I was gluing up a large worktop the other day and thought that readers may be able to make use of what I call bench beams. Basically these are runners that hold the work at a convinient height allowing access to both sides; simply made from two strips of 6 inch wide three quarter plywood glued and screwed together. Then when gluing up a large top of other structure it is a simple matter to get the clamps underneath the work without disrupting what ever it is that you are sticking together. I should add that I placed a clamp on top for photographic purposes but normally there would be a selection of clamps on both sides of the work to even out the pressure and prevent any chance of cupping.
One word of caution however, and that is do make the beams accurately and second make sure that the bench top that you are using them with is flat also. Any twist in the bench top and this will be transferred to whatever it is that you are gluing up.
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