If you’ve ever tried to work on the edge of a wide door or tabletop, you know how difficult it is to secure a large, flat workpiece in the vertical position. I’ve found a solution in the form of some L-shaped brackets made from plywood.

To make the brackets, you need two pieces of plywood, each one measuring 8-in. wide by 16-in. long. Face-glue the two pieces, taking care to ensure that all four edges are perfectly flush. From this 1-1/2-in.-thick lamination, lay out and cut four L shapes, making each one 2 in. wide by 8 in. long by 6 in. tall. It is imperative that all the corners be 90°.

The fixtures work in pairs. Clamp one leg of each fixture to your workbench as shown, then slip the workpiece between the pairs. For a snugger fit, loosen clamps as needed and push the fixtures closer together. To prevent the workpiece from shifting, add a clamp across the fixtures.

Drawings by Jim Richey.

Drawings by Jim Richie.

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