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Get a Hold
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These helpful grips can do more than steady lumber. Here are 10 ways to put them to work.
1. Make Rustic Bookends
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Secure oversize C-clamps on a bookshelf to keep books standing upright and looking orderly.
2. Let it Pinch-Hit as a Pipe Wrench
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Tighten a C-clamp around a stubborn pipe's connector. Grab the clamp like a handle and twist it to loosen the pipe.
3. Ferry Project Materials
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Fasten clamps to oversize sheet goods that are awkward to carry. The clamps create handles, allowing you to get a better grip and more leverage.
4. Create a Storage Unit
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Arrange several inexpensive wood crates into a shelving unit, then give them a coat of paint or stain. Hold them snugly in place with clamps to build a custom furniture piece—no power tools needed.
5. Secure a Garage Door
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Attach a C-clamp 3 inches or larger to each garage-door track before heading out on vacation, to prevent the door from opening; many would-be burglars can pick a standard garage-door lock.
6. Help Clear Drains
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If the kitchen sink backs up, tighten a C-clamp onto the dishwasher hose before plunging. Doing this will help direct all of the plunger's power down the drainpipe and directly to the clog.
7. Critter-Proof Your Garbage Cans
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Use a large C-clamp to hold together the lid and the base handle of a garbage can to keep raccoons and squirrels out of the trash.
8. Corral Cords
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Attach small clamps to the top and bottom of a leg of your workstation; run the cords from your power tools through their openings to keep them out of the way.
9. Rig a Clothesline
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Attach one C-clamp to a deck rail or post and a second one several feet away, to a tree branch or fence, then string a clothesline between them. This way, you won't have to screw a hook directly into your structure, and the parts will be easy to remove when the weather cools.
10. Anchor a Tablecloth
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Use a few small C-clamps on the corners of your outdoor table to prevent your dining setup from blowing away on gusty days.