Square Peg Brand, offered by P. McRae and Son

Description of Clamps

Virtually any combination of contrasting woods can be found for handles, shafts, and jaws. New designs are in development, with inlay and other decorative elements.

Whole

whole clamp, made by McRae and Son

Marks

mark for Square Peg brand, made by P McRae and Son The mark (either small or large) is branded into the wood, in three curving lines:

McRae & Son
U.S.A.
Square Peg Brand

Jaws

T B D.

Spindles

The two spindles are similar, but distinct.

Note the distinctive square peg fixing the handle to the shaft The handles are often of dark woods and bored to receive the shafts of lighter colored wood. The cross-section is usually octagonal; on the smaller sizes, the edges are often sanded smooth. The ends of the handles are square to the axis, and sanded to produce a chamfer.

The shafts are usually of maple dowels, or from cherry (not birch). McRae finds that these woods are easier to work, and take a better thread. The threads are cut into the shaft with a router, leaving a characteristic rounded end to the thread, visible in the picture.

The shafts and handles are glued, and reinforced with a square peg, contrasting in color with the handles. On the beefy models, the peg is left proud; on the regular models, the peg is flush.

Description of C-Clamps

Square Peg Brand small C-Clamp Virtually any combination of contrasting woods can be found for handles, shafts, and frame. The cap on the shaft is hard maple, for strength.

last revised and validated