I needed a way to keep some small frames square as I glued them together. This glueup jig is a simple solution to the problem. The jig secures the frame between two clamp bars to keep it square while the glue dries. By driving wedges between a pair of dowels and the loose clamp bar, you apply clamping pressure to the frame. The jig can also be used to glue up frames of different sizes, thanks to the two rows of holes drilled along the base that accept dowels at different positions.
The glueup jig is easy to build. The base, clamp bars, and wedges are made from plywood. You can drill the holes along the base of the jig to make it adjustable. Also drill a larger hole near one end of the base so you can hang it on the wall for storage (see detail ‘a’). Then glue one of the clamp bars to the other end of the base. I also applied a coat of wax to prevent glue from sticking to the base. To use the jig, set the frame parts in place, and apply glue to the joints. Place the loose clamp bar at the end of the frame, and insert the dowels in the closest row of holes. Now lightly tap in wedges to apply clamping pressure. When the glue sets up, you can tap out the wedges and remove the frame.
