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The Merle Band Clamp
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- Reviews
The Merle Band Clamp feature quick release corners and pivoting, self-adjusting jaws that align to any angle, even circles!
Includes a 23 ft. steel banding reel, four quick release corners,and four pivoting jaw inserts. The flexible jaw inserts are non-marring and are easily removed. They are made of high impact ABS plastic for a long life and heavy use.
Ships with a 23 ft. STEEL banding reel (additional reels available).
WOOD Magazine Merle Review
Merle Clamp Instructions (PDF)
Merle Clamp
Includes 23' steel banding reel, 4 quick release corners, and 4 pivoting jaw inserts
#9012..................$34.95 
Aluminum Quick Release Corners and Jaw Inserts
Includes a pack of 4 corners and 4 jaw inserts
#9013.............$22.95
Replacement Steel Reel
Reel with 23 feet of steel banding
#9009.............$12.95
Pivoting Jaw Inserts
Pack of 10 self-adjusting jaw inserts.
Use to retrofit our old Merle clamp
#9014..............$7.00
all customer reviews and ratings
Average Customer Rating: (13 reviews)
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By Nicholas Krisa (Lincoln CA US)
Used for the first time to make jewelry boxes and inside trays. Excellent results. Much easier to use than many traditional clamps. Very inventive design and relatively inexpensive.
Con: Agree, band reel is clumsy, but usable.
By Douglas Hawkins (Dayton OH US)
I bought the set of four with extra jaws. These are excellent clamps, but plan on an hour or two learning before you do a glue up.
The jaws are one inch wide, and if your project is narrower, (my outside edge was 3/8th inch), you will need spacers under the project to raise it to the middle of the jaws. Otherwise, the band WILL tilt the pieces during glue up, resulting in a messed up project.
The clamp worked extremely well for glueing a raised panel door with rubber space balls to keep the panel from rattling. The clamp forced the sides together with ease.
By Jim H (Ottawa On CA)
Used these to edge 1/2" Baltic Birch with 1/2" x 1/2" Mahogany. Very impressed, clamped well with no slippage.
By Vernon Lee (Mattapan Ma US)
Tell me something how are do you reel in the band without all that spring action other then that I think it's a good product.
By Robert Daisher (Lake Placid Fl US)
I owned 4 of these clamps for a long, long time. They are great to use, you will not be disappointed with them.
By Richard Gray (Golconda IL US)
When I first used this clamp I thought what a waste of money. It has a learning curve to it and after countless uses on portrait frames and display cases, I have to say this was one of the best purchases that I have ever made for my woodworking shop. It is incredible. I just finished a 52"x17" rifle display case with perfectly square corners. I have messed with many framing clamps, but none like this. Once you solve that minor learning curve, it's fantastic.
By M Hoover (Berrysburg PA US)
This is the best band clamp I have ever used. It gives equal clamp pressure at all joints and squares your project at the same time. This will never happen with nylon strap clamps.
It took a couple trial runs to get the hang of how it works, now it's a breeze.
I will be buying more as the need arises.
Thanks MLCS for all the great products
By Bill (Inwood WV US)
Excellent Clamp! Will buy more. Easy to use and achieves even pressure on all four corners as advertised.
By Leonard Budny (Depew NY US)
I used to hate making frames of any kind. It was never easy to get them clamped up to produce good, tight joints. When I needed to make a frame for an antique leaded glass window I decided to try the Merle Clamp. My original expectation was "just another band clamp" but I was surprised at the results this clamp produced. Great, tight joints. As long as your miters are true you'll always get a strong, square frame. I'm still not a fan of making frames, but with the Merle Clamp I get the results I'm looking for. Highly recommended.
By John Schaben (La Crosse KS US)
I have had this thing for a few months and it is excellent for what it was designed for; Clamping large, multi-sided projects. If you are looking for something to clamp small projects like clocks, picture frames or the like, keep shopping. This will just be an exercise in frustration and futility.
For larger projects, from boxes up it works very well. The steel band seems a bit cumbersome at first, but once you get the hang of it is an advantage. Admittedly, there is a bit of a learning curve associated with dealing with the rigidity of the steel but with a little practice it becomes a real advantage. There is a bit of an issue at first with rolling the band up also as it doesn't like to slide along itself very well, at first. But some use and a few judicious applications of graphite alleviate this problem.
Overall a reasonably good acquisition and I will probably get another to make a set.
By Sean Bell (Burlington Ne US)
I have 18 and I love them. They square your product for you I need ten more but I will buy 3 four packs....much better deal. They are the BEST band clamps out there by far.
By Art Maki (Buhl Mi US)
Not worth a crap if your material is thinner. Bought it because of the video With mitered doors, but wasn't happy with it.
By H Wilson (West Jefferson Oh US)
Works like a charm.