Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
One of the most frustrating parts of clamping during a glue up is movement. You line everything up perfect, add pressure, and suddenly things start shifting. Shifting stock turns into uneven ridges, steps and parts that aren't flush. And then you’re either starting over...or sanding things down just to make them work.
What we need is something to bridge these pieces and keep them from drifting when the clamps go on. To do this, we’ll use a simple tool called a caul.
This is a caul, this is a caul, and this is a call…but not the kind we need.
Cauls solve this by acting as a stop, keeping the stock from drifting when the clamps go on.
But unless you’re using metal cauls, you’ll run into another issue. Most cauls are made of wood. If you’re using enough glue on your project, you’re going to get squeeze-out. And now instead of helping, your stock becomes part of your cauls.
A common method is paste wax. But even then, if you forget to reapply it, you’re back to undoing stuck cauls.
The best substitute is packaging tape. It’s slick, glue won’t stick to it, and it’s easy to add along the glue line of your cauls.
Besides keeping glue off, there’s another bonus. That slick surface helps prevent parts from grabbing and shifting while you’re tightening the clamps.
Check out my other channel! → @makethingswithrob
Become a patron! → patreon.com/makethings ←
Huge thank you to my patrons that keep this thing going!
*MAKER TEAM*
Michelle B
Keith Current
Rich Lightfoot
Tutor the Barbarian
Aubrey G.
Nukebert
Sam W.
Aaron Knows DIY
G. Salazar
David B.
Marc B.
Richard B.
Ben. K
Bill Patterson
D. Lundman
Make Things
#MakeThings #mtbitesize
One of the most frustrating parts of clamping during a glue up is movement. You line everything up perfect, add pressure, and suddenly things start shifting. Shifting stock turns into uneven ridges, steps and parts that aren't flush. And then you’re either starting over...or sanding things down just to make them work.
What we need is something to bridge these pieces and keep them from drifting when the clamps go on. To do this, we’ll use a simple tool called a caul.
This is a caul, this is a caul, and this is a call…but not the kind we need.
Cauls solve this by acting as a stop, keeping the stock from drifting when the clamps go on.
But unless you’re using metal cauls, you’ll run into another issue. Most cauls are made of wood. If you’re using enough glue on your project, you’re going to get squeeze-out. And now instead of helping, your stock becomes part of your cauls.
A common method is paste wax. But even then, if you forget to reapply it, you’re back to undoing stuck cauls.
The best substitute is packaging tape. It’s slick, glue won’t stick to it, and it’s easy to add along the glue line of your cauls.
Besides keeping glue off, there’s another bonus. That slick surface helps prevent parts from grabbing and shifting while you’re tightening the clamps.
Check out my other channel! → @makethingswithrob
Become a patron! → patreon.com/makethings ←
Huge thank you to my patrons that keep this thing going!
*MAKER TEAM*
Michelle B
Keith Current
Rich Lightfoot
Tutor the Barbarian
Aubrey G.
Nukebert
Sam W.
Aaron Knows DIY
G. Salazar
David B.
Marc B.
Richard B.
Ben. K
Bill Patterson
D. Lundman
Make Things
#MakeThings #mtbitesize
