nail, but there’s no room to swing the hammer, or for some reason you don’t feel like hammering hard. The solution is your trusty clamp: simply slide the clamp over the nail head and tighten. The clamping action will relentlessly (and silently) hammer the nail into place. Sure, it’s not the most efficient way to hammer a lot of nails, but in tight spaces, it’s a brilliant solution.

Emergency wrench

Need to tighten or loosen a fastener but don’t have a wrench handy? Tighten a C-clamp around the bolt, coupling, or connection point until it grips the part snugly, then slowly turn it in the desired direction. Make sure the clamp is tight enough to prevent slippage, and you may need to use something (a piece of cloth will do) to protect the connection from damage while you work.

Wire organizer

Whether you’re organizing all those extension cords and power cables on a workbench or construction site, or organizing computer cables on your industrial-style desk, C-clamps will help keep all those cords organized and out of the way in an emergency. Simply gather the cords at the edge of a desk or cabinet and secure them with the clamps. This is an ideal temporary solution, as the cords can pass freely through the clamps without risk of damage, and the clamps can be removed when the job is done.

Bookends

Need bookends to hold items on a shelf? A couple of clamps attached to the outer edge and clamped as deep as possible will do the trick. This could even become a permanent design solution if you prefer a rustic or industrial style.

Anchors

C-clamps are ideal when you need attachment points but don’t want to permanently attach anything, which would require fasteners and drilling. Need a clothesline to dry your laundry when your dryer breaks? Two clamps and some rope or twine are plenty. Need to hang tools, clothes, or anything else? Clamps attached to any shelf, combined with a hook, will do the trick. Need to secure a tablecloth or other throw? Nothing secures items to a horizontal surface better than clamps.

Spool holder

Whether you’re winding filament onto a 3D printer or using twine or wire as a guide while working on a project, placing the spool on the C-clamp and then locking it in place provides a secure, pull-on grip. This means you won’t have to reposition the spool each time you need extra flexibility, and you can easily detach and reposition the spool if you’re moving while working.

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